Better work security and rights for us

Ok so I only recently joined this endo group as I was made to believe by a certain consultant the pain is all in my head, I was addicted to codeine or just wanted an op!! I read everyone’s comments, see how much it affects our daily lives and get angry. Endometriosis is a debilitating disease so why can’t it be classed as a disability? For some ladies for 10 days out of every month they feel excruciating pain, for some it’s the constant bleeding for me it’s both and for more than 10 days😩 I say let’s start a petition for better care and for security for those trying to hold down a full time job. Is anyone thinking the same?

[Lindle]

What would the petition be for - classing endo as a disability or for better care and how would you define better care?

[Moon_maiden]

Definitely not in your head, some doctors seem to make you think it is.

There was a petition or similar that went to MP’s I think last year or year before. I can’t remember the exact details or if there was an outcome. I’m sure someone will have info.

I would like to think that the GP’s at my surgery will have a bit more understanding as I’ve probably given them a really hard time. 🤣

It is, or can, be very debilitating.

The surgery have a section on the wall for women’s health, I did point out recently that there was no mention of endometriosis only different cancers.

[Christin_a]

It itself isn't classed as a disability but your symptoms can lead to someone like a occupational health practitioner to say that you have a disability. There's certain criteria to meet for them to class is as a disability, and as the spectrum of symptoms and severity of endo is very broad it can be difficult to broad sweep everyone with it as having a disability.

Maybe if you yourself are worried about the knock on effect of your endo on your job, you could see how to get a occupational health referral through your work?

[Hidden in reply to Christin_a]

In my last job I was having a couple of days off a month due to endo this in turn led to proceedings and a referral to OH. They did say if I can remember correctly that endo could be classed as a disability therefore I could in turn be covered under the Disability Act. I changed jobs after a redundancy which was nothing or I think nothing to do with my sick record!! This job was in a school where they told me I couldn’t leave the classroom under no circumstances and had duties at break time and part of lunch. I needed to go to the toilet regularly to change. My current job in another school are a lot more lenient therefore I have no issues. I do think more legislation needs to be in place to help legally.

[plotments]

there needs to be something put in place to protect us I was given a redundancy pay out from my job last year because of long term sickness due to endo.

[livvi_livvi]

There are very few illnesses that by diagnosis immediately class people as disabled. With Endo (and any condition which affects your ability to complete daily tasks) if it meets the threshold as set out by the discrimination act then you can be classed as disabled and therefore be protected in the workplace.

However, this doesn't mean that your employer can never dismiss you because of illness for endo it just means they have to make reasonable adjustments to attempt to support you and to make the policy fair to you and someone without a disability.

There is still discussions between MPs in parliament over Endo and the effects on the workplace. But these have of course been affected by covid-19.