Work and endometriosis

[Pinklove1]

Hello, does anyone have any advise on work with endometriosis? I’m currently on the sick but once I start to get sick pay I’m really going to struggle.

Any advise would be massively appreciated!

[SasF]

Hi Pinklove1, I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful female boss, so I felt comfortable explaining the disease and my experience of it. For me, this was a huge help as it relieved some of the stress as well as the guilt I was feeling for having to take time off work. Do you have a boss you can talk to?

[Pinklove1 in reply to SasF]

That’s so good!! I do have a boss I can talk to but he doesn’t understand it well enough, I’m a customer adviser so if I have an angry customer it’s really hard to do my job when I’m in so much pain

[SasF in reply to Pinklove1]

Like so many health concerns, it's different to really understand it unless you have experience of it. And not to be disrespectful to our male counterparts, but I'm not sure a man can completely understand what a woman endures, from periods, childbirth, to the menopause. You could refer him to Endometriosis UK, their website has a wealth of information. Angry customers are difficult at the best of times! Even more so when you're battling a painful, debilitating condition that plays havoc with your hormones. Wishing you all the best Pinklove1.

[BrightLights88]

Hi .

I am currently endo free sine 2019. But have gone through what you are saying. I even had a trigger level meeting sent to me whilst I was in hospital. To discuss about my absence.

First thing first, you need to join a union they will not be able to help you for the fruit 6mths buy they can after. But do give them a ring to let them know what going on.

Secondly, get in touch with your work OT (Occupation therapy) they will guide and tell you whether you should be orr long term sickness paid leave or make your employer aware of your condition ans that you can have time off work.

[CArolGrace]

I work as a nursery practitioner and having all this stuff going on has been a bit disheartening, I have two women bosses who understand what’s happening as one has endo herself and the other has had gyne issues herself and this has made them extremely understanding of the situation but I have had a lot of time off recently and I can’t afford to take more so I guess it’s figuring out the serverity of the pain and then taking it day by day, that’s what I have been doing, if it’s a bad day I know first thing in the morning and I tell them when I get there - this means I can do lighter duties where I can. It’s not nice but it works and having people who understand helps alot, with male managers I think it’s about explaining in detail and giving them strategies to help you while your at work. I am hoping for my lap to happen in the next 6 or so weeks so we will see if that gives me any relief . Stay strong and do what you can ! It is enough xxx

[Username12345678]

Hello, the uk charity endometriosis uk have designed a scheme to help fill suffering with endo and to help employers to help the employees that suffer. I would recommend sharing the info with your boss - endometriosis-uk.org/endome... - they do a great job of explaining what we go through and what things can be put in place to support us. Hope this helps!

[Purpledisco]

Hi Pinklove1 I'm in the same situation as well I can't take anymore annual leave or Flexi leave for my days off and I keep flagging up on the HR Bradford factor but I am very lucky to have an understanding female boss. If you can I have the option to work from home when I have a flare up and only take sick days when I physically can't get up out of bed.

Its worth an ask and hopefully they could provide you with a phone etc to do so?

My workplace has also referred me to occupational health for advice and guidance and how they can support me in work more.

I hope this helps - if you'd like once I've had this appointment any suggestions they give to me I can share with you?

I also work in customer service - front of house at a College and I need to be on site as much as possible.

All the best

[Escapologygirl]

I lost my last job due to being out sick because of endometriosis, I'd also only been able to get to a gynaecologist last year too due to covid and he put me on decapeptyl injections and then the mini pill which I reacted really badly to both .In Feb this year I was told my services were no longer required and this from female bosses. I'm currently still not able to work as noone seems to want to understand I can be fine one day and bedridden the next.

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Escapologygirl]

Same for me and it absolutely sucks!

[Cailleach]

Lots of good advice here. Be honest with your boss, even if you don’t want to go into details, that’s up to you, and always keep them informed when you are off sick of what is happening, when you think you will be back etc.

If there is a HR dept involve them too if necessary. Have a think about anything that your employer could do that could help - changing hours, duties etc. Depending on your symptoms you could be classed as disabled under the Equality Act and would be entitled to ‘ reasonable adjustments’ to help you stay at work.

It helps if you can tell your employer you are receiving treatment/ on a waiting list etc. They can get an idea of when things might improve ( hopefully).

A lot of this can be done with the help of Occupational Health services- most employers will have access to this kind of service. You can ask to be referred and discuss your health issues with a doctor who will then write a report giving recommendations to your employer.

Joining a union is a good idea as they can advise you at any stage and may be able to accompany you to meetings etc.