Sickness from work

[louhope91]

Hi, my first post here, i apologise if it comes across as a little bit of a rant but i could use some advice please 🙂

i have been suffering with fibro for over 3 years now, diagnosed officially a year and 4 months ago! MANY different types of treatments, self help and medications have been tried and failed to help. I'm at a point where I'm honestly struggling to cope. Its far from just some aches and pains that some people think it is, i also have some other life long illnesses (but thats for a different day!) Anyway, I'm contracted to work 30 hours per week in my office based job, some days it's less than a 10 minute drive from home, some other days they expect me to drive for almost an hour to a different base. I have requested a flexible working contract to help with my disability but my manager still doesn't seem to understand just how much it is affecting me and my working performance, especially as I can't take the high dose of gabapentin I'm supposed to if i have to travel long distances or on a short shift of 4 hours etc.

Lets put these facts to one side for a moment. What my actual question is, do i take a long term sickness from work, try and get myself back on track and then return? 🙁

I keep having different "episodes" of sickness, 1 week off here and another 3 days off there when i hit absolute rock bottom, then i return, and it happens again, it's a vicious cycle! It is also triggering formal meetings which is getting pretty stressful.

Has anyone taken long term sickness? Did you get help with money to live on? (I already receive PIP) Were your managers understanding?

I have been in this job role just under 12 months, before that i had 5 years of self employment before having to give it all up and close my business due to being too poorly to carry it on, so when i needed time off previously, it was never a problem.

I just feel lost on what i can do 😢

Sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated

Thanks, Louise

[MichelleButterfly]

Hello louhope91 and welcome to the forum. In the future to protect your and other members privacy you may wish to lock your posts, here is a link on how to, healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

Here is a link you may wish to read through also, healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

Being on long term sickness, but getting a fit note from your doctor will entitle you to statutory sick pay, here is a link about that, gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay

[Mdaisy in reply to MichelleButterfly]

LOL I've just replied pretty much the same as I missed this reply - ah better the member has all the information twice than not at all

[Dinkie]

Hi louhope91. Have you had an occupational health assessment as that is usually the first thing employers should arrange to make sure they are doing all they can to assist you. My employers are a very small family firm and immediately they found out about my blue badge they decided they needed to act. I fought against it but have to say it was a positive experience for me. My hours were adjusted to suit me, I was given a car parking space nearer my workplace, uniform was modified to make it easier for me to wear. I had handrails and ramps put in and a chair provided. I was offered extra breaks but found it was harder to move after a break than if I didn't take it.

When having the assessment you are entitled to see the report and comment on it before it is sent to your employers. You can rectify any mistakes etc. If your employers do not go down this route then they leave themselves wide open to claims including constructive dismissal however you would need to check the rules as I do not think you have been working long enough for the company to qualify so you may need to drag everything out a bit if you can to come under the protection of the law which if I remember is 2 years. My husband's employers fell foul of this and failed to make adjustments for him and were found wanting under the equality act 2010.

Your contract should tell you whether or not you will be on full pay and for how long and then half pay for a certain time then going to statutory sick pay which if I remember rightly but dont quote me as I have the dreaded fog, is payable for 28 weeks. Not all employers offer to pay their staff but statutory sick pay is the law (again my husband's company refused to pay this until the lawyers pointed out they were breaking the law).

Good luck and I hope you find a solution which works for you.

[Rose54]

Hi

does your company use the Bradford Scale for sickness if so you get more points for having the odd day or week off than you do a long period .

others have provided infomatoin that should help

[Hidden]

Hi Louise, it's a tricky one , being unwell and wanting to try and work only you can make that decision , I had to give up work and had to use the benefit system but it's there to help people , I admire you I was the same but your illness isn't going away and if your employer isn't buying into what you say then you have to think what's best for you, unfortunately for me I had no choice . Good luck.

[Bigears16]

Hi Louise, I am in a very slightly similar position as I am being made redundant this month as place closing and I have been off sick for two months and still being pestered from the trustees emailing me. And unsure about what to do moving forward good luck with what you decide Lynne

[Mdaisy]

Welcome to the FMAUK Community!

We understand, and many of our members say they experience the same kinds of issues. You should be able to discuss with your employer about reasonable adjustments to make work life easier due to your disability as it is the law.

Here's a post with information that is pinned to the community for these issues and it has contact details of Janet, FMAUK Benefits Advisor who can also advise on work related issues too.

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

Are you part of a Union? If so, it might be an idea to ask a representative to join the work meetings or if not having a person to support you, be an advocate due to the cognitive dysfunction of Fibro might be helpful too plus if it's an advocate from a local charity even better.

As a newbie, I would just like to mention that I've noticed your post isn't locked to this community only and if you do this it usually generates more replies from our members.

Here's a link with information how to do this .....

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

Do keep us posted how things are going

All the best

Emma

[achydunlin]

Hi, agree with above - are you in a union? is there any way you can ask for their advice on this and I would also double check your sickness policy. Sometimes as someone above said just taking the odd day off here and there will build up sickness absence points which results in warnings (or whatever it says in your policy). You might be better off taking a longer term off sick and getting a doctor's note - i.e. for 3-6 months. I took a year off from a previous job but I was working 40 hours a week with an hour's commute each way and I returned part-time but it was still too much for me and I ended up leaving and I now work just 12.5 hours a week with a much shorter commute. As someone has said have you had a word with occupational health? that's what they're there for? Especially the commute to a different work site. Is there any way you can negotiate to just work at the shorter commute one? I understand re Gabapentin as that's what I'm on and it does make me feel a bit 'drunk' at times and I feel I can't drive for long periods due to this. Be wary of what someone else said about giving up work and relying on benefits. I did apply for benefits once when I was out of work and I found it very very difficult to meet the criteria with 'just' fibromyalgia and was told by an assessor that frankly they didn't think it was 'serious' enough!!! So now I have to work. But again that's not the same for everyone. Good luck in what you decide to do and I hope you can get sorted. x