Employers

[Becks2020]

Hey...

I just wondered how everyone’s employers are with them, if they are understanding and compassionate about fibromyalgia and if they make exceptions or changes for you??

[Badbessie]

My wife was in child care and I can only praise her employer. My wife had worked for her for many years. Her employer tried everything to keep her in work. Reduced hours, flexible hours, light duties, staged returns but sadly nothing worked. In the end it was me that said enough was enough and insisted she stopped. Working 1 half day and then being in pain for 3 and not being able to do nothing was not helping her.

[Hidden in reply to Badbessie]

Me too. Took ill health retirement in June 2016, like your wife, my boss was fantastic and still is. Please take care. Love to you and your wife. Lynne

[Dinkie]

Umm like the curate's egg - good in parts. Yes I had an occupational health assessment and reasonable adjustments put into place but and the big but is that my ex-boss believes fibro just means being "a bit stiff getting out of the car" then he assumes I am fine. The current boss believes it's just suffering a bit of pain now and again. I'm not one to harp on about it so I just get on with my job and try to re-educate when and where I can when comments arise. I can still manage to do more at work than the younger supposedly healthy employees without half as many complaints I don't ask for exceptions as I believe it builds resentment within the team I just ask for a degree of respect for the work I do and my length of service within the company.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I work for FMA UK, so have the most understanding employers .... But I only manage to work because of the adjustments that are in place. Access to Work paid for me to have a memory foam, ergonomic chair, ergonomic keyboard, mouse pad and footstool. I work 3 days - Monday, Wednesday, Friday so I have a day off in between. I work 10.00-3.30, which means that I avoid rush hour traffic. I also have the option of working remotely from home if I'm not able to manage into the office, but still feel up to doing some work.

FMA UK's employment booklet will be available later this year, for anyone needing advice/support on working with fibro. Xxx

[Becks2020 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you xx

[CheetieCat]

Hi Becks2020

Mine not so good unfortunately, I have a few health issues & have been at occ health but just can't seem to get through to my current (new) management team, previous were much more understanding. Ironically I work in social care!🙄

[Hidden in reply to CheetieCat]

New management teams! Aren't they just the best people ever at treating existing staff like s...? 😂

[CheetieCat in reply to Hidden]

💩 You're so right! 🙄😂

[Carlt]

My employer is fantastic, totally understanding of my condition, kind hearted , fantastic sense of humour and incredibly good looking.

The downside of self-employment is that when I'm too ill to work I don't get paid.

[LoneEra in reply to Carlt]

I’m also self-employed but my boss appears to be a large border collie x standard poodle. He never allows any time off walks and complains when I send a substitute human out with him!

[Hidden in reply to LoneEra]

They are tough taskmasters🤗😂

[Bessy01]

29 years with my employer asked to go from 36 hrs to 30 refused not a happy bunny.

[CheetieCat in reply to Bessy01]

Bessy01 the Equality Act comes into play here & employers MUST make reasonable adjustments. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/20...

[Bessy01]

Said it wasn’t good for the business. I could put in a grievance but pointless it goes back to the same manager need to look for another job problem is I have accommodation with this work so need to look for some where to live first.

[gemmahughes1987]

Legally they have to because it's a disability

[Themanwithnoname]

Stuck in the JSA allowance circle. DWP dont even understand that im not employable. My flares last months not a few days.

They tried to force me onto the WHP and i refused. The letter said voluntry but they tried to force me by not using the correct procedure and this was the so called manager. I had to make a complaint as they broke data protection by sending my details to Shaw Trust.

Dissability advisor and the manager ended up rowing over trying to get me on the WHP. Stood my ground and made the appropriate complaints as id need reasonable ajustments due to this condition. Not been bothered since and i no that Shaw Trust are a joke as i see them voluntry once for a interview for help and they wanted me in 3 days a week glued to a computer. Just what you need with this condition and no reasonable ajustments.

Also as i remember there was limited parking and the bus journey would of been a good 1 hr run each way. Ideal i say.

[Becks2020]

Thank you all x

[Kitten-whiskers]

I have been very lucky in that I work for a small family like company and they have been really great, it really helped so much when I was really bad, it took the pressure off, so I can work on improving my health - which I did.