Work don’t understand or care about my limitations

[Kathy63]

Hi I have had fibromyalgia for over 20 years now and I am struggling more and more with the pain especially in my legs and feet the older I get, I’m now 59, I work part time 2 days a week which I can just about cope with, but my employer keeps making me do overtime to cover others holidays which I’ve said I can’t cope with and explained why, but they insist I have to! is there anything I can do as I don’t want to have to leave my job because of it but feel they just don’t understand or care that I am trying to live with this debilitating condition. Anyone else had this problem with their employer?

[CheetieCat]

Hi Kathy, I Know the feeling! I'm contracted for 30 hours and my TL does try to give me days off in between. I do my hours over 4 days and though the days are a lot longer I have 3 rest days but they are constantly asking to cover this that and the other no matter how many times I've tried to explain. So now I just say say sorry I can't with no further explanation.

If you are fulfilling your contracted hours you are perfectly entitled to say NO to any overtime. If they are not listening to you when you are trying to explain your reasons then just stop trying and simply say NO I can't.

If they are being difficult in any way you could politely remind them them that the Equality Act comes into play with your condition and you would welcome the opportunity to attend Occupational Health if that was an option.

Hope this helps x

[Kathy63 in reply to CheetieCat]

Hello CheetieCat thank you for your reply to my post, it helps to hear that I am not the only person having this problem with an employer.Hope you’re having a good day x

[onebigvoice in reply to CheetieCat]

There are many things wrong with this. As stated if you are fore filling your contractual hours and they want you to cover and you can't, they need to hire some one else? Say you are on 15 hours maximum hours you can work any hours over this will affect your tax credits big time. Your responsibility is to do your hours to the best of your ability, and should also understand that you have a disability 1. that does not allow you to work extra hours, what would happen if you collapsed in work doing all these extra hours? 2. They would have no problem in saying you were unable to do your job properly? OVERTIME is a concession not a right. Unless you are contracted to do say 5 hours a week "overtime" they can only ask. For me it was so I could arrange cover for people who are or were sick. Holidays would have been booked in advance, so they had plenty of time to arrange cover, either by asking you or others to do say one of the days and the rest spread over the others. BUT this is only by mutual agreement. Have you ever asked for overtime and been told, sorry I can't give you any, for that unexpected bill? That's the thing in reverse. This is why I always say protect your employees as they are the ones that make you your profits. Look after number one, if your conditions get worse you could end up not working at all.

[CheetieCat in reply to onebigvoice]

Not sure if maybe this reply was meant for Kathy63 but absolutely agree! I work in social care and unfortunately recruitment is a major issue right now - everywhere.

Staff are burnt out and many are leaving the sector altogether after working solidly throughout the pandemic and covering for co-workers affected by covid19.

Something is very wrong when you can earn more stacking shelves than caring for an actual human being.

I'll gingerly get off my soap box now & apologies for my little rant 😊

[onebigvoice in reply to CheetieCat]

Sorry my rant was the same. I just don't believe that employers would spend money training some on up and for a few bob won't protect them when they were the ones making all the profits.Look after them and they will look after you. ( employers need to think what are the consequences of a "few hours here and their"

[Candy2595 in reply to CheetieCat]

I was about to say the same about the care sector, I work 29 hours a week over 4 days… but due to staff shortages, if someone doesn’t show up for their shift and you can’t get cover, you HAVE to stay on, duty of care. They know about my health conditions and disabilities, but do they care?!? Not really. Especially at the weekend, nights and sleeps. £9.60 flat rate (incl nights), you get more stacking shelves. It’s no wonder the care sector is screwed, even agency staff get more than we do and we’re doing most of the work. So I feel peoples pains about staying on, I don’t get a choice. I’ve been in this job for 10 years, so they know me well, but it’s the lack of staff that’s scary

[CheetieCat in reply to Candy2595]

It is, I'm 20 years in mine and I've never seen it this bad. Non essential not getting covered just would never have happened before!🙁

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Read CheetieCat s very helpful reply, if they keep pushing you will end up not being able too go into work and do your normal hours , people don’t understand unless they suffer with this condition how debilitating it can be. Take care I hope they get the message x

[Kathy63 in reply to Yassytina]

Hi Yassytina I have read CheetieCat’s very helpful message and I have just phoned ACAS for advice, they said to write to my manager explaining I don’t want to do over my contracted hours and explaining the reason why in writing which I have just done, hopefully I won’t have to take it any further, but if I do it looks like I have the law on my side from what the gentleman at ACAS said to me so fingers crossed 🤞 and thanks for your message x

[Gaballetto in reply to Kathy63]

Well done for being proactive. If you had a visible disability I bet this issue wouldn't have arisen.

Employers need to understand there's being tired, and there's being pathologically fatigued. Maybe you should try to get your manager/s to read up about FM - provide them with some written info on FM from a good, reliable source. fmauk.org do an 'employers guide' as one of their information packs.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer in reply to Kathy63]

I do hope things work out for you ,take care of yourself xx

[Dinkie]

I thought I was coping well but my employer insisted on me seeing an occupational therapist for a consultation. I wasn't happy but have to say it was the best thing that could have happened. I was interviewed at work and was observed for a while doing my job. Upshot the report recommended different uniform, proper chair, more breaks, handrails, ramps, car parking space near to the main door, no weekend work and a review two years on. Those adjustments made it easier for me to stay employed. I'm grateful to my employer for insisting on getting advice.

My late husband's company were the exact opposite and tried to oust him for being unwell, they did not go down the occupational therapist route until forced to by solicitors. The therapist found in our favour and they were found to have breached the Equality Act 2010 result a good payout for my husband.

Your employer is in a very vulnerable position if they do not make every effort to help you stay in employment.

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi Kathy63 - I can only endorse what others have said. I'm pleased you have contacted ACAS for help with this. They should help you with 'reasonable adjustments' to help in your situation: acas.org.uk/reasonable-adju...

[Gigiruth]

Hi Kathy63So pleased you rang ACAS and got their advice. I had an OHS and the nurse was amazing. She highlighted how much I was doing myself and what waS needed. My employer extended my trigger point in the sick proceedure so I did not get warnings for 2 more days in the year and respected my working pattern . I also remained at home longer during covid.

Had I not had my changes respected as reasonable ajustments I would have sort help from my Trade Union.

I hope things continue to go well.

[Kathy63]

Hi to Everyone who has taken the time and trouble to respond to my post, your comments of support and advice have spurred me on to take action as I have already said I contacted ACAS who advised me to put into writing to my employer that I am unable due to fibromyalgia to do more than my contracted hours which I have done and my manager replied today saying she has noted this and will make sure I am no longer expected to do more than my 16 hours per week and she will check the current rota and take me off the extra days I had been put down to cover, so that is a result! Feel like I’ve had a weight lifted off me which may sound dramatic but it has made me feel overwhelmed for a while now so glad to have it eventually sorted

[CheetieCat in reply to Kathy63]

Aw that's great news. So pleased for you x