work and fibromyalgia

[1837]

I just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia I been in a lot of pain for months not been work since being of November 23 I got no money coming in worried about returning back to work as I work on a checkout I have also been told I can’t keep having long term sick of as they got a business to run I am frightened about going back in case I can’t cope but I not got choice as no income coming in any advice would be appreciated

[Dinkie]

Firstly you are protected under The Equality Act 2010. Your employer could be in serious trouble if they fail to put "reasonable adjustments" in place to enable you to stay in employment. You should be offered a referral to occupational health and a report will be prepared by the OH assessor. You may request the report 10 days before it is sent to your employer so that you can suggest any amendments if there are any inaccuracies. The OH assessor does not have to amend the report but generally they do if there has been a misunderstanding. Should your employer not follow this course then they are leaving themselves wide open to an unfair dismissal claim.

My late husband's employers tried to sack him without going down the assessment route, their opinion was that cancer, two heart attacks and a couple of other illnesses were minor health issues! The OH assessor was horrified and it ended up in a legal battle which we won. Try not to let them bully you, hard I know but there are laws to protect those who find themselves in this sort of situation.

Might be worth applying for PIP have a look at the online forms to see if you think you qualify. Hope this helps.

[NLBC in reply to Dinkie]

Great advice!

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

You might find our employment booklet useful at fmauk.org/publications

[1837 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

thank you hazel I will look at that

[CheetieCat]

Have you made your employer aware you have fibromyalgia? If not that's the first thing you need to do now, asap. Then Dinkie has the rest pretty much covered. Lots of us continue to work various hours, shift patterns ect .. with some reasonable adjustments that can make such a difference.

[1837 in reply to CheetieCat]

they no what I have I have told them but they say I can’t keep going of sick long term when I have a flare up as they are trying to run a business

[1837]

I also have mental health issues since 2022 so I even find mixing very very hard you wouldn’t think it with me working on a checkout I only ever go work and home I don’t have a social life all my aches and pains really do get me so down I offen use to think what’s the point in living but it’s my baby granddaughter that keeps me going I will try pip thank you but since I been ill I suffer with something called brain fog

[1837 in reply to 1837]

Thank you cheetie cat

[Cotswolds25121]

That’s true but how disrespectful of them😡a little bit of understanding and support goes a long way! I’m really sorry to hear yet again someone being treated badly like this, so rude. Employers need to remind themselves that if it wasn’t for their workers who in most cases work damn hard then they wouldn’t have a business at all 😡I hope you get some helpful advice 🤗

[1837 in reply to Cotswolds25121]

Thank you

[1837]

thank you

[M0wnt]

Hi,

Unfortunately I faced the same reality in the NHS. They say they help but if you can’t manage the job without affecting the service provided then what are you supposed to do. No company tolerates continuous spells of sickness which are associated with fibromyalgia and lupus. I can’t tell when it’s going to happen now. This week has been the longest spell where I have felt almost normal should I say. I am a bit scared as it’s been a good week even with some difficult appointments. It’s so weird as there is no reason or rhyme to the flares. I can do one thing one day and it’s fine, do it the next day and I am in total pain. So it’s very hard to manage. Try downloading the app called ‘spoonie day’ it really helps.xx

[1837 in reply to M0wnt]

Thank you so much yes I will try to down load it just I struggle with brain fog I can lose something that’s in front of me and it gets me so up set I am going try to return to work this Monday but frightened as I work on a till my concentration is really bad and I some times can’t get my words out what I am try to say doesn’t come out right