This is my first post after stumbling across the group!
I work for a large organisation as an administrator having to cut my hours in stages right down to 4.5 hrs a day due to pain, ability to rest/take medication etc
My job has become to much. I’m not coping physically or mentally due to the pain I’m in, depression and constant stress I’m on a not so merry go round of formal/informal sickness reviews and have a stage 1 review tomorrow after 1 day off sick in 6 months which I only managed due to using holidays when I was feeling so rubbish!
I have now been moved to a different position which is even more typing and I physically can’t do it. I’ve tried the HR route occupational health etc and I have had it. I can’t carry on.
has anyone else been in a similar position and were you able to claim any assistance? I fully intend to work but at a role I can manage but I feel like I can not do another day there.
I’m a single parent of 2 little ones.
thank you in advance.
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Hi have they adjusted the amount of sick days as a reasonable adjustments re attendance management process? You could call Acas for advice. I feel same re giving up work.
Hi, has your employer made any reasonable adjustments to make your job easier for you? I'm thinking speak to type thing might be helpful, sorry I don't know what you would call it, ergonomic chair/work station, extra breaks, flexible working, parking closer etc ... Fibromyalgia does come under the The Equality Act 2010 legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/20... if your employer hasn't even tried they are at fault and could find themselves wide open to a claim. Whatever you do, DO NOT resign. Occupational Health should be advising your employer of 'reasonable adjustments' to allow you to continue working.
I have had some reasonable adjustments made. But tbh in my opinion I have not been supported enough. I’m expected to work full days meaning I can’t take medication, I have issues with my manager.. and I had the most horrific year last year including loosing 2 close relatives in tragic circumstances, followed by my mum.. getting covid pneumonia and being hospitalised and there was no understanding at all. I have honestly had it there and can’t cope mentally or physically. I’m waiting for another OH appointment as it’s been over 13 months since I had one. I went on sick yesterday and have a note for a month. But I don’t intend going back whether that be going down the dismissal route or having to give my notice in. I want to change what I do to make things easier for me to cope. But not sure how I go about this. Or where I turn to for advice.
hi. Your story is very similar to mine: if I was you and you have the evidence of not enough support and are in a union I would ask them for advise regarding discrimination under the equality act. Employers I find are not sympathetic unless there hand is forced or unions are involved.
Are you taking someone from the union or a friend to your sickness absence meeting? This is always advisable. It’s a long stressful battle however if you are strong enough to challenge you will get positive results to support yourself. Xxx
If you quit you will lose entitlement, and also will not be able to claim for unemployment for up to 6 months. You will not be able to claim for wrongful dismissal, either. Get in touch with ACAS and also write to your MP about this.
Do you have a Union at work? If so contact them, Chase HR about the OH appointments as this appears to be stressing you out; not good with small children.
Yeah it does feel a bit like constructive dismissal but depending how strongly you feel about it or as FindingMyself60 has said how strong you feel to take it on. Income is always the issue though isn't it.
They shouldn't get away with it though, it really boils my p**** when someone is doing everything they can to continue working (we know how hard it is) and get treated like this! A day, just one day in our shoes .... It WOULD be so different 😩
Anyway, you need to do whatever is best for you. Take it easy, at least you've got some breathing space now.
AS it's a big company it should have access to HR and Occupational Health; sounds to me as if your Company don't want to face their responsibilities towards you under the Disabilities Act or Equal Opportunities Act.
The reason I said Don't quit, is that as long as your Company have done all they can to make things easy for you to stay in work, and there are several hoops they must jump through, they will come to the time when they feel they must sack you. Don't be afraid of this, as if it happens you will immediately be able to access benefits, otherwise you may be facing a big bill for a solicitor to take your Case. This is why I asked about Union and ACAS.
Glad you stumbled,You have to do what you think is best for you and your little ones,
Like this crappy Fibro just keeps on taking all the time😠 It just makes me really cross,
Have you put in a PIP claim yet? If not, why not? If you can't work due to the chronic pain and CFS amongst what ever else it throws at us all,
It would give you a fighting chance with financial commitments taking the stress out of money worries and such, It is not taken into account for any other benefits, Mention it to your universal credit advisor, Or start the claim off for PIP It can be a bit winded so you'll get a head start,
It's just a form at the end of the day, what's the worst that can happen? They say yes or no, If they say no, You can leave it for a while then try again, Don't get too bogged down with it all, It's just not worth stressing over it,
You must be a strong person because you have your little one's, You already have the best and hardest job in the world,Being the Mama try to save some energy for them and yourself,
Good luck with UC next week and let us know how you get on, Use this time you have before you go back to work ( If you do) just allow your brain to tell you, This is what It will feel like when you don't have to work,
I used to work nightshift whilst covid was rife as a way of protecting my family as I was a carer for my disabled brother. Once covid settled down I was made to return to day shift which was such a struggle despite OH and any reasonable adjustments, ie shorter shifts but over more days,etc My health started to get worse,
My caring responsibilities got bigger and stress was unreal. It all came to a head in Dec of 2022 when my brother passed by this time I had reduced my hours down to 16 hours and I was signed of sick for 3 mths. By this time I was at rock bottom ,grieving for my brother not able to do a job I loved and barely able to move. In Aug of 23 I had my final meeting with my employers and I was dismissed for being medically unfit for work. I was already recieving standard rate care for PIP and in Jan when my hours were reduced I made a UC claim. So when I had no income UC was just increased accordingly. So as of today I recieve UC with the Disabled component included due to my health so it means I don't have to look for work or continue to send in sick notes until they do a review.
It's a struggle esp when you've had a good paid job to suddenly have no money spare at all, some months I have to rob Peter to pay Paul as the saying goes but the silver lining is I have minimal stress now I'm not trying to do it all, I have taken time to grieve for my brother and my career. Mentally I'm in a good place, physically there has been some improvement but not as much as I'd hoped. But each day is a new day to make a choice to find some small improvement so today's was I've managed to do 10mins of gentle exercise and go do a small grocery shop. I am now done and will rest for a while before collecting my granddaughter from nursery. Another silver lining of not being able to work is spending time with my grandkids esp the youngest who I take to and from nursery as her parents don't drive.
Sorry I've waffled abit but the gist is if you feel that you are going to lose your job then let it go because at the end of the day , your health has to come first and you will always find a way to manage because this illness makes us strong and resilient, we do not let it win. It might knock us about but we are still here fighting through the pain.
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