Yesterday I was told I am not paying attention to detail in my work, thing is I looked and couldn't see the errors but when someone else looked there were lots.
I don't remember this after the last two crainiotomies but to be fair I didn't go back into full time work.... The first one in 99 I agreed to leave as it was a field sales role and in 02 I had just lost my job.
Has anyone else gone through this and if so what tips can you give. My mind set at the moment is to just hand in my notice but deep down I can't who is going to employ someone like me,
Sorry about the morose feel to this post but that is how I feel.
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Scoogle
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What do you do? Im afraid this will take time as it has done with me over 2 years on from my Bi. Have you had a chat with your employees about your situation and educated them on how you are now? If not try you may be surprised by the results.
Hi Scoogle... sorry you are having to deal with this...
Your employer is obliged to make reasonable adjustments to support you in your current role and if they have not already done this then it might be the time to get some advice/support and have this conversation. They may surprise you.
If it turns out that even with reasonable adjustments and after some time it is clear you are unable to carry out your duties they may be able to offer you something else (another position or reduced hours for example) or at the very least work out a package for you.
They are a business and can let you go after certain steps have been taken and it is found you cannot perform your duties ( this is what happened to me but it took a whole year during which time I was paid full salary for doing less work....some of it pretty badly) but if you quit they do not have any responsibility towards you at all and you would walk away with nothing.
Whatever you do please do not hand in your notice - you would definitely lose out by doing this. Firstly you wouldn't know if they may have been able to resolve some issues for you to continue to work,...
also you would not get any severance package if you quit ( any package would be dependent on your salary and how long you have worked there, but every little helps and IF it came to this, it would be a cushion while you look at your next steps)
and of course if you quit you would not be eligible for benefits for a period of time.
I know it can feel overwhelming... it did for me too, but there is support out there and maybe give the Headway helpline a call and see if they can point you in the direction of some local support.
Good Luck with this
PS I did get another job a few months later...much to my surprise since I did not even recall applying for it or attending two interviews when I got the call to say I had the job. That should have been a huge red flag to me but of course it wasn't...Unfortunately for me it was still at the same senior management level (actually a slight step up) and it quickly became apparent to me (oddly not to them) that I was not coping and in the end I did quit that one because it wasn't fair on anyone and I had only been there seven months.
I am now self employed and doing something that I love.
Whilst I am not employed, I have a similar problem - my work and writing is not as accurate as it should be and there are lots of errors.
I have been struggling to find a job type where if I make errors it doesn't matter too much but can't think of one.
Hi I feel for you it can be hard going back to work and especially if you look well people tend to forget what you're dealing with and then to be told you're making mistakes can't be easy.
I'm two years post stroke, work 3 days a week and still find it a struggle some days especially with fatigue. As I also have an hour's commute each way I think that can add to the tiredness.
I agree with others don't hand in your notice, talk your managers or the occupational therapist if the company has one about reducing workload hours etc.
Let us know how you get on.
Rachel x
Bottom line is you need to be in a different job. If it's not working for your employer it's not working for you. Try something else.
And don't assume that going to a lower role will help. I've just failed at an entry level position that I found more difficult than my normal role as it was full on multi tasking all day whereas in higher roles I decide my own tasks during the workday to a large extent - so when you're thinking about what to do next don't just think lower role, take the time to find something that fits you now.
List your skills and the things you still find easy, then list your limitations. Then start thinking of roles that fit.
And remember the main guidance points they tell you. ..
Focus on one thing at a time (mindfulness), and if you get distracted don't assume you can just pick up where you left off-run through the task slowly and check it.
Plan your workload with contact time (meetings etc) and complex tasks in the morning wherever possible and repetitive tasks in afternoon.
Document everything, notes are your friend, not only are they there for reference if you can't remember, but also to glance at for reassurance if you're having a brain blip.
Try to nap somewhere at lunch. (Car?) Survival technique! Doesn't always work but helps sometimes in the short term.
And if you make a mistake, own it, it's your brain not theirs, you need to embrace of all it, good and bad.
And finally, don't beat yourself up, I'm not saying this to be kind, on a very practical note stress will just reduce your brain functionality further.
You are definitely not alone in how you feel. After my last brain surgery (not a craniotomy but a Shunt revision) I have definitely become less able to 'find the right word' and spot errors in my work. As someone who has always taken great pride in my ability to spell and punctuate correctly I find this mildly upsetting. I would speak to your managers/employers/occi health and try to explain. I know it isn't easy though and people assume that because we look 'normal' we are the same as before. Sadly this isn't the case.
Have a think about your next steps before you decide what you're sharing with your employer.
If you can see an option of reduced hours/alternative role working for them then share when you go in with a proposal. Eg how exactly your job could be split into two part time in terms of you do tasks abc and another part timer does tasks xyz.
If you can't see them going for job share/alternative role (you'll know your own work environment), then I would advise sharing as little as possible as you're effectively listing the reasons for them to let you go.
I know there are employment laws to protect us, and if you work in a highly unionised environment you're fine, but if not then you need to decide in advance if you are up to a battle just now for a job you can no longer do? If the answer is yes then be completely transparent. If no, then just share what you need to.
Colleagues may appear sympathetic, but that can disappear in an instant.
Just think about the outcome you want and share the minimum you need to achieve this.
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