Hi Dr signed me off a month re PTSD work contacted Council HR Occ Health today think they’ll sack me anyone got any knowledge re this issue

[Dumfries]

Knowledge on well-being and PTSD in the workplace is it a sackable offence? app for EMDR treatment is on the 05/10/21

[hypercat54]

Are you in a union? If so contact your rep asap. Second it is normal practice to be referred to occupational health. They can make recommendations eg extra sick leave, part time hours etc. but your employer doesn't have to listen to them.

But they do have to make what they call 'Reasonable Adjustments' to accommodate your illness. These however are subject to 'business needs'.

If they try and dismiss you without these then you should win a tribunal against them as they will have broken the health and safety rules at work. Look these up and also check out ACAS.

I had a very similar experience with the DWP so do know all this.

[Dumfries in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you yes I’m in the GMB union and have called them, so my Rep is up to date with things. Had a letter from the council’s occupational health person who wants a telephone conversation regarding my sickness absence since 1st September on the Monday 11th October at 2.30pm. It says if I want someone to be there for me in this call I can arrange that if I wanted. I haven’t got a clue how a three way telephone conversation would work I’m not really clued up about that type of tech… i also have been off work with chronic asthma psoriatic arthritis fibromyalgia dysphasia GORD over the last year after shielding for a whole year, I went back to work on May 7th and had a sickness review straight away as soon as I got back to work for 12 weeks I could have one day sick but I managed to reach my target without any days off, little bit of a struggle but I managed fine to be fair. The PTSD started back in lockdown and shielding tried to cover it up for as long as I could but over summer holidays it all got too much, hearing voices in my head and seeing strange things shapes of human figures, the last 4 weeks I haven’t been out of the house it’s traumatised me that much, scared frightened feel anxious nervous and feel guilty as well. I haven’t had an appointment date or time yet for my First Formal Review.. my sick note runs out tomorrow and work themselves have advised me to extend this until after my appointment with the psychologist from mental health team, I don’t feel ready to go back to work yet anyway mentally, asthma flare up, arthritis fibromyalgia pain all over. I’ve truly and totally just had enough of it all, of how I’m feeling and worrying about my job, I’ve been there 20 years getting the sack horrifies me I’ve been vomiting most days due last week or so, do you think it could be stress causing that ? Sorry for the long message I’ve gone on and on a lot apologies for that ☹️

[Lefty_Epee]

You cannot lose a job because of a disability unless you are physically incapable of completing tasks. Like if you worked in a warehouse and lost a limb in an accident, you may be given a pink slip because there is no work for you. If you're having panic attacks every five minutes, or you can't sit and do work for more than small increments on time, you will be released due to being an ineffective worker. As long as your condition does not entirely prevent you from completing your job, it is illegal for them to fire you due to said condition.

[hypercat54 in reply to Lefty_Epee]

The poster is in the UK not the States. Here you can be dismissed through sickness but they don't call it that. They call it not fulfilling your work contract by being at work. I know because I have been there.

The employer has to make reasonable adjustments as required by law and if they don't then the employee would win the case if it went to tribunal. As long as they follow the law then they can dismiss you if your attendance doesn't improve.

[ScubaD in reply to hypercat54]

This happened to me too, they said i did not fulfil my contract. I was experiencing traumatic flashbacks and had only just been diagnosed with ptsd. My former hard work and loyalty meant ziltch! Citizens advice and or other legal help may be good start to protect you at this djfficult and confusing time.Best wishes.

[hypercat54 in reply to ScubaD]

Yes and it does happen unfortunately. I am sorry you lost your job.

I used to work for the DWP and their sickness policy was no more than 8 days a year off sick in a rolling period of 1 year. If you did you got a disciplinary letter warning you. Any more could result in a final written warning.

This is what happened to me as I was off 2/3 times with stress for a couple of months at a time, mainly because I was being bullied by my team leader. I tried to take out a grievance against her but they all covered themselves.

I have copd and got a severe chest infection and felt awful but managed to save 1 sickness day. Then 2 weeks later it came back and I had to take my last day off. As I knew they would they dismissed me. They did it to a lot of people there and it didn't matter how long you had been there either.

To be fair they only did this to illnesses which weren't a one off and if you were seriously ill ie with cancer or something they were brilliant. They gave you medical retirement with lots of dosh.

[Lefty_Epee]

Oh god that's horrible

[Dolphin14 Moderator]

I'm in the US so things are very different here. If you haven't had treatment can't you use that as a defense? You haven't started EMDR.

Just a thought but idk how things operate.

It would be very rare for that to happen here as long as you had medical backup of your condition.

🐬

[Dumfries in reply to Dolphin14]

thank you so much for replying I really appreciate it 😉

[Dolphin14 Moderator in reply to Dumfries]

Best of luck to you. EMDR helped me, I hope it's successful for you.

🐬

[Dumfries in reply to Dolphin14]

Hi Dolphin14, I’m so happy for you, I’m really glad it worked for you, hope it helps me, I have read a little about EMDR but still not sure what it actually is.. ! thank you x

[Dolphin14 Moderator in reply to Dumfries]

It's a really hard concept to grasp. I understand how you can't figure out 100%.

They take a history from you. Then you start working your list from a smaller issue up until the one that is sort of haunting you the most.

The therapist uses finger movement and you follow it with your eyes and some how you go back to the event and the therapists walks you through it. Some traumas take many sessions to work through. They also have these little buzzers you can hold in your hands. They give a calming effect.

It's very emotional and very draining. So plan on resting a bit after.

I know I'm not hitting all the high lights. It's just so hard to put into words. Do you have any specific questions I could help you with?

When I finished this therapy I had learned a lot about myself. Many of my emotions and responses throughout my life stemmed back to my upbringing. Fear of being alone, fear of failure. This all led to anxiety.

Let me know if I can help you. I know there are many posts on EMDR. You can also get support through the PTSD site

🐬

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I got fired for debilitating panic attacks,twice. Proly not legal, mental health discrimination, but you decide how far you wanna fight it.