Worried about seeing occupational health at work

[Sallmell]

Hi all, I am hoping you may be quell my fears.

I have not had a confirmed diagnosis of lupus yet. My rheumatologist is airing on side of caution although he is treating me for lupus. He also thinks I may have palindromic arthritis.

I am a lecturer in HE and love my job. I have kept my employer up to date with what is going on. They have now booked me for an appy with occupational health and I am worried what will they do?

So far i have not been too bad and lucky for me the flairs have been when I have been working from home.

I am scared as I don't want to lose my job.

Anyone any experience they can share please x

[maggielee]

Hi

My appt to OH was a ticking box exercise as I was doing everything I could do to ensure I could keep working. Hopefully, your appt. is more beneficial.

More importantly they are recognising (employers) & abiding to the disability act to protect you from losing your job.

I read up on the act & sought out advise (from disability organisation) when I had to take written exams as part of my qualification, which really helped. So OH should be helpful to you & help you carry on with your job...

Work is a balancing act & sometimes we struggle (usually in silence) to try & not be a burden at work & do our job as anyone else without autoimmune issues...

It was hard for me to come out of the 'closet' and admit I had sjogrens & lupus & I don't discuss my daily struggles to colleagues to do a job I really want to do...

I am allowed to come into work later 10am which helps me when I am really tired & I also was able to cut my hours down a little (4 hours a week less) permanently after being off sick for a while.

I admit I use my holidays to help me to get more rest or if I have to travel for work take a holiday after to enable me to rest afterwards -

All a balancing act....between health & work hoping I can keep both...

Ask them how they may help you - all within a scope they can offer & you will know where you stand....

Good luck.ml

[Sallmell in reply to maggielee]

Thanks for this, I am lucky in that my job does allow for some flexibility but I always worry they will use it against me x

[maggielee in reply to Sallmell]

I do know what you mean.....Check out your rights it may help reassure you... Hopefully another teacher/lecturer will read this... Would say between large organisations & teacher unions you will have good support...

I would struggle now with giving long lectures as I get dry mouth & dry cough or I need to wet my whiste as my dad use to say....

Hope all goes well....ml

[Sallmell in reply to maggielee]

Thanks hun will update x

[Roarah]

I am in the us and I wish they had such a system as yours. We get sick time and family leave but after my strokes when I returned to work I am expected to return to the level I was hired at prestroke. Same with my DH after rectal cancer diagnosis. We can apply for disability or partial disability and change jobs but our workplaces are not required to work with us or make many adjustments to accomadate our changing health needs. Often our supervisors do make off the record personal accommodations but it is not systematic. Be grateful for such an opportunity to a system to aide you in your health and employment struggles.

Best of luck.

[Sallmell in reply to Roarah]

Thanks hun and sorry to hear of your struggles. I am very grateful for the system just anxious as never experienced it before x

[Hidden in reply to Roarah]

Actually, I think occupational therapy and a change of work assignment is up to your employer to some point. They can do that, and many will. Did you check? And if you feel there are other positions you could do, have you suggested that to them? The fact is, we here in the US don’t want big government in all our business, but at the same time, we would hope for compassionate help from employers. Best of luck to you.

[Sallmell]

Just to feedback that this meeting was nothing to worry about. I have had nothing but support from work, facilitated by OH.