Discrimination at work or being passed over promotions because the work is physically demanding, Absences from work.

Do you feel like you ever were passed over a promotion or you missed a turn at a job that you really wanted because you have a disability? Do they put up with absences on bad days? Does it change the way others at work treat you?

[Hidden]

I was fired from work in 2006. It was the start of sickness for me.

At the time no one knew what it was that I had. I had too many

doctor appointments and too many tests to be off of work. Because

I didn't have a proper diagnosis - I was fired. I wasn't allowed off

of work. The total time of illness was about 3 months. RA was showing

up with uncommon signs so it threw the doctors.

My last job as a consultant same thing happened but I wasn't truly

fired. The corporation had a shake down and I was going to the doctor

a lot and having severe symptoms.. I wasn't dependable so suddenly

there was no need for my services. Many other consultants were

turned away - mostly ones that couldn't pick up projects instantly.

For me, it was strictly because of my being at Mayo Clinic. They gave

many other reasons that were not even possible to rid me just

like the job in 2006. My work that I did do was solid and clear. I

was told that by the scientists.. it was above and beyond they said.

Human Resources said it was not personal.. I just wasn't needed ....

I want to get back to consulting but I fear that the same might happen.

One company that I worked for took on someone clearly disabled

and put them in a job that they knew nothing about. They gave that

person a job that was equivalent to coloring in a coloring book

while the rest worked their butts off... the company received all

kinds of credits from the government for hiring disabled people ..

that poor soul knew that he didn't belong but it payed well so he hung

onto the job while others resented him and picked on him in some

mean way. They wanted to do his job - it wasn't fair that the pay

was the same and he sat all day while the others were on their feet

with sore bodies from doing their work. I saw it going on with my

own eyes when I passed through the mill area.. I worked in the

technical part of the building.

[donnalouisec]

Yes.. I work for HMRC and am in the process of a grievance against them. They disclosed my medical condition when I asked them not 2 and totally ignored that I wanted to apply for 2 promotion positions within my business unit. I couldn't apply because they hadn't provided me with space software for my computer. I can't type due to bad wrists & fat fingers. They have destroyed my confidence and made me feel inferior now I don't want to go back...

[oldtimer]

I always felt that I had to be better at my job than others because sometimes I was unable to do things on a physical level. It is SO difficult for other people, even health professionals, to understand that one day you may be bombing around doing things and a day later unable to use your hands or stand up. It led to strange looks and remarks which I had to learn to deal with.

But I managed to work, in a less physically demanding job than the one I started, until the age of 65 - but I have been treated aggressively and quickly whenever I have a flare. But the one at 65 defeated me and my medics when my bone marrow was affected.

[Rachel43]

Yes. My company is going through a restructure & suprise my part time job is not in the new structure. I have been told I can apply for the full time post at competitive interview! I've been off ill for nearly 6 months. They have not kept me in touch with the consultation period. In fact the meeting that was held last Monday I received the information in the post yesterday. Typical when office is closed at a weekend.

I have had access to work round in September & still waiting for the recommendations to be put in place.

I feel totally isolated & left out of all that's going on. What really upset me was I covered the managers role for 6 months & then I'm not suitable for the position but can I shadow the new manager till she knows the ropes.

I really don't want to go back. They ask me to try & move hospital appointments until after work. Make a fuss when I go for my infusion. Like any of this is my fault I never wanted to be the one with RA. Can't be anything wrong with me as I look fine!!

Sorry for the rant but I believe there are loads of us having problems with work. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Rachel43]

Shadow the manager....after working and performing the duties

for 6 months!!!! I want to scream...flashback for me when you said that.

I was told the same thing - move my appointments outside of work and they cannot depend on me if I get sick so often.. I wondered what the heck they were talking about sick all the time!! That was Bullshi... and they knew it too. I had off of work for 3 months with dizziness.. I was doing tests to figure out why plus they thought I had gout.. yes gout. My toes swelled up and were red, foot and ankle too. My nerves were shot that I had to call in to talk with a person in HR everyday to report why I wasn't at work. The "gout" was the start of RA, the dizziness was anatomical neuropathy. My blood pressure falls when I get up. (I am fine now) Same exact story as yours. Exactly. I was told to apply again. -No discrimination there!! (sarcasm!) I live in the USA.. they can find any reason to dismiss and no one can prove that ti's because of disability. God Bless you for helping me get this out of me.. !! =)

[wiliby in reply to Rachel43]

That's disgusting How they treated you Rachel as you said, looking healthy it feels like they don't believe us...

[sandybrown]

I am retired now. I went through many bad experience at work place. Management and HR have their own agenda when it comes to promotion I am afraid. An individual cannot win!

[Livingston]

In my last job, I found that people were very helpful and tried to be understanding after something big - like a hospital admission - but the little things like being out of work for 45min a month to get bloods taken became a major source of irritation for them. I suppose they didn't understand how important that routine stuff is & maybe I should have tried harder to get that across to them.

I am 12 weeks into a new job just now. Declaring a disability probably helped get me an interview because it is was an explicit part of their recruitment policy that they would interview any disabled person who met the basic criteria for the job. I was told afterwards that I was far and away the best candidate but that they would be 'taking a big risk' with me if they hired me and I essentially had a second interview on the phone as they offered me the job. I was on pins & needles all the way through the 12 week trial period, but it all seems to have gone OK. Maybe I won't have to sneak my painkillers to the toilet any more!

The job I left was in retail, where sickness policies tend to be very hostile. I am glad to be back inside the NHS now. In the UK, I think it is probably wise to connect any absences to your disability - draw the lines clearly for them - so it is plain that it would be a discrimination issue if they treat you poorly as a result. I always go along the lines of 'I had a chest infection & I am more prone to infections than other people because of my RD and the medication I take to control my RD. Therefore this absence was connected to my disability.' When we went through a 'restructure' I had sickness due to RD discounted and therefore kept my job when some others didn't, as a result of casual sickness.

[wiliby]

Interesting thread yikes. I had a meeting with my line manager and HR last week, I had expressed to HR that I was considering leaving where she told me that looking at my file over last 11 years it was apparent that I was a valuable member of staff, that they would like to accommodate whatever need be to keep me there. 3 days later my line manager sent me my new timetable for work which made me cry, it was the most tedious jobs normally allocated to new members of staff despite the fact I'm also the highest qualified!

I've thought long and hard and decided not to fight it but to resign, I will take a little time to decide but I don't have the fight in me anymore with them. I went through something similar after returning after maternity and diagnosis and had to formally complain. I have decided it's not worth the stress which will make me ill. Luckily I have other options.

Sadly reading other responses it's all to common.

[Lee_Evenden]

I'm starting back tomorrow after just over six months off sick. I've already told them at an HR meeting that I don't want to be doing the same role as I was struggling to keep up before this period of absence. I work in a busy office where there are constant changes to projects, I really used to love the buzz of the place but that just turned to stress when I couldn't keep up. My employer has been great to be fair and are letting me go back part time (but on full pay) for an extended period whilst I decide what I want to do. I think I'll be doing just the "odds and sods" jobs for now. I've kind of already accepted that I no longer have a career, just a job now

[Karen77]

Looking at the other comments, I think I have been lucky. Rather than being passed over for promotions, I have declined them. I think there is a need to be realistic about what you can accomplish, versus what you might like to do. I am in a very good work situation right now, where they have graciously allowed me to work from home 4 of 5 days per week. That saves me from a long commute, having to push myself to get going in the mornings when my body protests, and allows me to spend more time with my kids. Much as I appreciate the suggestions that I consider a management-level position, I am very loathe to give up an arrangement that serves me well. I choose to believe that just because I can't or don't want to seek a promotion now, doesn't mean the door is forever closed to that opportunity.

I hope that others in my situation are able to step back and reconsider their priorities, rather than pushing their bodies to continue along the career path they had set out for themselves before diagnosis. Your value is more than your job description.

[sandybrown in reply to Karen77]

You are a very lucky person. I have a lot of letters from my working life!

Educational training in the 60s very difficult.

Promotion on the 70s and 80s very difficult.

I had to fight to be in employment, as an engineer I took one hour to fix a problem on wait and return taxi where as others too a week to fix a problem both were accepted. In the end the throw me out just after I was 50, too old to work for a young company giving a lot of wrote details how other are helping me to do my job!!!!

Here I am today retired with very little pension. Health and enjoying life.

[Slightly_ginger]

My old company changed Health Advising subcontractor, so they could carry out yet another "capability study" whilst I was recovering from radiotherapy, chemotherapy and just been diagnosed with PsA/RD.

Surprise Surprise the new health company recommended that my company couldn't do anymore to help me and they terminated my contract. Whilst I was trying to work part time.

This was after repeated attempts by them using the original health advisor, who said that they should make reasonable adjustments, and that "it was a miracle I was able work at all"

Nice company. By the way they are a multinational with over 20,000 employees. They paid me three months before SSP. Despite been given a prognosis of one year to live. Nice!

[Hidden]

Hi

Just wanted to say that the NRAS booklet on work "I want to work" looks at protection against discrimination as enshrined in the Equality Act (EA) and in particular the fact that your employer must not treat you less favourably because you have RA than a similar employee without such a disability in relation to training and promotion for example. The EA also makes a requirement for employers not to treat a disabled person unfavourably because of something arising from their disability where this cannot be justified. Disability leave is an example of this. You can read more on the NRAS website or download/order the booklet on this link nras.org.uk/publications/i-...

Best wishes

Lorraine

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

I am very sorry. You can have any low in employment, at the end of the day a manager and HR are both human and they can do what they like, if you ask questions you are in trouble for ever. This happens every where. I am retired now.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for finding that. There are ways around that..the company can decide that the position isn't needed or worse, it's the individual supervisor of the department that wants their department to run smooth and my being absent due to a flare or doctor appointment means someone has to do my work plus their own work and that means overtime and or a lot of sneers in the office. I have to have the position that most know how to do so they can take turns filling in my duties when lm gone. If l get to work remote, there will be upset for the others who want to do the same.

The co worker's want the same treatment and rules that l have. If my coworkers go fast and l get go slower then l should get paid less is the co workers feeling. Not all places are like this and in fact most aren't, or are they?? Only the disabled know this and l landed there 2 times since 2006 lts about mind, body and spirit to be well and it is a bad thing to be among people who resent you taking off of work because your fingers and spine are so painful or you need to travel to get to the doctor and it takes you away from work...