Do they have to keep my job for me?

[lulul]

I have been off work for 7 months and I think realistically I will not be able to return to my previous role. However surely I can go back with adaptions and small changes in place? Don't they have to be able to offer me a job appropriate to my physical requirements?.... or not?

[Hidden]

Hi Lulu, unfortunately I've not worked in the seventeen years of my ra, but on talking to others on here I believe your company have a right to keep open your job and help you in your return to work. There are many people on here who will give you better and more information on this subject, I wish you luck.

Mandy xx

[Hidden]

Hi Lulu, a link below may be helpful to you.

areturntowork.co.uk/Illness...

mandy xx

[lulul in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Mandy .very useful and food for thought. It was nice to see emotional.psychological issues covered not just physical/practical.

[lulul]

thank you xxxx

[Sheila_G]

Hi Lulu

Your employer has to make adaptations and pay for equipment you might need to be able to continue your job. In my job, I had a lot of writing to do and as you can imagine my hands were agony so I contacted 'Access to Work' and they bought me a laptop. They were absolutely brilliant. They might be worth contacting. You don't say what your job is but there are usually ways around problems. Good luck x

[lulul in reply to Sheila_G]

Hi Sheila..my boss has said she can't refer me to access to work until I am medically 'stable' ie a treatment that makes me well...???? may not happen but anyway..Once I have an idea of where I shall be I can get that ball rolling. I was a specialist community speech and language therapist and used to treat patients following stroke/head trauma etc. It was physically and mentally demanding but I loved it. I have asked for a hospital/clinic based job now as I won't cope physically with a community job but my boss has said there may not be anything available. I am also concerned that with such a small budget I will create discontent in the department if funds are spent on me.

[RJRJ]

Hi,

Your employer does have some obligation to make adaptations. However as I understand it a lot will depend on whether they accept you to be covered by the 'equalities act' 2010 (replaces most of the Disability Discrimination Act). There is some useful info on the NRAS site here nras.org.uk/includes/docume...

If you are a member of a union you should ask them for advice.

Your employer should also have a managing sickness policy, or something similar, depending on who you work for, so speak to HR or equivalent at your work

I'm currently exploring all of this at the moment as I am on a 'phased return to work'.

Good luck.

[lulul in reply to RJRJ]

I will certainly be looking at a phased return. They keep saying I may not be ready but I won't really know till I try!! Thanks for the links xx I believe HR are coming to see me very soon as well so things will be clearer then

[Hidden]

excellent mandy great link

link xxx

[LavendarLady]

I was off work 4 months and then returned, after seeing the ACOS consultants arranged by my employer, over a period of 12 weeks on a phased return to work on medical grounds. I reduced my hours to 3 days a week with rest day in between. You will need also to check your contract of employment for its sickness terms. At some stage you will need to talk to your employer either with the help of the union if you are a member, or with another member of staff present to take notes so that arrangements can be made for a phased return. The old DDA covered you for RA now replaced mostly by the Equalities Act - worth getting a copy and finding out your rights (can be downloaded from the Gov. web site.) but RA is still covered. Your HR dept should have a copy anyway. Your GP or RA consultant will be able to do a report for your HR dept as to when you will be fit to return even on a limited basis. Mine were very good in providing reports to ACOS and my employers. LavendarLady

[Sheila_G]

Hi Lulu. I don't understand that. I have never heard of people waiting until they are stable on treatment before applying to Access to Work. The trouble with that is that RA treatment often has to change regularly as or when things improve or get worse. I sent for the information and applied myself. I had no problems whatsoever. It may be different in that I work for myself but I would check it out. Certainly Access to work doesn't cost anything as long as they agree that you need whatever to help you to work. Sheila x