Does anyone think I should talk to my union representative? My boss is trying to make me use my leave instead of increasing my sickness

[nursenicky13]

record despite having an understanding that I was given a diagnosis of PBC earlier this year. I have a meeting tomorrow with human resources & him. I am currently working full time but cannot afford to reduce my hours yet.

[littlemo]

Most definately DO NOT go into that meeting without advice from union rep or better still meet rep and get him/her to go into meeting with you. I learned this the hard way through experience many yrs ago when I was first diagnosed. Also make an apt with Occupational Health for advice. Good luck.

[nursenicky13 in reply to littlemo]

Thx littlemo. I have had the unfortunate experience of being bullied by someone in the NHS previously, to my detriment. I think now its a case of 'once bitten & twice shy'. I took some advice from mother who used to be a union rep & who told me exactly the same as what you've said. Think my migraine yesterday may have been exaggerated because of what's happened plus I've woken up tonight itching all over so I think I may well be feeling stressed. On the advice of my mum, she wants me to go to the GP in the morning & speak to Occupational health & HR on the phone tomorrow about a possible grievance in relation to this. I was originally given assurances that I would be protected with my sickness record if any bouts of illness I got was in related to my PBC! So now I feel I'm getting mixed messages & can't trust him!

[littlemo in reply to nursenicky13]

Mothers always know best I should know being one! Ha Ha! But seriously ur mum would definately be spot on so do take her advice. Good luck

[nursenicky13 in reply to littlemo]

Thank you for the advice x

[nursenicky13]

I've spoken to my union rep today and he's said I shouldn't be putting up with what my boss was trying to impose. In fact my boss retracted today what he suggested to me yesterday & said I was misunderstood but I want to nip this in the bud before he tries it the next time I feel unwell! My specialist has said he's happy to write a letter to explain my condition to HR. The union rep is meeting with me early next week & will accompany me to any future meetings. I've not spoken to HR myself yet but will do once I've had a full conversation with the union. The GP reluctantly gave me a sick note 4 a week as this has caused me lots of stress which is hardly what I need for work or my health!! Just seems so ironic!!

[littlemo in reply to nursenicky13]

Stress can make the itch worse I know that from experience but also I noticed that when I had my dose of Urso increased in 2011 my itch got worse so its hard to know for sure Re the problems with your boss get referred to Occupational Health I have found them so helpful and supportive over the years working in the NHS and I would probably be out of work if it weren't for them and my union reps. Its all about gettting the life-work balance. I now work 18.75 hrs a week which is sufficient and manage to keep myself and my family right with good support from my fiance and other family members if and when I need it. Keep your chin up there is life after PBC.

[nursenicky13 in reply to littlemo]

Thx littlemo. I think I will feel better once I've spoken properly to my union rep x

[mumofthree]

Hi nursenicky13

Your mum and littlemo have given you good advice. You should definitely make sure your union rep accompanies you to your meetings/interviews etc.

My sister went through a very similar experience with her NHS boss. She was taken ill and had to have brain surgery and due to complications ended up spending 10 months in hospital and a further 8 months recuperating and learning to walk again. But during this time she kept positive and all she wanted to do was to get back to work, she had a very responsible job as a director of nursing. Her boss tried to get her demoted and made her reapply for the job she had been doing for 5 years before she was taken ill, knowing full well the job had already been given to someone else. Even though my sister had brain surgery her mind was as sharp as ever, the fact that she had to use walking sticks was all that had changed, and as her job was clerical there was no reason why she would not be able to fulfil her role. My sisters union rep fought tooth and nail for her and succeeded in getting her an equivalent post. Unfortunately while waiting for her case to be resolved (it took 3 years) she had to continue working with this woman who made her life a living hell, continually criticising and undermining her. To add insult to injury she even moved her office into a cupboard space with no windows. Unfortunately the stress took its toll on my sister who ended up taking medical retirement. Even though my sister eventually gave up the job she loved she was happy and satisfied that she had not let this bully win.

Get as much help as you can, letters from specialists etc etc, just don't give in or let them make you do anything you don't have to.

Good luck

[nursenicky13 in reply to mumofthree]

Thx for the moral support mumofthree. Everyone has been very supportive who has replied. Am very grateful. Was worried until I saw your replies. I think this has upset me & caused me a bout of itching which I have not really had since about May/June this year although now my dose of URSO has gone up so don't know if its due to this reading others people's comments.

[mumofthree in reply to nursenicky13]

Hi nursenicky13,

I hope my reply did not upset you anymore, it was not my intention. I just wanted to let you know that it was worth fighting your corner and if you can get anyone else - union, your mum, specialists etc. - to support you along the way, it will help your case.

Its hard enough living with an illness that has happened to us through no fault of our own without then having to deal with the ignorance of others who's actions, inconsideration etc. if left unchallenged can go on to have a detrimental effect on your career and future health.

Even though my sister had a really tough time, her strength of character and determination helped her win her case. She worked for another year with a different boss before she eventually took medical retirement but in the end the decision to finish (due to physical pain) was hers and hers alone and not because someone else was trying to push her out. Coming to terms with accepting that she was retired at the young age of 51 from a 28 year nursing career which she had loved was very difficult at first - as she said it was her life - but now 3 and a half years down the line she is happy and enjoying life.

Best wishes

[nursenicky13 in reply to mumofthree]

Sorry if it sounded that way but no your reply didn't cause me to feel unwell at all, my boss did that all by himself, but I'm not having it! I've had plenty of people support me & say not to let him get away with what he tried to do so I'm not! Gonna be speaking to the union rep early next week. He's already retracted what he said initially but I don't feel that's good enough to be shutting the door once the horse has bolted so to speak! I'm just not a happy bunny at the mo because I want this stopped now or I am concerned its going to keep happening. I'm grateful for the support from you & others.

[nursenicky13 in reply to mumofthree]

By the way, sorry to hear what you sister experienced. That was awful!!

[SC49]

Hi, I am late to the party as usual. I am glad to hear that you have the support of your union and your consultant. I just wanted to add that your employer probably has policies relating to sick leave and long term health conditions/ disability and in relation to bullying and harassment. I have always found it useful to know such policies back to front and inside out. It's very reassuring when you can quote their own policies in the course of a meeting. Please keep us posted on your progress because I am fairly sure that this is a very common problem.

I would also urge you to get as much as you can in writing because it seems to be common practice now that employers put as little as possible in writing so that there is no permanent record of their unethical and possibly illegal behaviour. I think this is probably more of a problem in the public sector where Freedom of Information laws mean that anything that is written down is accessible.

My employer eventually agreed to let me go on long term sick leave but I had a lot of problems getting to that point and it was not the outcome that I wanted. Before I got to the agreement they had refused to make any adjustments to my job - like alter my hours, put me on lighter duties or amend my job in any way. It was argued that they couldn't adjust my job for 'business reasons' - too disruptive, threat to the viability of the service etc.

They wanted me to go back to work on full duties on normal hours in spite of the fact that I couldn't stay awake for even half a day and my memory / concentration were a mess. My job is a manager's job in a service for vulnerable people so as you can imagine, concentration and staying awake are quite important.

They also put considerable pressure on me to resign.

The only concession they would make was to offer me a post which is very physically demanding, emotionally draining and still required high levels of concentration. To make it worse, it was also shift work and involved working up to 8 consecutive days.

Eventually, the only choice I was left with was to take a year off. Even when that was offered they put nothing in writing.

I had to email them to accept an offer that wasn't in writing. When writing to them I laid out the whole discussion so that there was at least some record in writing of the discussions that took place. They have not disputed any of the things that I wrote in my email.

I am really sorry now that I didn't get my union involved - I was just so tired and unwell that I couldn't gather the energy to fight with them anymore.

I hope you get things resolved fairly quickly because I know how stressful it can be to have work worries added to health worries.