Employment expectations when you have an underactive thyroid.

[159yogi]

Hi just joined so new to this...just been told I have an underactive thyroid. ..now I can finally start to understand what's been happening to my body for the last few years....muscle pains...headaches for 3 to 4 days..continually tired..lack of sleep and weight gain to mention a few...

Originally I thought it was down to my job as I work in domicilary care on a one to one basis...14hr one day and 8 the next then 6 hrs and maybe finish with another 14hr. ..as you can imagine your body aches all over after 14hrs and you think your feet are going to fall off...you are unable to leave the person so no breaks either...it's a very challenging job...

Anyway I am very ill at the moment and I am in the process of losing my dad to prostrate cancer so a lot going on...

Work have decided to change my rota after knowing what I have going on..

One of the shifts would now mean me working a 16hr day...I would need to be up at 4 am to travel to get there plus the other shifts in the week...

I said I didn't feel I could do due to my thyroid problem and my dad...and it has made no difference. ..I have in 12 and a half years very rarely had time off sick..even now I have been working...

It's getting harder though...and I am feeling very stressed about it...the company has no hr department. ..plus I don't want to lose my job as I live on my own and have a morgage to pay....

Any advice please.....

[Fleurgiddy]

Employers can be ruthless, however they have to follow employment law. Speak to ACAS to find out what your rights are and if they are adhering to them, they can help you tackle the problem. Also, if you are entitled to sick pay, to and see you doctor and ask him to sign you off for a month or so, you sound like you need it! Worst case scenario, change employers - don't be afraid to. I'm in same position as you and I stood up to mine :-). Good luck x

[159yogi in reply to Fleurgiddy]

Ok...they don't pay sick pay as a rule they never have.I would only get statutory.it's the fact they have no understanding thats so anoying.I am not one to be off sick unless I have to...trying to get my head around too many things at the moment and my bodies telling me enough is enough I think...

Thank you for your reply I will talk to them and see if there is some kind of outcome.

[SilverAvocado]

In my experience the answer is what you don't want to hear Employers can be extremely ruthless, or even just thoughtless, which leads to no attempt at understanding. Also, altho employers have obligations to accommodate you, the bottom line with that is that if you become unable to fulfill the role they are paying you for, they don't have to keep you on.

Personally, I don't think a hypothyroid person should work those kinds of demanding hours. It's probably having a huge impact on your health, and lots of your symptoms would probably reduce if you were able to work a more forgiving week, or even to take breaks. My partner is hypothyroid and works full time. Altho he's been stable for decades, he's become ill again in the past couple of years. If he stayed an average of an hour extra each day for a week, he would get enormously worse. He's now gone down to 4 days per week and is just barely managing with that.

I think part of being ill and learning to cope with it is that you have to deprioritise work, and accept that you can't do what you used to do earlier in your life. You will have to fight to get reduced hours, but health is just a lot more important. The good news for you is that you will probably experience loads of relief from symptoms by stopping your current work schedule, and you're likely still capable of working full time, because that's a lot easier than what you're currently doing.

[159yogi in reply to SilverAvocado]

Yes I agree I do have a very demanding job both physically and mentally and the hours are just pants to be honest....and I totally agree I so think the hours have contributed to my health..

I will have to think long and hard about changing jobs and definitely the hours as I can not see the company changing...it's been pretty much up and down with then for twelve years...I need to look after me...be ok once I have the ball rolling I think. .

Thank you

[SilverAvocado in reply to 159yogi]

Good luck! It's a really hard thing to do, but I think also feels really refreshing to start putting yourself first.