I told both my managers (am a specialist and have two) that I was very very Ill and explained it all at the time and took a day here a there when it became too much, I was extremely ill at the time. I probably shouldn’t have been at work at all, but I felt under a lot of pressure plus I was having issues with my GP believing her decreasing my dose was making me ill (my t3 was well below range) so I couldn’t exactly get a sick note.
I’m now facing disciplinary about ‘behaviours’ during that period. They haven’t been clear what it is about yet other than I was apparently ‘defensive’. They also offered me money to leave, I said no.
Has anyone experienced this or have any advice?
At the time I was in constant pain and unable to even stand for more than a minute or two.
I’m still putting a lot of energy into recovery and I just don’t think I can cope with this.
Thanks
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Frances0008
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Frances. If you have a HR department I would have a chat with them. If not then you may want to call ACAS or CAB for some advice. If you have legal cover on either your household or car insurance you may want to look at their legal services as employment is usually covered. As a HR practitioner - your story has a funny smell about it but it would be wrong of me to give advice without the full facts.
They do have a policy at work about disability discrimination and I might have to invoke it, I’m just worried that would put me on a crash course to unemployment which I really can’t handle. I’m still recovering.
Hi I'm a union rep. If your thyroid issue is an autoimmune disease that you have to take medication for the rest of your life to keep you well- not cure you, I would argue the case you may be covered under the equality act 2010. Not a given. But if successful they should discount absences due to your condition. Without a union you could speak to citizens advice perhaps ?
Thanks. Yes it’s so complicated. Basically I didn’t actually have a lot of time off, but kept leaving work halfway through days and falling asleep in the toilets and being rather out of it and complaining a lot about how ill I was. I’m basically being disciplined for my behaviour while ill rather than being off sick. (that my attitude was off, I was negative, and they thought I wasn’t motivated) - they haven’t really given examples, it’s just a bad vibe they got from me.
Perhaps if I’d taken time off I’d not be in this situation but frankly I had no idea what I was doing at the time because
I was so unwell and just trying desperately to keep afloat and get through it. I told them all about why I was going through but they didn’t really seem to get it, one of them even told me I had a mental illness. I guess cos it’s one of those illnesses you can’t see. Yes it’s autoimmune, and it was really bad at the time - t3 well below range and really bad symptoms meaning I struggled badly to climb stairs and get to work. I couldn’t even stand up holding a cup of tea for more than a few seconds. I ended up on the floor in the bathroom taking naps because I was literally falling asleep at my desk. I was in a lot of pain in all the muscles in my body, especially my hands. I did tell them how bad it was.
Check with HR if your company has a policy/guide with regard to time worked before going off I'll home. Where I work as long as you attend the workplace but go home it's classed as a part day absence therefore not on attendance record. Again if your being disciplined for behaviour in work due to chronic illness then there could be a discriminatory element there
Unfortunately employers arnt as understanding anymore. Definitely get some legal advice as someone mentioned ACAS will be a good place to start. Hope u get the issue resolved.
I would put something in writing if you haven't already. Explain how ill you have been feeling and your diagnosis, and the impact that this has had on your ability to complete day-to-day activities, and that you believe this meets the definition of disability under the Equalities Act (You're disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.)
Explain that you have been trying to maintain your work while feeling this unwell (detail the effect this has had on your above) and explain that feeling this unwell at work may of course have made you seem unmotivated or negative, but this was not the case, you were just feeling extremely ill. Explain you have been trying to come into work to avoid long term sick leave. By the way, your GP can still sign you off work based on your symptoms, she doesn't have to believe it is your thyroid causing it. On that note, have to you approached another GP about your results and symptoms - thought about self-medicating or going private if that's affordable.
Ask your firm what reasonable adjustments they could make to make it possible for you to continue at work (if you think this is feasible). TBH, it sounds like you should go off sick though - do you get sick pay?
I am now self medicating. I sent to see a private gp to get an opinion. I’m currently in the slow process of increasing t3 to get to the right level. I’ve also had to do high protein diet and resistance training and physio to get rid of the pain in my joints and muscles. I am getting better tho, and at least I understand it now and can make sure I don’t get ill again.
They’ve even said it’s not a problem anymore (since I’ve been getting better), so frankly it’s all really strange and confusing why they are still going through with it - they said they were waiting for me to be better before disciplining me. They know how sick I’ve been but just don’t seem to understand the connection.
That's bizarre. And contradictory - ie they don't get the connection between your health and your behaviour, yet were waiting for you to be better before disciplining you!
I would still put something in writing. Make it clear the changes in your behaviour were due to how unwell you were feeling (give examples of how your ill health impacted you), that you consider your health condition a disability, and that you were not and never have been unmotivated or negative, just physically unwell. Explain that you felt it better to come into work rather than go on long-term sick leave bu that it was a struggle for you (give examples but I wouldn't say "falling asleep at work" as this can be gross misconduct). Explain that you have taken steps to improve your health now and hope your improved health to continue but as you have a disability your health may wax and wane and I would ask what reasonable adjustments could be made to help you remain at work.
Also, as others have suggested get some employment advice. If you don't have any through insurance see of you can be referred to an employment adviser via your local Cit Ad. ACAS are pants. However, if you have your meeting and it looks like they are trying to dismiss you, contact ACAS and ask to start early conciliation which is the start of the tribunal process. You need to start this within 3 months less 1 day of the date of the discrimination so don't delay.
Do you have a diagnosis and support of your GP. Could they write a letter to your employer explaining your health issues.
Unfortunately struggling along with an illness is never appreciated by the employer. Sometimes it can be better going full time sick and pestering a doctor to sort it out.
I don't know much about this but I believe that if an employer causes an employee stress that is taken seriously, and I think it's fair to say your employer is now causing you stress through not explaining clearly what their complaint (grievance?) is and what they wish you to do. An employer is obliged to offer training if their complaint is that you are not doing the job properly, which doesn't sound like your situation, but they could be trying to go down that line.
It's rotten for you, I feel very sorry for you, I was dismissed while hypo and found it very, very upsetting - use whatever help is available as support, any kind, as you go through this nasty situation.
If your work has an Occupational Health department they may be the folk to talk to with your blood work results... if you believe your bosses have been behaving in a bullying and harassing manner it may be worth making a formal complaint.
Hoping you can get it sorted without any further distress.
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