after spending the last 15 years with the same employer I've applied for another job, as the muppets can't/won't accomodate my disability.
Chat Forum
Wish me luck.......
-
Posted 8 months ago #
-
Good luck!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Thanks RM, I've applied pre-emptively, got a meeting with HR & the union tommorrow so might be able to withdraw my application yet, which would be good, I have some great friends where I currently work and if my employer could just make a few reasonable adjustments I'm fairly sure I can get back to the level I was at before the big C attacked my brain.
Just that when HR are talking of up to 3 months to redploy me, and if it doesn't work terminating my contract, then at least applying for a safety net seems like a safety net.Posted 8 months ago # -
It's a risk, but sometimes we need take them
Posted 8 months ago # -
i would also recommend a chat with a employment lawyer....may be up for a unfair descision/discrimination situation
Posted 8 months ago # -
OP can you explain your situation in a little more detail?
Posted 8 months ago # -
Best of luck with the application then
Posted 8 months ago # -
Good luck, don't think I could stand spending 15 years at the same job, hope things work out for you!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Best of luck with the application
Posted 8 months ago # -
Let us know how it goes, and aye, some more gossip....
Posted 8 months ago # -
Difficult to summarise, but here goes:
Diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2009, operated on then and returned to work part time in Sept 2009.
Tumour recurred by dec 2009 so second surgery in Jan 2010, followed by 6 weeks radiotherapy. Off until this time last year, Oct 2010, had a phased return but organisational changes meant occupational health support had altered and rather than working in a compact two person office everyone was in a bloody big & noisy shared office - I was well aware I had a concentration/distractability problem by this point, but my colleague constantly referred to a memory problem, which TBH was probably worse before being diagnosed with the original BT. Lots of fatigue, which is one of the long term effects of a BT & brain radiotherapy & can't be treated with anything really.
Back in January colleague went to our line manager with concerns about my "memory", and from then on I was working under supervision until end of March, when I was removed from my clinical role with minimal notice (2 days) and placed into what has now developed into a none clinical role. OH referred me at managers request for neuropsychological assessment, which I did well at (in summary, multi-tasking is a no-no) but despite consultant psychologist providing a list of 8 "reasonable adjustments" manager & HR drone are just refusing to move.
Current situation (apart from me applying for another job) is that union & myself are waiting for manager & HR to respond to the 8 reasonable adjustments with proper answers, if they cannot or will not meet them then they have to offer their own RA's. One of these RA's is being allowed to use a quieter area to choose to work from, taking & making phone calls etc, and clinical support & supervision with some of the extended & higher duties of my role such as prescribing - my manager interprets the "quiet area" as being a request for a private office and has turned down this simple request quite angrily.
Union guy, who is a full time regional officer, has a feeling that this will potentially go to an emplyment tribunal as line manager has not followed procedures (again), something that she is apparently infamous for, and while her first meeting, that occured without my knowledge or consent, with HR took place with a HR manager subsequent meetings have been attended by a HR drone, who sits taking notes following an obviously rigid & preplanned set of answers, no, no, no, no. Union guy has told manager to seek senior advice & hinted that he expects a HR manager or deputy manager to start to attend meetings so that we can get constructive. Employer wants me to follow a redployment policy that ultimately means they could terminate my contract at the end of 3 months.I truly do not think I have a hope of changing jobs currently, but wasn't prepared to pass up the option as my area of expertise is quite specialist, so few jobs available, but equally current employer uses this stress/specialist knowledge/clinical risk as a reason for me not to return to role, with or without RA's in place. Manager seems more concerned about protecting my colleague, who has placed herself under more stress for the last 7 years by insisting on working part time, term time weeks only, she's now complaining she wouldn't be paid enough to supervise my return to practice because she is paid pro-rata even though out contracts are on the same pay band.
Ill health retirement does not seem to be an option, as the policy contains a clause of incapacity until expected retirement age, so in my case there would have to be proof of no changes in my condition for 18 years. Google glioma brain tumour and look up patient outcomes to understand my frustrations at being stonewalled with respect to ill health retirement.
Legally if my employer remains so immovable, the union rep feels that the union would legally back an ET for disability discrimination, so long term part of me just feels like riding the storm out and seeing what develops in the coming months. Isn't doing my mental health any good, Mrs MFL likes me a lot more at weekends than weekdays when I am a ball of stress and fit to kill someone.
PS not riding enough as stress = more fatigue, so at weekends just CBA'd dragging my sorry fat arse out on the trails, despite riding being something that I know reduces my stress levels.
Sorry about the length of the post, and the moaning whinginess nature of the problem. Good to decompress in a fairly anonymous manner though. Cheers guys.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I hope your employer sees sense and sorts this out for you. The last thing anyone in your position needs is more stress, I'd imagine.
Sounds like you're getting good advice via the union too.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I geniunely do wish you luck, it sounds like you've been through a horrific experience and should be proud of how well you're doing. Employer should be doing far more to help you imo
Posted 7 months ago # -
flame - Member
i would also recommend a chat with a employment lawyer....may be up for a unfair descision/discrimination situation+ One has the employer must look after you. So get the correct advice
has the disability you have is the reason for you leaving.Posted 7 months ago # -
Well, got offered an interview for the job but I've withdrawn. My current employer has offered a solution with more scurity than the job I'd applied for as other job would be a 12 month fixed term contract, and my union is pushing for them to treat this change as a reasonable adjustment, which may also mean protected pay. Other job would also lengthen my working day by an hour at least due to commute on local unreliable train service, whereas current job is 15 minute walk away.
Employer wants to consider the job offered as a redeployment, which would mean no protected pay, but union guy is taking legal advice and told employer that lack of protected pay woul probably go to tribunal. The new job on paper would mean approx 500 quid less per month, but less tax, superannuation would lessen this shock somewhat. I'll also move out of higher rate income tax as well.
Still not perfect or rosy, but feeling decidedly happier than I was a month ago.Posted 6 months ago # -
Best of luck, both with the job and with the tumour (did wonder about your username). My dad had an ogliodendroglioma, and the treatment knocked him about too (although he was relatively lucky, he didn't have surgery or chemo/radiotherapy until 10 years or so after diagnosis, he was just on anti-seizure medication). Keep fighting the good fight!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Good luck
You have a strong case it would appear and good advice
Posted 6 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
