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Posted 5/11/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)

 Hello

I suffer from severe peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia and today I was told that I am being dismissed from work because I have had 24 sick days in 12 months. I am devastated. 

I attended physiotherapy weekly until Christmas 2009 when a new ruling came out that said a person could only have 12 weeks of physio irrespective of whether their condition was permanent or not. As a direct result of no physio and the cold and damp weather my pain became worse to the point where I am now on MST tablets and take Oramorph and I also take carbamazepine.

I have not received any sympathy from my employer regarding changes in my medication and was only allowed one day to 'get used ' to the increase or change in medication even though they were Class A drugs!

Obviously, I have tried hard and have coped extremely well with my complicated job [I give advice regarding the unilateral and bi-lateral agreements other countries have with the UK to UK residents who live abroad]. I have even been told that the standard of work I produce is extremely high but I have been told that 'rules are rules' and because I exceeded the 20 days sick allowance I was given they are dismissing me!

What can I do now? Can anyone suggest employment they think I could do? - I cannot walk, stand or sit for any length of time. Neither can I lift anything. This pretty much rules out all the jobs I can think of. I am in danger of losing my house if I cannot find another job. Please help. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you cry

Posted 5/11/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sandy, I am terribly sorry for what you're going thru. I wonder if it might be worth retaining a lawyer to see if you have a case against your employer for their dismissal of you. I don't know how it works in the states, but in Canada, most lawyers offer a 30 minute consultation for free. I would also suggest you contact any and all local/government service programs to see if you qualify for EI or other assistance. You can usually find the agencies you need at the front of the phone book.

It sounds like you would be okay with almost any type of office administrative type work - you would be able to move and stretch and change your position in order to stay comfortable and you could probably get around any lifting or carrying situations if needed. Any customer service type role in a call centre would probably be okay as well - you could sit or stand as needed.

I'm not sure what else I can offer as advice, since I know its very different in the States compared to what I would do in your shoes, here in Canada. I will be praying for you and keep you in my thoughts. Good luck!!!

hugs,
Pam
Posted 5/11/2010 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
That stinks. In the USA, we have FMLA. You can take off up to 12 weeks. It is the Family and Medical Leave Act. It's great. You can use it every other year I believe. You can take off all at once or a few days at a time and your job is legally protected!

I may have missed it. Are you from the UK? I wonder if they have something similar. I would start researching the kinds of legal protection you might be able to get for taking off of work because of an illness/disability.

Flower
Posted 5/11/2010 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that does stink.  I agree about calling to see if you can get some kind of assistance with paying your mortgage, food, etc.  I sure do wish you luck.

 

hugs

Loretta

Posted 5/12/2010 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Susie i fully sympathise with you i have recently lost my job due to my ill health and the fact that my GP will not allow me to go back to work as he feels i'm not well enough. I was devastated and i felt like i was no longer a functioning member of society. While it is very upsetting there is a silver lining that it gives you the time needed to focus on managing things well enough to where you can eventually go back to work. This will also give you the opportunity to find a understanding a supportive boss, who will endeavour to do all they can to help you.
Posted 5/12/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
if you're in the US you can also get unemployment benefits, which i think start right away, or state sponsored disability in the short term (they even give that out for maternity leave)... long term you can file for disability thru SSA... I finally got approved for disability but it was a long and ridiculous process, and my diagnosis of addison's is the only reason i finally got approved...

good luck to you, i had many bosses who didn't understand why i was sick all the time either... one even suggested i didn't like my job! sad to have to explain that i liked my job, my body just wouldn't cooperate... is there any way you can get a job and work from home? i have a friend who does medical billing from home so she can set her own hours...
Posted 5/13/2010 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
You can also get unemplyment benefits in Canada as well as some gov assisstance to help out
legal aid is a free lawyer service here in CANADA TOO
GOOD LUCK
KEEPING YOU IN PRAYERS
LYN
Posted 5/13/2010 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
If I were you, I'd get together all the medical documentation you having showing why you were off work so much.  If you showed your boss why you were off, but that you are getting ahead of whatever medical problem has come up that's made it so you couldn't work during the past year, then maybe they'd rescind their decision.

All jobs come with conditions.  Most have for example the right to dismiss without any reason whatsoever for the first 12 months of employment.  After that there are still certain conditions that must be met.  If you agreed to these terms when you were hired (you would have signed the agreement), then I'm afraid that there might not be much more you can do other than find another place where they'll see all you have to offer, but that won't hold against you the bad luck you had with your health this past year.  With national unemployment over 17% (according to USA Today), it's an employers market right now.

Maybe it would be best if you just got your health back first so you won't have to worry about this again on your next job?  Best of luck, Bob.

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