Injection problems at work.

[jusme]

My son who is T1 started a new job 8 months ago and has been very happy as he is well thought of as he is a very good worker, A new term (college) has recently started and some complaints have been made about him having his insulin injection at the table when he is able to assess how many carbs it contains and the insulin he needs. He has been told to look at the menu and work out his insulin by that and go into the TOILETS to do his injection which he refused to do. He offered to bring a packed lunch but was told no and that he should eat with his workmates. He has an appointment with HR but is there any information I can give him from anyone who has been though this.
Many thanks

Jusme

 

[Sally71]

Who is complaining? People don't have to look!

The one thing that springs to mind is can they provide the carb content of all the food on the menu? If so then maybe he can do it that way, if they insist that he injects in private though surely they can offer him somewhere better than the toilets? E.g. An unused office?

Companies have to provide reasonable adjustments for diabetes, so they must listen to his concerns and at least try to reach some sort of compromise. So if they can't help him with carb counts, can they understand then that he can't work it out accurately until he's seen the portion size, and it's not exactly reasonable then to expect him to leave the food sitting there going cold while he goes off somewhere else to do his injection. Do the menus repeat though, maybe after a few weeks when he's got the hang of how many carbs are in everything he could do it from the menu? At my daughter's school they email me the menu every week, and I have a list of most of the foods with their carb counts. We tot up everything she wants to eat that day and send her choices back to school so that they can make sure she gets what she has bolused for. She then goes to the medical room to do her bolus and then has a queue jump pass when she gets to the canteen so that she can get her food and eat before the insulin kicks in. Some of the items we've had to guess the carb count and we try to monitor everything, so for example if she regularly goes low after one particular thing has been on the menu then we've probably guessed that one too high! It works for us, I know of other schools though where the children just inject at the table (discreetly of course) and nobody cares. I hope it goes well with your son's HR appointment!

 

[mikeyB]

The first thing to ask is who is complaining, and why. As Sally says, they are obliged to make reasonable allowances for diabetes. Injecting in a toilet is NOT a reasonable allowance. Toilets are teeming with bacteria. He needs to make representations to HR.

I used to regularly inject in the canteen at work. I’ve injected on trains, in Michelin starred restaurants, roadside cafes, and nobody has ever noticed. It is possible to inject discretely, count the clicks under the table and bung it in - I have no qualms about injecting through a shirt or trousers with modern ultra fine needles. Never had a problem. Now that I’m usually in a wheelchair it’s easier, because people avoid looking in case I drool or dribble food into my beard

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

That's unacceptable. There is and employment advocacy pack somewhere on the website, also you could ring the helpline for advice.

 

[Ljc]

Why on earth do they think injecting insulin in a toilet is acceptable, I don’t even inject in my own bathroom and it’s far more hygienic than loos used by msny other people at work
I Suspect one of the other diners has complained. I do hope his HR dept backs him up and sorts out the complainants.

Here is our helpline number it would be worth giving them a call for info and support in this matter.
+443451232399
When I am eating out I inject at the table, with a little practice it’s easy to do everything fairly discretely under the table and like @mikeyB I jab through my clothes but only because the clothes I usually wear would mean exposing too much flesh in public, and at my age that is not a pretty sight

 

[Brando77]

If I injected insulin I would do it anywhere I like. As for using the WC.....nope siree, not gonna happen. Hope he gets something sorted as if he hasn't got enough on his plate without B*****d complaining snowflakes.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Who is complaining? People don't have to look!

Yes. Very strange, at least when you're using abdomen there's an excellent chance nobody will notice. And regardless, I'm not sure why anyone cares.

As for using the toilet: have they ever been in a men's toilet?

 

[Bronco Billy]

Instinct is telling me that your son should be allowed to inject where he wants. To be sure, you will find some useful information at https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/employment

 

[Loulou23]

Hi Jusme
I am a senior HR professional (allegedly ) and the advice everyone has given you is correct. The company has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments. Your son is covered by the equalities act. Injecting in a toilet is definitely not reasonable and I would go so far as to suggest they are discriminating against him for suggesting he should and that how he has his meals will be different to everyone else (I.e cold or later or whatever if he has to buy it, leave to inject and then come back).
I hope the HR team are up to speed. He can ask for a copy of their equalities policy which should give some guidance. If there is a friendly health and safety rep I would suggest he asks them for a view on having to inject in a toilet. He could even get a risk assessment completed to show this is not acceptable.

You can also access lots of information on line - try ACAS who have plenty of straight forward guidance.

Stepping down off my soap box now. I’m just appalled by the attitude of some people I hope this is quickly resolved for him and doesn’t stop him enjoying his new job.

Best wishes 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

You son should absolutely not be forced (or even asked!) to inject in a toilet.

As others have said ‘reasonable adjustments’ should be made.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Wouldn’t take any notice. Just carry on regardless. If approached again I would ask for complainants name or names so I know who to address when I go to the newspapers .

 

[Abi]

Agree100% with what has already been said
The only addition is that surely they cannot insist he eats the canteen food if he would prefer to bring in a packed lunch due to individual preference, dietary requirements or budgetary constraints
Some people need to get over themselves- if they really are affronted bt the site of a 4mm ultra fine gauge needle they can look away and count themselves lucky for having such good vision

 

[jusme]

Thank you so much for all your replies to my thread. I have passed all the information on to my son who has just phoned me to say he is going to sit down after he has had his breakfast and read it all and he will then be well prepared to go to his HR appointment later this morning.

I will let you know the outcome.

jusme

 

[Ljc]

Thank you so much for all your replies to my thread. I have passed all the information on to my son who has just phoned me to say he is going to sit down after he has had his breakfast and read it all and he will then be well prepared to go to his HR appointment later this morning.

I will let you know the outcome.

jusme

I wish him well.

 

[Sally71]

I hope it all goes well and he manages to get his case across successfully!

 

[Diabetes UK]

Hi @jusme , hope your son has made some progress with this? There is an advocacy pack about employment and diabetes that you can look at. As everyone has mentioned, it is about reasonable adjustments and finding the right solution for everyone. His employer need to be finding workable solutions and if an 'adjustment' that thye have suggested, such as going to the toilet to administer medication does not remove a disadvantage, or inded creates a disadvantage, this is a failure to make a reasonable adjustment.

If your son wanted to inject his insulin in the toilets (or at least somewhere privately), then his employer should allow him to do so and help to provide a suitable space for him to do this. But they should not be forcing him to administer injections in a particular place and asking him to do so, especially if he does not have the preference to go to a private space, and so could be putting him at a disadvantage.
If they wish him to eat with his colleagues, then they should certainly be supporting him to be able to manage his diabetes without being put at a disadvantage such as sending him to the toilets.

He may also find something like this helpful : https://diabetes-resources-producti...gration/pdf/YA-Type-1-factsheet-workplace.pdf
Perhaps helping colleagues to understand his condition better as well, could support them in being more understanding when he needs to manage his medical condition.

If you would like to speak to someone, you can call our Advocacy service on 0345 123 2399 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) to discuss employment concerns with them as well.
Good luck!

 

[Big E]

Hello Mum & thanks for getting the ball rolling, I must admit finding you was a tad tricky as i was viewing another site but it all finally clicked all in place

Well HR meeting appeared to go well as it was held with the department head/boss as he assured myself he was familiar with the equality act 2010, but i think that was a slight bluff as he mentioned afterwards oh so you are type 1 ! Reasonable adjustments have been made at one site to which i am happy with but 2nd site we are to meet on Monday for a site meeting with catering management & this may be where some discrimination may be held ?

As one can imagine working at private school can be a little be clicky or at least we will just say school politics & it would appear that a few people unknown to myself feel uncomfortable at the dinning hall table whilst i get medicated for chow time 😱


Gotta love those smileys as they can explain a lot.

It is work in progress Ma, my boss is feeling stupid & HR are aware i'm thinking about it... see ya soon for shopping.

Lots of love Big E & big thank you to you all.

 

[Loulou23]

Glad to hear things seem to be moving in the right direction 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

That's 1 of the reasons I am SELF-EMPLOYED. Don't get told off by ignored people 😉. Please tell your son good luck & 99.9 % of people would be on his side 😎

 

[Ljc]

Glad you found the right site and that things seem to be heading in the right direction. Hope you have no problems with the other site.
If you do you know where we are.