I have worked as a caretaker for 30 years, 12 of them at my current school. I love my school and my job, and I am very popular with the staff parents and children. I am 69, work 5 hours a day, and have no plans to retire. 2 years ago, almost to the day, I started to feel the effects of low blood sugars. My manager, a young man, told me I was drunk, and suspended me, his manager investigated my case. I am a former police officer, and I told the inquiry that there was no evidence to substantiate drunkenness, and that the classic mistake of confusing a case of low blood sugars against drunkenness has been common, especially among police officers, and they would have to drop the allegation. A letter through my door confirmed this a few days later. I was not told to my face, as I think there was a certain amount of embarrassment. it's worse when it happens in court. Since that time, I have been persecuted by the school, telling me I cannot do, most of the jobs I normally do, including the lock up. They say, I should not be on site on my own. I have a grievance procedure out against the school for ageism and discrimination, overseen by GMB, a body I would highly recommend. My boss has written a Being Safe at Work paper directed at me and the safeguards in place. She tells me she has much experience with diabetis at a previous job. I am suspicious of that, In her paper, she constantly refers to my condition as Type 1 Diabetis. My Diabetis is onset, I am Type 2. The paper she has produced, I can only anticipate, comes from a search engine. We all know, that controlled sugar levels, leaves in most cases a pretty healthy individual. I have explained to the school on many occassions, that I am not at the stage, where I pass out without warning. They use the word collapse. Basically, she is using my Diabetis as a club against me and endeavouring to force me to leave my lovely little job. I am typical to my breed, I am an old dog, no teeth left, but still plenty of bark. I will fight to the last. Especially against discrimination.
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Discrimination
- Thread starter Druentia
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Vonny
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Druentia and sorry you are having a hard time of it. Unfortunately in these days of litigation, large companies inevitably cover their backs. If you have previously had a hypo while at work the assumption will be that is could happen again. I'm not saying it is right, but it is what happens in this day and age. I was off work for 3 months a couple of years ago when I broke my ankle in 3 places (largely because they wouldn't let me in the office due to H&S rules) and was put on absence monitoring for the first time in my life at 60 years old! They explained it was company policy but it didn't sit well with me at all as I hadn't had a day's sickness before or since.
I suggest you get in touch with Diabetes UK to talk things through.
Call: 0345 123 2399*, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm - Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Keep on barking! Best of luck and hope someone else will be along soon who might be able to help you
I suggest you get in touch with Diabetes UK to talk things through.
Call: 0345 123 2399*, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm - Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Keep on barking! Best of luck and hope someone else will be along soon who might be able to help you
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Druentia and welcome to the forum. Have you been formally diagnosed with T2 diabetes and are you taking any medication for it? I ask because low blood glucose is unlikely to be at the bottom of what you describe unless you are taking some particular medications or are on insulin. The problem with T2 is high blood glucose and that generally gives symptoms which do not include apparent drunkenness.
The suggestion to talk to Diabetes UK on the help line is a good idea where somebody will be able to go through the basics with you because from what you have said, there seems to be misunderstanding all round on what diabetes involves.
The suggestion to talk to Diabetes UK on the help line is a good idea where somebody will be able to go through the basics with you because from what you have said, there seems to be misunderstanding all round on what diabetes involves.
Hi
Thanks for the advice, I am insulin dependant but I have GMB union behind me. I will ring the help line though, as I want better advice on how I can combat this over the top care they are trying to give me.
Many thanks
Hi
I am insulin dependant. And I am a lot better at control these days. I have GMB union behind me as we think there is an unhealthy move to get rid of me. I will contact the health line, as I hope they can advise me on my diabetic status at work.
Just joined this site, seems really good.
Many thanks
Hi
it is a case of constructive dismisal. They thought I would retire. I didn't. Now they don't like it, and I'm tough, I'm not moving.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
That makes more sense. Get the balance between insulin intake and what and when you eat wrong and you could finish up hypoglycaemic (abnormally low blood glucose). Any decent employer (assuming they knew about your diabetes) should be concerned for your health and setting things up so that you can test and correct rather than be accusing you of drunkenness.
Good that you have your Union behind you. Hopefully, between you, you can get your employer to understand that they should not mess with us wrinklies.
D
Deleted member 21371
Guest
Did you inform your employer you were on insulin when you started to take it?
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I would be asking them if in their opinion no one using insulin should be left alone/unaccompanied or live alone for that matter.
It's a mute point. Not only that, it is a pertinent one. Job wise, feel on the edge. I have this going on. But I also have a claim against the school for a fall I had on July 8th. I was off for 10 weeks. I am currently on a phased return. In my return meeting, last Monday, at the end of the meeting, I asked if I would be out on a phased return. This is my right. I was asked, why I would W want it. My union agreed with me, and I got what was my right. These are the things I have to put up with. Information on my accident are withheld. Silence. But people are asking who will get the answers. And guess what? I'm 69, I've never backed down, and I'm not ganywhere.
mark king
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I'd like to know what your contract of employment says about your retirement age?
If you are now 69 you are beyond expected retirement age of 66 for both men and women but it depends what your contract says.............................. see>>>
Employment Contract
Some employment contracts state the employment of an individual automatically ends when that employee reaches a specified age. If there is one of these clauses in your contract, your employment will end on the date specified.
However, employees cannot sign away their employment rights in their contract of employment. Therefore, if your employment contract ends due to your age, you will likely be able to claim against your employer for age discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Forewarned.
Compulsory and forced retirement is possible, but only for employers who can demonstrate a clear and justified need for it in the relevant sectors. The safest course for employers to protect themselves against unfair discrimination is to judge employees by their capabilities and not their age.
Best
If you are now 69 you are beyond expected retirement age of 66 for both men and women but it depends what your contract says.............................. see>>>
Employment Contract
Some employment contracts state the employment of an individual automatically ends when that employee reaches a specified age. If there is one of these clauses in your contract, your employment will end on the date specified.
However, employees cannot sign away their employment rights in their contract of employment. Therefore, if your employment contract ends due to your age, you will likely be able to claim against your employer for age discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Forewarned.
Compulsory and forced retirement is possible, but only for employers who can demonstrate a clear and justified need for it in the relevant sectors. The safest course for employers to protect themselves against unfair discrimination is to judge employees by their capabilities and not their age.
Best
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Good morning
I'm not that clued up these days. But, I think I am right in saying that pensionable age now, refers to our state pension, which I received at 65, it then went to 66, and my partner will receive hers in December, at age 67. As to actual retirement, I believe the law was changed several years ago, so that people could work on. I was asked by my manager a few days ago, about my plans to retire, and I later wrote to his boss, telling her that the school does not question me about retirement, But I can raise the subject with them. I received no reply. I generally dont. But I have people working on my behalf, who cannot be ignored, my union for one, and a claims company currently taking the school to task for a fall I had, where I was off for ten weeks. With regards to my contract, it is very clever, in that its about 3 lines, allows them to direct me to do anything.
Have a great Sunday
Mike
I'm not that clued up these days. But, I think I am right in saying that pensionable age now, refers to our state pension, which I received at 65, it then went to 66, and my partner will receive hers in December, at age 67. As to actual retirement, I believe the law was changed several years ago, so that people could work on. I was asked by my manager a few days ago, about my plans to retire, and I later wrote to his boss, telling her that the school does not question me about retirement, But I can raise the subject with them. I received no reply. I generally dont. But I have people working on my behalf, who cannot be ignored, my union for one, and a claims company currently taking the school to task for a fall I had, where I was off for ten weeks. With regards to my contract, it is very clever, in that its about 3 lines, allows them to direct me to do anything.
Have a great Sunday
Mike
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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