Our contracts at work changed when we were taken over and during that time my lovely mother in law died. So I had the day of the funeral off and another morning when her ashes were interred with husband's dad. We didn't have to do any of the running round as my brother in law and his wife did it all.
It transpired that we were now ONLY allowed such time for 'immediate' family, that was to say parents and children. Not brothers and sisters, and defo not in-laws. Just imagine saying to your spouse, sorry I can't come to your parent's funeral dear, or when your own sibling died, not going.
I said well - you know what you can do with THAT rule, don't you? to which my boss man said, I thought you might say something like that! - and it was never ever discussed again.
I've known people take a fortnight or more off when a parent died (who was very elderly and had had shedloads of strokes etc by then, for years - she lived with them, not like a house had to be cleared etc) and frankly, I think that was taking the hiss. I mean if it affects you so badly you are ill yourself, then that's different - but really! Not unless.
Hospital appts, you very often just don't get any choice of timing, no matter how you try and employers really should accept that, and I think as long as you explain this and do your part and try to play the game, by taking early or late appts where you have a choice, they should appreciate it and not be so stringent. I think flexibility on both sides is what you need - when one side won't play the game then it wrecks it for everyone.
I know it isn't your business Paul, and that you therefore feel you shouldn't inconvenience them whatsoever, but you are a human being and should be treated with respect and YES! a bit of TRUST frankly. It's true it isn't their fault you are diabetic, but it certainly ain't yours either, or do somehow you think it is?
Isn't this the whole point of Disability legislation?
