Hi, my name is Kaz, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year (2007). I have had a number of problems, particularly with boils and abscess', I have also had a couple of toe nails removed. Now I'm asking can any of the members give me any advice on the fact that I have been disaplined at work for having time off work due to the above problems. Surely I should not be in fear of losing my job because of ignorance of this condition. I Thank You in advance.
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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
hi
- Thread starter kaz
- Start date
- Status
H.A.R.D.
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Kaz, If you are in a union you may want to speak to them as your employer may be breaking the Disability discrimination Act. Also check out www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Everyday_life/Work_and_diabetes/ which has some useful guidance and contacts.
Your employer is required to consider whether your require reasonable adjustments in order to accomodate your diabetes, but this does not mean they are required to not discipline you for breaking their rules on sickness or to allow you more paid sick leave than your colleages. Employers are entitled to discipline or sack people who cannot meet their requirements, where those requirements are genuine.
I suggest you speak to them about how you are managing your diabetes - do they have an occupational health department who may be able to help with advice on what they and you should expect in the future or help you with contacting your GP to ensure you are getting all the NHS support you need? Perhaps they need reassurance that you are minimising your absences with appts outside working hours as much as possible, and to discuss how you and they can minimise the impact on your work? It may help to discuss your absences with your HR/Occ Health/Manager to ensure you all have the same understanding of your condition, it's impact on work and what your future absences might be like.
Sorry not to be more cheerful, but I hope this is of some help.
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Anime Gay
I suggest you speak to them about how you are managing your diabetes - do they have an occupational health department who may be able to help with advice on what they and you should expect in the future or help you with contacting your GP to ensure you are getting all the NHS support you need? Perhaps they need reassurance that you are minimising your absences with appts outside working hours as much as possible, and to discuss how you and they can minimise the impact on your work? It may help to discuss your absences with your HR/Occ Health/Manager to ensure you all have the same understanding of your condition, it's impact on work and what your future absences might be like.
Sorry not to be more cheerful, but I hope this is of some help.
________
Anime Gay
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Hi KateF
"Appointments outside working hours"? I would attend these if I could, but none of my various health professionals offers them. I have to turn up at the time given to me or risk being kicked off their list. The GP is particularly threatening about this, demanding I attend "prescription reviews" (as if I have somehow been cured since the last pointless appointment) and annual reviews with them, despite the fact that I already attend regular reviews at the hospital. If I do not attend the additional GP appointments, they do not give me my insulin. My hospital and surgery are not near my work, I usually need about an hour to get there and get back by bus. For my annual review the letter tells me to arrive half an hour early so the nurses can take my blood. But then I get there, and they take blood in plenty of time before the appointment, and I have to wait for that half an hour until the appointment time and then another half an hour or more until the doctor sees me, they are always very late. It seems we are between a rock and a hard place sometimes, doctors demand we attend when they want us to, employers want us to attend when they want (ie outside working hours). If doctors were ever on time, or could ring us and tell us they were running half an hour behind schedule so we could leave work later, it might help. If we are even five minutes late from traffic, our appointment is cancelled. Yet it is Ok for doctors to keep us waiting for half an hour or more. Last annual review I spent most of the afternoon at the hospital just for them to take my blood and weight, and a five minute appointment with the doctor. If appointments were available outside working hours, I would gladly attend them. Instead doctors want me to spend time sitting waiting at their clinic while I am supposed to be working. It would be more convenient to attend outside working hours, I would not have to race out of work to get my repeat prescription before the surgery closes, for example.
Basically what I am saying is it is not our fault if doctors demand all these appointments in working hours and hold us to ransom. Luckily my employer is generous and my health is ok, don't know what I would do if I got ill or moved to a less tolerant employer.
Kaz, I have sympathy for you. I would suggest talking to your doctor and asking for a letter explaining your health problems. Is there any way you can reduce your hours or work on a flexi basis until you feel better, or maybe work from home? It seems very strict to discipline you and not try to work out a compromise, if someone is a hardworking loyal employee and is suffering ill health, their employer should try to help them. Stress can definitely affect diabetes and make any problems worse, since it makes your blood sugars go up and down, so by doing this and causing you more stress, your employer is making things much worse, when the aim for both of you should be to reduce your stress and get you well enough to go back to work. Did you declare your diabetes when you got the job (or when diagnosed if that happened later)? If your employer was aware of your condition then they should make reasonable adjustments under the DDA as I understand it.
"Appointments outside working hours"? I would attend these if I could, but none of my various health professionals offers them. I have to turn up at the time given to me or risk being kicked off their list. The GP is particularly threatening about this, demanding I attend "prescription reviews" (as if I have somehow been cured since the last pointless appointment) and annual reviews with them, despite the fact that I already attend regular reviews at the hospital. If I do not attend the additional GP appointments, they do not give me my insulin. My hospital and surgery are not near my work, I usually need about an hour to get there and get back by bus. For my annual review the letter tells me to arrive half an hour early so the nurses can take my blood. But then I get there, and they take blood in plenty of time before the appointment, and I have to wait for that half an hour until the appointment time and then another half an hour or more until the doctor sees me, they are always very late. It seems we are between a rock and a hard place sometimes, doctors demand we attend when they want us to, employers want us to attend when they want (ie outside working hours). If doctors were ever on time, or could ring us and tell us they were running half an hour behind schedule so we could leave work later, it might help. If we are even five minutes late from traffic, our appointment is cancelled. Yet it is Ok for doctors to keep us waiting for half an hour or more. Last annual review I spent most of the afternoon at the hospital just for them to take my blood and weight, and a five minute appointment with the doctor. If appointments were available outside working hours, I would gladly attend them. Instead doctors want me to spend time sitting waiting at their clinic while I am supposed to be working. It would be more convenient to attend outside working hours, I would not have to race out of work to get my repeat prescription before the surgery closes, for example.
Basically what I am saying is it is not our fault if doctors demand all these appointments in working hours and hold us to ransom. Luckily my employer is generous and my health is ok, don't know what I would do if I got ill or moved to a less tolerant employer.
Kaz, I have sympathy for you. I would suggest talking to your doctor and asking for a letter explaining your health problems. Is there any way you can reduce your hours or work on a flexi basis until you feel better, or maybe work from home? It seems very strict to discipline you and not try to work out a compromise, if someone is a hardworking loyal employee and is suffering ill health, their employer should try to help them. Stress can definitely affect diabetes and make any problems worse, since it makes your blood sugars go up and down, so by doing this and causing you more stress, your employer is making things much worse, when the aim for both of you should be to reduce your stress and get you well enough to go back to work. Did you declare your diabetes when you got the job (or when diagnosed if that happened later)? If your employer was aware of your condition then they should make reasonable adjustments under the DDA as I understand it.
Hi Lizzie,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, as soon as I was diagnosed I informed my employer. I do understand that it is difficult for them when some-one gets sick, but the frustrating thing for me is that I did paperwork for my manager whilst off. Working from home is not an option as I work in retail.
Kind Regards
Kaz🙂
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, as soon as I was diagnosed I informed my employer. I do understand that it is difficult for them when some-one gets sick, but the frustrating thing for me is that I did paperwork for my manager whilst off. Working from home is not an option as I work in retail.
Kind Regards
Kaz🙂
Hi again Kaz
It sounds like you tried your best and did all the right things. I am looking for a new job myself and I know that it is a stressful process, especially right now with the recession and stuff. But if I were you I would keep an eye open, look at job sites and start applying and see where it gets you. At the same time, get up to date with any training you can get in your current job. I know what it is like to be unappreciated, that is why I am looking for a new job, it is horrible, and you deserve better. Who knows, you may even end up with a salary raise in a new job, and you will meet new people and have new experiences.
It sounds like you tried your best and did all the right things. I am looking for a new job myself and I know that it is a stressful process, especially right now with the recession and stuff. But if I were you I would keep an eye open, look at job sites and start applying and see where it gets you. At the same time, get up to date with any training you can get in your current job. I know what it is like to be unappreciated, that is why I am looking for a new job, it is horrible, and you deserve better. Who knows, you may even end up with a salary raise in a new job, and you will meet new people and have new experiences.
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