• 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.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Sickness And How It Affects Work

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
M

MANDYC

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello all,
I have been ill for the past week with a bold cold. My sugars have been very high whulst ill and are getting worse. I now have a trace of keytones as well. I have spoken to the Nurse at my new Doctors but she couldnt offier and advice I didnt already know. I am testing every tow hours/have increased my basal Insulin etc. My main concern is that I am due back at work but darent ring in sick as my boss isnt exactly supportive with my condition. I was just wandering if anyone knows waht rights we have as diabetics and sickness. Like with pregnancy related illness does this not count towards your sickness record? I am also under threat of redundancy and dont want my diabetes related sickness to count against me as I know they may try and use it. I dont think the stress of all this is helping with my sugar levels either. Has anyone any experience of this. Any advice would be extremely helpful.
 
Hi Mandy, you are protected by the Equality Act 2010 against your employer discriminating against you because of your diabetes:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to...ployment-and-diabetes-/The-Equality-Act-2010/

You can't help being ill, it happens to most people at some time in their working life, and diabetes makes it especially difficult to deal with, so try not to worry - call work and explain. If necessary your nurse, GP or consultant can provide evidence to support you. It's an awful situation to be in, but they can't use your diabetes as a reason to make you redundant.

I hope you are feeling much better very soon 🙂
 
we all get ill sometimes, I hope you are feeling better.

Where I work I am given more leeway if illness is diabetes related, although every so often I get sent to occupational health. I go as it then gives me a little more leeway with things.
 
As always with anything employment related, the best solution is to seek advice from your union - assuming you're a member.

However, I'm slightly surprised that an employer would prefer to have someone spreading their cold germs around colleagues in workplace instead of staying at home and keeping their infection to themselves.

If you're no longer infectious, then you should be able to manage your blood glucose levels wherever you are, and work without passing on your germs. Whether still sneezing or stopped, an example of Sick Day Rules should help you eg http://www.diabetesuffolk.com/managingdiabetes/Sick day rules.htm
 
Join a union if not already a member!

If you're ill and can't go to work, you shouldn't be penalised. And if you're made redundant and you even suspect that diabetes may be a reason for your selection, you have grounds to appeal (disability discrimination). I wouldn't advise doing it without union support, so make sure you're a member before anything untoward happens - it's worth every penny just for the peace of mind. Good luck.
 
and if you are not a member of the union or don't want to join places like the CAB can advise, or if you have a law centre near you they may be able to help.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top