Have a disability and looking for a new job...

Phoebe-

Hi

I have a bit of a problem at the moment, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice please?

I have a condition called M.E, which is similar to glandular fever, which I've had since I was 13. When I was 17 I got my first job, and I was about 95% okay just more tired than others perhaps. In my first 2 jobs I worked 'normal' hours i.e 9-5 and I was fine, no sickness due to my illness, just once due to tonsilitiais.

I lost my previous job due to them cutting back on staff with the credit crunch, and got a job at a call centre in a well known car insurance company. There was shift work, but it wasn't too bad and I was fine, as the 'late' shift was only once every 8 weeks.

However, in January last year they changed the shifts, so we worked lates every other week. So we'd do 8-5 or 9-6 one week, and then 11-8/10-8 the following week.

I was okay with this for a while, but then I got swine flu in August last year, and from that got tonsilitis, then quincy...and it went on and on and I ended up having 2 1/2 months off work.

After returning my M.E was the worst it's ever been, and my Dr's confirmed it was more than likely due to the shift work as I was still recovering, and the main treatment for M.E is to 'pace' yourself. I,e you get up at the same time, go to bed at the same time everyday and have a proper routine. Whereas one week I'm up at 7am, the next it's 9am as I'm not getting him until 9.30 at night. Basically it's no good for me!

After countless arguements with work they refuse point blank to let me do better shifts, and it's resulted in me having sick time when we're on the lates as I physically cannot do it. On the earlies I'm fine tho, as I now am in the routine of getting up at 7am etc etc regardless of what shift I'm on.

Anyway, I've had a lot of sick, and I realise I need a 'normal' 9-5.30 job as it's the only way I'll be okay. Obviously the job market sucks right now, but I've found a job perfectttt for me. I'm perhaps a little overqualified for it, as it's only minimum wage, but to be honest, I'd be taking home the same amount of money anyway, because of all my sick days now! And like I said, this job really is perfect for me!

I've been invited for an interview next week, and on the application form I had in, they've asked how much sick I've had and why. Obviously I know I have to declare it because my reference from my current job will say about my sickness if I get it I assume?
But I just don't know how to go around explaining it. Because I'm not stupid, I KNOW it sounds awful. But I don't know how the make them believe I actually won't be sick, as even my Dr's have agreed the shifts are doing this to me.

I feel like I need to wait till my sickness improves before I change jobs, but then whilst I'm there it won't improve...so I'm really stuck right now.

Does anyone have any advice at all please? It would be greatfully appreciated!

Thankyou!

Googlewhacker

Hi

Have you formally asked for the same shifts as a reasonable adjustment under the DDA? Presumably if I read correctly you only do lates one in 8 weeks at the moment?

Uncertain

In amongst a lot of rubbish from other people there is a very good explanation from a solicitor (LazyDaisy) about the DDA provisions in a long thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2604119 - look for post 149 then look at her other recent posts.

Phoebe-

No, I do lates every other week now, and we used to do lates one in every 8 weeks...hence why I used to be okay with it.

I have formally asked under the DDA discrimination act, but they have already made 'reasonable' adjusments. I.e we get 2x15 minutes breaks (and a lunch) but as I was friends with my old manager, he suggested I spread these out 3x10 mins whenever I wanted them. (He has had M.E hence why he did this as he understood). So my new manager/HR is saying this is a reasonable adjustment.

Therefore, my only option to return to full health is to get a job with normal working hours.

Googlewhacker

Phoebe- wrote: »

No, I do lates every other week now, and we used to do lates one in every 8 weeks...hence why I used to be okay with it.

I have formally asked under the DDA discrimination act, but they have already made 'reasonable' adjusments. I.e we get 2x15 minutes breaks (and a lunch) but as I was friends with my old manager, he suggested I spread these out 3x10 mins whenever I wanted them. (He has had M.E hence why he did this as he understood). So my new manager/HR is saying this is a reasonable adjustment.

Therefore, my only option to return to full health is to get a job with normal working hours.

It is a reasonable adjustment in that sense of the matter but it has nothing to do with you keeping a regular pattern to your day and they must consider the possibility of you having the same set hours week in week out. However if they can show a valid business reason they can refuse this.

Phoebe-

Yeah, I understand. To me, it's not a reasonable adjustment, but when they are busiest in the evenings, obviously it's all they could do.
I was pretty upset with it for a while and tried to fight it as it's resulting in so much sick surely it's better I'm there on an early rather than not at all? But nope, no can do.

Which is why I'm looking for a new job as I need stability and a proper routine, and if I have that I'm fine. Sometimes I manage to get shift swaps etc, and when I do earlies I'm always able to go in, work well etc. I'm pretty much 95% 'normal'. But getting home at 9.30pm and having dinner etc is what does it for me....as on earlies I'm in bed by 9pm.

So I have this job interview which would be really great for me as it's still in insurance, but not in a call centre, and it's somewhere where I can progress up the career ladder so to speak. They say no experiance necessary as full training etc, but as I have 4 years experiance in insurance I believe it will give me a heads up. But I know as soon as they see my sickness, it doesn't matter how well I do in the interview...I'll be disregarded no matter what.

Savvy_Sue

Not necessarily, but you will have to explain your sick record, and the fact that you can work regular early hours but not do lates.

bendix

Is the UK the sickest country in the world?

A cursory glance at this part of the forum would suggest so. Is there ANYONE in the working population who is well?

Phoebe-

It's hardly my fault I'm ill! =/
I want to be fit enough to work full time...hence why I want this job as I would be able to do so, even if it does mean a pay cut.

Annisele

I know nothing about ME, so I apologise if I'm speaking out of turn. But it sounds as though your problem isn't with the late shifts as such, it's with the constant changes of routine and the need to get up at different times in different weeks.

So...if the business says you can't do only early shifts because their busiest time is in the evenings...would it be at all possible for you to do only late shifts?

cally6008

Annisele wrote: »

So...if the business says you can't do only early shifts because their busiest time is in the evenings...would it be at all possible for you to do only late shifts?

I would think not. Getting up at half 9, hanging around, doing evening shift and getting home at half nine at night is what Phoebe is having trouble with.

This is totally different from getting up half 7, heading to work, home (or finished) by half 5 or half 6 with the rest of the evening to wind down, relax and recover.