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

Emmzi

ask for an occ health referal at current job now so you have a proper medical opinion they will accept on shift work (you may not like it btw, brace yourself! I would be very surprised if "permanent lates" were not an option suggested, I know plenty folk with ME where the thing is the routine, not the speccific hours)

ask for one for potential new job to reassure new employer

not much else you can do

Outdoorlass

Hi Phoebe

I just wanted to add my best wishes to you, I have a 14 year old daughter who has ME/CFS and I completely see where you are coming from. The change arounds in the shift pattern, is what has made your ME worse, probably not the late shift, but the changing from lates, earlys etc. If your anything like my DD she has problems sleeping at night ironically, its a majoy symptom of ME/CFS so perhaps looking for either constant days or constant nights would be a solution?

With regard to what you tell any other possible employers, I am probably not the best person to ask, as I only ever believe in being honest. Probably why, I am struggling getting a job myself as I have Fibromyalgia and I always disclose it at interview if asked, then strangely enough I never hear anything again:mad:

I have much respect for you for getting on with your life and working full time along side having ME/CFS its not an easy illness to live with and many people either physically can't or are fearful of trying to hold down a job, so hats off to you.

Best of luck, do let us know how it goes.

cally6008

>>> Probably why, I am struggling getting a job myself as I have Fibromyalgia and I always disclose it at interview if asked, then strangely enough I never hear anything again

Yep, know that feeling as well as looking a new job myself

Outdoorlass

cally6008 wrote: »

>>> Probably why, I am struggling getting a job myself as I have Fibromyalgia and I always disclose it at interview if asked, then strangely enough I never hear anything again

Yep, know that feeling as well as looking a new job myself

Ditto, put a thread on about it earlier today, isn't it so frustrating!

Phoebe-

Thankyou so much for all your support everyone! It really does mean a lot when I face so many people at work who don't understand!

The inconsistency with the shifts is the hardest part, admitedly. We also do a weekend shift one in every 3 weeks, and we have a day off either side of that weekend to compensate....but it seems the whole shift pattern is so inconsistent, hence why I'm struggling.

Permenant lates have been offered to me, but as Cally6008 it's not really a great option for me as I would be coming home so late at night. The buses at that time of night are terrible, meaning I'm standing around waiting for a bus as work won't give me a parking space etc. At least in rush hour there's not so much waiting.

I had my appraisal on Thursday and they've said I'm doing really well, and they asked a lot more details about my illness. And basically I was told to just phone in sick if I need to. I'll never have a disciplinary which is good, because as outdoorlass said, if I've had a sleepless night etc at least I don't have to worry about dragging myself in.

However, it's not a permenant solution as my sickness record will just get worse and worse and worse! Plus being off sick makes me worse as after a day of doing nothing, the next day it's a shock to the system to do something!

So I really need a new job. I'm going to the interview on Tuesday (rearranged the days) and at least try! I'll be honest...it's all I can do I suppose! I have to give my application form on the day, and they ask about my sick there, and to continue the reasons why on a seperate sheet if neccessary...so I might just attach one with an explanation, and detailing exactly how this job will help me eliminate my sickness!

Thanks so much for the support though! I was very apprehensive about coming back to read the replies after what I saw the last poster had said! So thanks so much, it's meant a lot.

grey_lady

To be honest a junior job in insurance doesn't seem like the kind of thing where you need your medical history looked into, e.g they won't want access to your medical records. Personally I would bend the truth as much as possible, and say that I had a few days off due to a flu type virus. Can't imagine they would check it with your current employers, I mean ask them the exact dates. If they do then I guess the worse thing that could happen is you don't get the job.

But, I should say that if an employer finds out after you start working for them that you lied in the application process they may well sack you, I guess you have to weigh up the risks and benefits and decide for yourself.

Phoebe-

Well they ask on the application form how many days sick I've had in the last 2 years.

I can't really find out exactly as otherwise work will know I'm looking elsewhere and I'm concerned it'll cause problems. So I have an estimate, and over 70% of that chunk was due to having swine flu so being off with long term sickness, as that was like 3 months. Which I'm hoping they'll understand giving the fact I physically wasn't allowed back to work untill ALL the symptoms had gone due to obvious reasons.

But like you said, it's a low paying position etc, so they're not going to dig massivley into it, however, on my references from work it'll state how much sick I've had in the last 2 years, so I need to tell them, but at least I can explain a large chunk of it away...and explain the rest is down to irregular working patterns.

Tbh, I can 100% see them not taking me on as it's so risky! But...I can only try! I have to for the sake of my health really...because I'm sick of being this ill! It's not been this bad in my whole 8 years of having it.

viktory

bendix wrote: »

Is there ANYONE in the working population who is well?

Me I am very well.

lynzpower

However, it's not a permenant solution as my sickness record will just get worse and worse and worse! Plus being off sick makes me worse as after a day of doing nothing, the next day it's a shock to the system to do something!

Hey OP

I was told quite clearly by my union rep, that "sickness records" and "time off due to a disability" records should be recorded seperately.

If you were to get a new job you would only have to declare the sickness( chicken pox, broken leg) not your ME time off.

I sense this is what they now realise? Maybe this is why you have been advised to take that time off?

Will you be getting paid for this time off, or will you end up significantly worse off financially?.

SarEl

lynzpower wrote: »

Hey OP

I was told quite clearly by my union rep, that "sickness records" and "time off due to a disability" records should be recorded seperately.

If you were to get a new job you would only have to declare the sickness( chicken pox, broken leg) not your ME time off.

I sense this is what they now realise? Maybe this is why you have been advised to take that time off?

Will you be getting paid for this time off, or will you end up significantly worse off financially?.

I don't know what union rep told you this, but there is nothing at all in law that says that this is the case. It may be your employers policy to record sickness this way - but nothing oblijes any employer to do this at all. Certainly the DDA does not require this. Employees with a disability can still be dismissed for incapacity. The employer would have to demonstrate reasonable adjustments to compensate for the disability, but the DDA is intended to level the playing field for disabled employees, not to make it possible for them to be treated better than employees without a disability. A reasonable adjustment may, for example, allow a proportion of days of sickness due to a disability to be disregarded - but in the end, anyone who has significant time off work sick may be dismissed if the correct process is followed.

Provisions of the new Equality Act which will soon come into force will make it difficult for any employer to ask "blanket questions" such as how many days someone has had off sick - of anyone. Not impossible though, because employers will be able to ask some questions within certain contexts.