Having a bad time, would like a fresh start

jazabelle

Vintagebrighton - I am more than happy to expand. But what? I do handmade gifts too, and would learn something new if it's affordable. I just don't know what would sell!

Whitehorse – I will look into that, although I obviously can't until February. The problem is I don't feel secure, they want rid of me. I have been applying for new jobs - I've been searching as much as I can. It's rare a job comes up that I can do, is part time and fits the days I can work (I can't work continuous days.) Every time I get the interview, and then I get turned down by saying I'm close, but not close enough.

Up until July I was allowed to work from home, but they revoked it as 'no one else does.' This made life a lot harder.

Chalkie99 – I am aware it's one of the worst areas to go in. I just don't know what else to do! The thought of going back to work makes me feel sick. Do you think the website needs re-doing because it's just plain bad, or because it's harder to integrate shopping cart software in after?

I keep being told to put the prices up, but when I do people don't buy. It's hard to know.

The voluntary group I run is set up on Wordpress, but someone installed me as I couldn't figure it out. In some ways I'm good at techie stuff, but in others I'm useless. I just wish I had another idea for working from home.


Football Widow – my union rep – from Unison – I want to name and shame them, have been utterly useless. I specifically said I want someone up on the Equality Act etc, but I got someone who I have to tell them what's going on. I've just been too tired to make complaints, when I'm going into hospital so soon.

I would love it to be hand-in-hand with employment, but I can't find another job!

In regards to the website, thank you – I will add some to the front page. Are you clicking on the image, as it makes them much bigger? Each one should be a clickable link that takes you to the large version.

I haven't been to the CRB because it's all got a bit complicated. I will try and answer everyone then explain some of the issues at work.

Podperson – I did speak to the Disability Advisor, as I wanted to be referred to somewhere like Papworth Trust, or Remploy. Papworth don't cover our area, and she said they don't have a contract with Remploy. Instead she gave me a list of job clubs in the area. That's all very well, but I want to improve my skills and get specialist help from someone in the disability field, not sit around with unemployed people. I'm sure they can be useful, but with quite a specific set of problems, it gets difficult.

No children, but I need to work 16 due to getting high rate DLA.

I will give Gumtree/students a go – thank you. I'm on Folksy, the UK version, and have a facebook group. I haven't found any suitable shops to ask yet, although I would! Thank you!

jazabelle

Horace – this is where it gets difficult, because they will argue they've made those adjustments and have now, finally, to a degree.

Basically, I was worried this all would happen, so I laid all my issues/can and can't do's out to them in three meetings, and many emails. Sadly, when trying to negotiate my return – they offered me everything but what I could physically do, then turn around and call me difficult every time I point out once again I can't do it.

The problem is – they made about four offers – each containing major things I said I couldn't do. One thing I very much struggle with is longer days, due to the pain and fatigue building up a great deal throughout the day. Their final suggestion was two short days, and one long day, which in the end I accepted.

The thing is, if I keep going back to everything with a no, people who don't understand what constant pain is like are going to think me unreasonable. While I think I tried my best to be upfront and honest (three meetings, remember?) they will say 'well we offered her this and that, and she won't do it!' But the fact is a long day is going to cause me agonising pain, and I don't know what the hell to do.

So as much as I would love to bring a case against them (purely down the fact they are a god-damn disability charity and should know better) I think it will at this point be a hard case.

It doesn't make it any easier for me to return to a hostile HR, a workplace that will barely remember me, my job that no longer exists (in their restructure I went from being the company Fundraiser, Marketer, and Project Leader – to a Junior Administrator and was refused the chance to apply for other roles. My wage remained the same, which is just above minimum wage, and my previous company was half-way through changing my grade and title to reflect my new role, but had to be frozen due to the take over.)

I did phone DIAL when I was trying to get help with applying for DLA, but they weren't interested, to be honest!

Suki1001 – I know, that's obviously ideal.

Lincroft1710 – they are a disability charity. Again, it's proof and having to still work for them, I guess!

Paulwf – I wish I could!

paulwf

jazabelle wrote: »

Chalkie99 – I am aware it's one of the worst areas to go in. I just don't know what else to do!

I know this is hard but you need to take a step back from your personal circumstances and look at your business model with the cold hard rationality of a business person.

You should only set up a business because you can see a gap in the market or you can make a better product than anyone else and market it better than anyone else and have what it takes to capture the market.

This isn't what is coming across in your posts, you seem to be starting up this business because you hate your current job and this is something you could do. Sadly hundreds of others have thought the exactly the same thing which is why it is such a crowded sector to get into.

Think about what product there is a demand for and would be most successful and also what you offer as a business person that is better than what anyone else is offering then work back from there. If you can't find a brilliant product to provide and you don't think your service is better than anyone else then don't waste your time and money.

glasgowdan

Agree with Paul - business only works if you are disconnected from your emotions. Business is money, figures and payments.

I think you should forget the business idea for now and focus on the employment situation. If you are not working at some point then sign on as you'll get additional help getting a business started if that's what you want to do.

Do you live alone? Sorry if you have said somewhere above, I've not read it all. Just wondering who is able to help if it came to rent and travel if you lost the car.

jazabelle

If I stop working, I would lose my working tax credit and not be able to afford my treatment, etc. I would have to live on £53 a week. (Sorry, it would be more than that - plus £70 ish care payment, which is £123 per week.) It's HORRIBLE I can't live on that. I feel awful when people are struggling on so much less, but sadly accessible accomodation costs is rare and costs a fortune, and the NHS won't cover the treatment I need to be able to function to any degree.

I live with my mum, but she can't cover any more of the rent. My car is a Motability one, so I'm locked in for three years. I think you can stop it, but I had a grant to pay for my wheelchair hoist, so I think I may then be liable for that? Without my car I'd be housebound anyway, as I can't walk very far at all, and I couldn't find a taxi to take my wheelchair last time I tried. I couldn't even attempt a bus with my chair. Plus with the car all I have to cover is petrol, everything else is paid for on the lease.

I'm in hospital at the moment for three weeks, so I'm trying to not to think about work.

If I could find another job, I'd be fine. Or one working from home would be even better.