Immunosupressants vs job requiring Public Transport

luxor4t

I take methotrexate weekly for my rheumatoid arthritis.
I work full time in a school, with in daily contact with pupils aged 11-16 in groups ranging from 30 to 18. Contact starts at 8.40 and ends at 15.10, including lunchtime clubs, so over a day that does run into hundreds.
I do get the flu jab and avoid people with obvious symptoms, but that's just common sense.
The actual drug causes me more problems (eg with queasiness) than the lowered immune system - I've only had one cold this winter. You say that you have a good sick record, so fingers crossed that you can maintain this by being cautious - the face mask idea sounds good.

WhiteHorse

Lum wrote: »

I tend to avoid public transport since every time I take a bus or a plane (not tried trains) I end up catching something or other and feeling like crap for a week.

I am on immunosuppressants and am only too familiar with this problem - I get a lot of infections and on one occasion ended up with meningitis.

Your job is secure and you have no problem with moving, so that's not an issue.

You employer is obliged to make reasonable efforts to accommodate your problem. I would have thought that a little assistance with car parking would be cheap at the price.

Your only problem will be persuading them that the problems asssociated with immunosuppressants are serious enough to warrant action. You will need to do some research before you put your request to them.

Lum

Umm, my issue was never travelling time (and frankly it's a lot more than 7 minutes at rush hour), start time is an issue but they're ok with that, which is why I had no objection to the previous proposed location.

I wouldn't say I have a "good" employer, but they're certainly "ok". They comply with all the applicable legislation, which is more than be said for my previous employer*. I made this thread because I need to educate with myself about the relevant legislation in case it comes down to that. My first approach was always going to be amicable negotiation.

The accusation of this being "life style preference" seems rather incredulous to me. I'm still in the stage of fully coming to terms with being a carer and things are just now starting to settle into a routine and normality. Or at least what is the new normality for us. Remember that I took this job in order to avoid the travel which was making me regularly sick in my previous job.

Right now, with this announcement, I feel like the rug is being pulled out from under me. Surely it's natural to be scared and try to explore all avenues to deal with and improve the situation. I came here to ask about the avenue that needs further information, not to discuss everything I'm trying

Since this has turned into the Spanish Inquisition though, I may as well point out the following.

- I'm going to be seeing my dermatologist and pushing for him to put me on something on methotrexate. I'd be doing this anyway as the memory issues alone are causing serious issues. Unfortunately I can't get an appointment for two months. I meant to bring it up at my last appointment in December but I forgot!
- I'm going to be pushing for relocation to the originally proposed location, rather than Cardiff as the first option.
- I do have complaints about the original location too, but they really are lifestyle issues and thus I haven't bothered to post asking for advice, just going to have to deal with it.
- As a second option I'm going to be asking to work from home
- 3rd option is to ask for the relocation package to include assistance with parking fees.

If all of that is refused, then I'd be using the results I hoped to get from this thread.


* In my last job they really needed two of me as I was literally covering the whole country for site work. They only had one suitably qualified applicant and my boss told me openly, "We found out he's in a wheelchair so we're not going to interview him, you're going to have to continue doing all the work on your own

GlasweJen

You can call your dermatologists secretary to arrange to be slotted into a cancellation appointment sooner. Also you can talk to your GP re memory loss and ask him to get in touch with the dermatologist and get an alternate.

Lum

They're trying to get me a cancellation, no news yet.

Already spoke to the GP. GP told me to make an appointment to see the dermatologist and also to make one to see him again in two weeks where he will go over my blood test results and find out what the dermatologist said to me. I replied, "Ok, I'll see you in two weeks for the blood test results then?", he thought for a few seconds then laughed.

Savvy_Sue

I think that getting sick after a flight isn't that uncommon, something to do with the way they recycle the air. Trains might not have that effect on you.

I'm not clear whether there is a choice of two possible offices you could be relocated to, OR whether they are still deciding which site to relocate to. If it's the latter, I have to ask, realistically, are you expecting them to base their relocation decision on the needs of one person? I'm sure many of your colleagues would prefer to be based in an office with cheap or free car parking at a convenient distance, but I'd have thought that such offices would be more expensive to rent than those without parking available. Could be wrong, of course.

Lum

Both are existing sites, the Cardiff one is nearer and thus more palletable to the other 5 or 6 people being relocated, however the other one, which is in Cheltenham, is where the rest of the team are. No decision has been made yet. For reference the current office is just outside Newport. Both proposed sites already belong to the company and have existing staff in them, so closing where we are makes sound financial sense.

I'm not expecting anyone to change their decision based on my situation, if it ends up at Cheltenham then that will be great for me, crap for everyone else, and this thread will have been a waste of time. If it ends up at Cardiff then that will be ok for everyone else, and I'll be using the information I've gleaned from this thread to decide what to do about it.

Savvy_Sue

So is there no mileage in you being relocated to Cheltenham, even if the rest of your team go to Cardiff? Do you HAVE to stay with that team?

Lum

That is, indeed, one of the options I'll be pushing for.

Not sure if they'll go for it though, as everyone in this office specialises in the same product that no-one else knows about.

she73

krisskross wrote: »

My husband has methotrexate injections as well as Infliximab infusions for RA.

He has no choice but to use public transport and it has never really been an issue. He has been on planes, boats etc with air conditioning.

I think yes avoid anyone with obvious signs of infection like sneezing, coughing etc but other than that do not let it dictate your life.

I totally agree with you as i have methotrexate for psoriasis an hubby is on way more immuno suppressants for a transplant and we carry on normal,just avoid people who are sneezing or coughing around us and we have been fine.Both myself and my husband take these for a better quality of life and dont let them dictate us.