We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Rec Disability Employment Advisor Birmingham
sistersuzana
Posts: 14 Forumite
Hello all
I have only joined this forum today and require some help over work matters. I have suffered with CFS/ME/fibro for many years. I retrained as Tutor over 12 years ago. I did struggle a fair bit but enjoyed working so wanted to carry on. About 4 years ago I had a severe relapse almost bedbound for a year. Was off work for a year, returned to work part time without too much difficulty. I have never got on well with my present line manager. No matter what I did it was never going to be good enough. I was observed last year and given a very bad report. No complaints from the people I had been teaching. Many learners rejoined for several years and pass grades were very high. Because I did not agree with line manager’s report I was made to be observed again by another line manager. Another very bad report almost identical to the previous one. I stated that I did not agree with either of them. I was told to retrain and my hours would be reduced. I complained that felt bullied and discriminated against. On several occasions I was asked to provide cover for other tutors who were of sick. I said that I felt bullied and discriminated against and felt like they wanted me to give up. I was not on a fixed rate contract of hours. Line manager said this was not true but never offered any kind of support Last year I had another very bad relapse been off work for a year. All prior observations by other managers had been very good or excellent. As far as I know all learners on the last courses I taught reached their targets and gained certification. I really believe I provided more support to my learners than I was offered. Occupational Health suggested that I return to work for 2 hours a week then increased to a few more hours.
In the mean time my line manager has offered me 2 hours work a week for the whole year which would not allow me enough pay for NI or pension. There is no mention of increasing my hours at all.
My manager had constantly tried to reduce my hours after I had been seriously ill.
The point is whether I was still ill or not. I had not been given the same option as other tutors over a period of time. As a result of all this stress I have become very depressed and anxious. I can put in complaint but I'm not I'm not sure it would solve anything. I have also considered ill health retirement but I understand it’s very had to get. I think I need to contact an Employment solicitor in the Birmingham area. The problem is I have a very limited income. I do not belong to union because they have proved to be of very of little use in cases like my own. If any one can offer me some support or suggestions I would be very grateful. Thanks.
I have only joined this forum today and require some help over work matters. I have suffered with CFS/ME/fibro for many years. I retrained as Tutor over 12 years ago. I did struggle a fair bit but enjoyed working so wanted to carry on. About 4 years ago I had a severe relapse almost bedbound for a year. Was off work for a year, returned to work part time without too much difficulty. I have never got on well with my present line manager. No matter what I did it was never going to be good enough. I was observed last year and given a very bad report. No complaints from the people I had been teaching. Many learners rejoined for several years and pass grades were very high. Because I did not agree with line manager’s report I was made to be observed again by another line manager. Another very bad report almost identical to the previous one. I stated that I did not agree with either of them. I was told to retrain and my hours would be reduced. I complained that felt bullied and discriminated against. On several occasions I was asked to provide cover for other tutors who were of sick. I said that I felt bullied and discriminated against and felt like they wanted me to give up. I was not on a fixed rate contract of hours. Line manager said this was not true but never offered any kind of support Last year I had another very bad relapse been off work for a year. All prior observations by other managers had been very good or excellent. As far as I know all learners on the last courses I taught reached their targets and gained certification. I really believe I provided more support to my learners than I was offered. Occupational Health suggested that I return to work for 2 hours a week then increased to a few more hours.
In the mean time my line manager has offered me 2 hours work a week for the whole year which would not allow me enough pay for NI or pension. There is no mention of increasing my hours at all.
My manager had constantly tried to reduce my hours after I had been seriously ill.
The point is whether I was still ill or not. I had not been given the same option as other tutors over a period of time. As a result of all this stress I have become very depressed and anxious. I can put in complaint but I'm not I'm not sure it would solve anything. I have also considered ill health retirement but I understand it’s very had to get. I think I need to contact an Employment solicitor in the Birmingham area. The problem is I have a very limited income. I do not belong to union because they have proved to be of very of little use in cases like my own. If any one can offer me some support or suggestions I would be very grateful. Thanks.
0
Comments
-
Before you go down the solicitor route please contact your local jobcentre and make an appointment to speak to the Disability Employment Advisor. They are not just there to help people find work, but also to keep people IN work. They may be able to act as a go-between for your line manager and you.
Also the Equality and Human Rights Commission - http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ helpline numbers are at the top right of the page.
Talk your situation over with their advisors and they will be able to tell you what to do next, how to word things in letters of grievance to your employer (I suspect that'll be the advice they will give you).
Some solicitors offer free 0.5/1.0hr consultations, I think Irwin Mitchell do this. I've used them before (not for employment though) and they were very good:
Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Birmingham
Imperial House
31 Temple Street
Birmingham
B2 5DB
Tel: 0870 1500 100
Fax: 0121 643 6021
There's also the Birmingham Law Centre:
Birmingham Law Centre is an independent, not-for-profit, solicitor-led legal advice agency. We have specialist contracts from the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to provide legal advice in the areas of debt, welfare benefits and housing; we can also carry out casework in community care and employment.
Tel: 0121 766 7466
Address: 1st Floor, Dolphin House, 54 Coventry Road, Birmingham, B10 0RX0 -
could your union offer advice?0
-
Juts noticed sistersuzana has also posted this thread on the Citizen's Advice board.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.3K Spending & Discounts
- 247.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards