MS and taking sick leave

Lindylou62

I was diagnosed with MS earlier this year and have informed my employers, a local GP practice. I work there as a IT manager. Since then I've not taken any sick leave at all, in fact I'm not one for taking sick leave at all.

For the past two weeks I've been struggling with a relapse and have still gone into work every day, despite feeling very ill. I saw my neurologist on Friday and he said I must take two weeks off work and then work half time for another four weeks or I will just get worse. I telephoned my manager straight away and his response was 'well, that's going to make things very difficult'. Then he said, 'well, I suppose you will have to do what your doctor tells you and see how you feel over the weekend'. I've got a sick note now for the next two weeks but he's made me feel so guilty that I feel I should try to go into work any way.

Any advice as to how I should handle this?

jobbingmusician

Take the sick leave. You may make your MS worse if you try to work through it.

Your manager's response is a) stupid and b) illogical. If you have to do what your doctor tells you, there is no point in you monitoring how you feel over the weekend. Even if you are bouncing off the walls with health over the weekend, your doctor has told you to take 2 weeks off.

It is actually irrelevant in the greater scheme of things what your direct manager thinks, or even if you keep your job long term*. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is your health.

*I'm not an expert, but I do think they would have problems in trying to sack you for a first absence occurring through a known disability.

PS How they cover your absence is NOT YOUR PROBLEM! Have a good rest, try to enjoy the break, and I hope you feel a lot better very soon.

McKneff

I agree entirely with JM,

It's your health that is paramount here, if you keep on going to work and make yourself more ill so you will end up being off work for a lot more time, maybe even permanently.

Have a good rest, recharge your batteries and let them get on with it.
Hope you feel better soon.

ohreally

Within the NHS, provision exists to take special leave, this should include disability leave which is treated differently to sickness absence - make use of it.

curlygirl1971

I don't have MS, but my sister does. Everyone's MS is different but over the years I've watched her learn the hard way to listen to her body and do things such as take time off work, and not rush back. A few times she went back too soon and ended up going off-sick again within a week - when this happens it count as 2 sick incidences not 1, and this looks worse on your record. I'm sorry to say that she's had some difficult experiences with at least one employer, but her current one has been very good and allows her to work from home when she needs to and overall this has drastically cut done her need for sick leave.

Are you saying your employer is a GP practice? My sister had found over the last 10 years that GP's have surprisingly little knowledge and understanding of MS. She went through a period where her balance was very poor - her bl**dy GP laughed at her as he watched her negotiate leaving his consulatation room. It still makes my blood boil to think of it now. She's had to develop a fairly thick skin and her attitude to some may even appear blaise (sorry I can't spell it!) - if it's time off she needs then its time off she takes and no one is going to make her stress about it.

Her best local healthcare support has been the MS nurse that covers her area - see if you have one in yours, and also don't hesitate making contact with the MS Society. The healthcare support she has received for the past 18 months under a different GP practice has made all the difference - yes more money is being spent trying to keep her healthy but it's meant she's been able to work more and hopefully for longer.

Best of luck

Jaybee_16

Look at the bigger picture which is, and will always be your health. If your narrow minded boss cannot see beyond his own petty inconveniences, then let that be his problem.

McKneff

Read Post 5 again.

There are some words there, read them, again and again.

'Listen to your body'

That's it.

zzzLazyDaisy

Please do not let your employer bully you into returning before you - and your medical advisers - know that you are ready. If you do go back too soon, you are likely heading for a longer and more serious relapse eventually, which won't help you, and won't help the practice. You have a disability and a certain amount of protection under the equality act. Okay, you are not bullet proof, but the start of your first period of sick absence with this condition is not the time to be worrying.

Do you have a copy of the sickness/disability leave procedures? It might settle your mind to check them out now.

But the first thing to remember - as others have said - is 'listen to your body'

Dx

Bennifred

I believe that "sick leave" and "disability leave" is supposed to recorded seperately, and employers have to be extremely careful not to fall foul of the Equality Act. Are you in a union, by the way?

I have MS, but have been treated very well by my employer (a school) with regard to hours needed for resting, etc.

Sambucus_Nigra

You are signed off sick for a reason - do not let your employer guilt trip you into going back too early.

If he says again that things will be difficult - say 'Not as difficult as they are for me, I can assure you. Time management versus MS - hmm...I think I know which I would choose. Now, I will contact you on my last day of sickness to let you know whether I will be back or whether the doctor has signed me off again. Thank you'.

Lindylou62

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to ring my manager tomorrow and let him know I'll be posting a sick note for two weeks to him. I'll take it from there. If need be I can work via remote access for a couple of days of the week for a bit after that. Unfortunately he's like that with everyone who needs to take sick leave! You'd have thought working for a GP surgery would make him slightly more sympathetic, but there you go. My consultant was adamant that I need some time off and he's the expert on MS not my manager.

I only get four weeks sick leave a year so hopefully if I take some time off now, that will prevent me having to take further time off later in the year.