reducing working hours because of arthritis

McKneff

Payless, may I be so bold as to make a suggestion.


I have great pain sometimes in my joints, in particular one ankle joint has given me stick for a long time.
I had a heart attack last year and so any thing I take or rub into my skin has to have no anti inflammitaries in it.


A few months ago I pulled some muscles in my back, the Gel the doc gave me was Feldene and did nothing for my pulled muscles but I had a major flaire up of my ankle again, (regularly once a fortnight) but by gum, within a few hours my arthritis pain had gone and has stayed away.
Voltarol is not an option, with Anti F's but I will swear by this Feldene. Maybe worth a try.

McKneff

Also if you drop down to 3 days a week and you are made redundant, it may impact any payments

ohreally

McKneff wrote: »

Voltarol is not an option, with Anti F's but I will swear by this Feldene. Maybe worth a try.

Volterol is diclofenac which is an anti-inflammatory.

Takeaway_Addict

dori2o wrote: »

OP, one thing I would add is that an employer cannot be in breach of failing in their duty to make Reasonable Adjustments for thse who meet the definition of disabled as per the Equality Act 2010 if they are unaware of the illness/condition by which you match the definition.

So for example, if you put in the request to your employer stating that the reason is due to disability and the employer refuses this request, then you would be unlikely to win at a tribunal if you tried to claim disability discrimination on the grounds of failure to make reasonable adjustments.

If you are serious about this then approach your immediate manager/team leader/whoever it is your report to and ask for them to arrange time for you to have a meeting with them.

In this meeting disclose the issues you are having with Arthritis (when it started, how painful it is, how it affects you, and if necessary the meds you are on) and tell them that in order to be able to better manage the the condition you believe it would be better if you worked less hours/condensed week.

What I did was to tell my manager not just how this would benefit me, but also how it would benefit the business i.e. improved productivity, reduced absence, ability to make Doctors/hospital appointments outside of works time (you can go on one of the days you won't work), etc etc.

OP- are you in a union? If so it may be best getting some advice from them as they know your employer better than any of us on the forum do.

Also, if you are in a Union it would normally be the case that they would fund Tribunal Cases on your behalf if they believed that your case had a good possibility of success.

I never said they could pick a reason out of the hat, there are 7/8 reasons they have to choose from but these are as broad as they are long and if an employer is so inclined they can find a reason to fit and put the ball back into the OP's side of the court.

I'm not saying it is right or wrong, as you have mentioned a larger organisation is more likely to oblige requests than a smaller on as the impact is normally less.

I also agree that the OP needs to put it forward as a positive thing and explain the benefits to the employer etc.

Payless_2

Thanks all, I will have a look at Feldene, Mckneff. And I think I won't do anything before I speak to a union rep, Ohreally. I didn't know you could do that with a pension

The stuff about disability is very useful dori2o and I think perhaps I am as i can't walk very far without pain. Plus I also have it in my hands which means that a lot of things that I do are done clumsily.

It's all a bigger minefield than I thought.

ohreally

Have you asked your employer to refer you to occupational health?

Takeaway_Addict

ohreally wrote: »

Have you asked your employer to refer you to occupational health?

this is a good first idea, get a professional to suggest the adjustments first.

Another_not_new_user

As someone with very severe osteo- arthritis, then yes, it is a disability under the Equality Act. If you are in a union I would absolutely advise you to speak to a union rep - but make no sudden or lasting decisions right now. You are able to ask for a temporary reduction in hours as a reasonable adjustment. If you think this may help, try it out if you can first. This isn't a great time of year for arthritis sufferers - you may feel different in the spring!


On a personal note, my consultant suggested a two month trial of Avocado soybean unsaponifiables. It sounds utterly insane and totally unpronounceable. By the end of six weeks I was reducing my reliance on tramadol and other drugs (I have five prescribed), and I am still slowly moving the dosage down. Any port in a strorm - there is medical evidence this alternative therapy can help and it has helped me.

Payless_2

ohreally wrote: »

Have you asked your employer to refer you to occupational health?

I have an appointment with occupational health soon after my next surgery. I could mention it then. The nurse and I will be giving each other xmas cards next xmas at this rate haha

Payless_2

Another_not_new_user wrote: »

As someone with very severe osteo- arthritis, then yes, it is a disability under the Equality Act. If you are in a union I would absolutely advise you to speak to a union rep - but make no sudden or lasting decisions right now. You are able to ask for a temporary reduction in hours as a reasonable adjustment. If you think this may help, try it out if you can first. This isn't a great time of year for arthritis sufferers - you may feel different in the spring!


On a personal note, my consultant suggested a two month trial of Avocado soybean unsaponifiables. It sounds utterly insane and totally unpronounceable. By the end of six weeks I was reducing my reliance on tramadol and other drugs (I have five prescribed), and I am still slowly moving the dosage down. Any port in a strorm - there is medical evidence this alternative therapy can help and it has helped me.

That's interesting and worth a try.

However, I was in pain last summer. It has worsened considerably this winter and warmer weather will improve it but the pain will still be there. My big toes are now totally rigid with large bunions. At the minute I have swelling on the bunions and also at the base of my little toes because of my odd gait. I'm also getting back pain through walking oddly. The swellings will go down come spring (I hope) but the rest will still be there.