Was Mortgage Free until 52!!!

A_Frayed_Knot

Forever catching up . . .

Last weekend was a spendy one being away at the caravan, lots of bargains bought at the local coffee morning, home baking, bottle stall, nice change, and home baking was lovely. :EasterBunThat's me with the home baking :rotfl:

This weekend was a day out retirement do, which was also lovely, food fantastic, company fantastic, a great time had by all. Of course, "I've nothing to wear" came into play, so decided needed a new outfit, off to the local shops, I trot, 3 tops, 1 blouse, 3 prs linen trousers, 1 all in one (almost looks like an Andy Pandy outfit, with no sleeves and cropped trousers) very cool for this weather. A chunky cardie, that I nearly bought full price - now got it for a quarter of the price :j- not bad all for under £50 :money:, so very pleased. Of course I am replenishing my wardrobe as recently had a good clear out. (That's my excuse, anyway)


Today is just the usual, very tired and lots of catching up to do. Told the GP I thought about his advice reducing hours, he said I thought I was going to say - I'm stopping work altogether :eek:
Am I that ill? :think:

bexster1975

Hello AFK

Have you heard anything at all about your hours? Lol that dr thought you'd say you had quit!

It is clear working is bad for our health. Especially those who work long hours in stressful jobs with unsupportive managers/leaders. I really hope they let you know soon, so you can plan your next move

Bexster

A_Frayed_Knot

Hi Bexster

Hope your enjoying your break, weather is fantastic and very warm.

Only heard that they are, or should that be - will - be looking at it, such and such1 is on holiday till tuesday, then that left wednesday before such and such2 is on holiday and will be back this Tue/Wed, and so it goes on. They did say unofficially - they will try their best, and that it wouldn't start straight away.

Still waiting to hear about my a/l - they are working that out as well, and will let me know. Meanwhile trying to use a/l to shorten my working week, I have put in for the next good few Mondays as a/l, and they did let me know, that I can't have them all.:(

If I could manage 5 days, I probably wouldn't be asking for reduced days, so not sure what my next move is going to be - I can't get a/l, but I really can't work 5 days, so it's either be off work again, or drop down exhausted, either way, not a good solution.

bexster1975

Good morning. I'm hoping as it's a day off you are not yet awake to read this!

I agree, have you had a return to work interview? If not, I'd encourage you to make an appoint,met with HR to tell them directly you can't work 5 days a week anymore. I assume you can't have all the Mondays as you don't have enough a/l? Taking random days off sick isn't ideal, but far better than dropping to the floor.

Have you considered/started looking for something else if they don't play ball? If they don't have capacity to let you go P/T, they could string all this "thinking about it" out for months.

Hope you have a lovely day planned. I am well, and have enjoyed the weather ( when it wasn't too hot!)

Bexster

A_Frayed_Knot

Nope, no days off till around mid August, so up but wouldn't say awake !!! Had my return to work interview but that person is now off sick !!! the other on a/l and the other doing her "phased return"nothing against her - she deserves it - after what she has gone through.

Got plenty a/l, dispute about how many I carry over from last year, and not touched this years yet , was told there is a new policy out :eek: never heard such a thing, was ok in May !!! so lifted the phone and asked them to send me the new policy - was told by HR - there wasn't one what on earth . . .

Bleary eyed this morning, and probably no management in today, again, but will see.



Have a great day.

Suffolk_lass

You need to apply some pressure. Are you in the Union? if you are, getting your rep to attend a meeting with HR (as Bexster suggests) and priming them to float the phrases "reasonable adjustment" and "constructive dismissal" is guaranteed to stir them into action. Also, keeping a note of the dates you applied and the pathetic updates from them to your progress enquiries and just laying this on the table in a F2F meeting will also impress on them that you are gathering evidence (even if some of the list is your shopping list - you can take a friendly colleague into a meeting as your advocate if you have a suitable one and you are not in the Union - explaining that the near exhaustion means you need someone to help you record the points they make as you are not fit enough to take it all in - build a picture so they know you are serious.

A former colleague of mine used to set off to work every day and instead of going to work he would go to the Station, with a newspaper and read it in the cafe until his wife had left for work and then go home, ignoring door and phones, for the day. He did this for ages before anyone noticed enough to enquire. His wife thought he was going to work and they thought he was ill - everyone concluded he had advancing dementia (including Doctor when he was unable to say where he had been or what he had been doing) and he was medically retired before making a 100% recovery...

A_Frayed_Knot

Thanks SL, it's just atm, a battle I could do without, when not feeling 100%.

I have heard a story similar, that they act normal - set off for work, then when husband leaves, they
go back to the house, but in this case, they just want a day off to themselves !!!

I do like my work, just not full time anymore, and I have been keeping a note of a/l day refused, application date for reduced days etc, was first told it would be 2 weeks, then told 4 weeks, well that 4 weeks is up Friday, unless they say their a/l doesn't count.

I'm hoping everything works out in the end, and have asked for specific days and times, with about 7 variations within the days requested.

Roll on Friday !!! lets see if I can manage to then.

bexster1975

Sounds lîke they are giving you the runaround AFK.

I agree with SL, a union rep in a meeting with HR, minuted and minutes distributed to all, sounds like it would put the wind up them. An extremely unpleasant Headteacher I once worked for attempted ( in some cases successfully) to drive out an enormous number of staff. The bill for payoffs must be huge!! People had unions, lawyers etc involved ( I understand as recently as the last 12 months!). I think she has just failed to get a headship she applied for in Manchester, which is great news for that school, but dreadful news for her current school. I def think " reasonable adjustment" should be used, alongside " constructive dismissal". If you have a good union rep, they should do all the work.

Hope you survive the week

Bexster

A_Frayed_Knot

Did I ever tell you - I'm a ditherer . . . .

Got some news today - and although I can't divulge yet :silenced:, you never know who is reading :(you all know what it's about, and I am excited . . . You could even say I may be;
A mid happy to a fully excited happy bunny

Watch this space although it could take up to a couple of months or so.

Just deciding the implications of it all :think:

A_Frayed_Knot

Had a bit of a wobbly last night leaving work, as things not signed and sealed yet, I need to be patient.

It's so hot here, all my windows are open,with a small breeze wafting through, lovely.

Bed stripped and washing on, and just about to put my lovely new bedding on, it will be lovely and cool for tonight. Can't wait, sad I know :rotfl:

General tidy up after that, then grass and hedge needs cut. Plenty to get on with.

Have a lovely weekend.