Advice regarding work and potential serious illness

Gordie1975

Hi, im looking for some advice regarding work.

A month or so ago doctors found what looks like a tumour in my lung, i have been for multiple blood tests, breathing tests, cat scans, xrays, pet scans, blood pressure tests bronchostopies, etc, so i have may appointments for tests, and then of course many appointment to discuss results.

All of these tests have days between them, so it is taking an age to actually get to an actual answer as to whether this tumour is actually a serious cancer or not, i had a biopsy yesterday (overnight stay) and thats up to another 3 weeks for that result, but now the pet scan has found something else in my stomach, so i will need another thing done a gastroctopy, and it seems it will be dragging on until they get all results back and on the table at the same time before they make a decision, but in the meantime im getting called and told "the doctor needs to see you tomorrow" and such like.

Now as for work, i work in retail management, been there 5 years, never been sick, i have explained the situation to my area manager, and my immediate manager, and they have said i should take whatever appointments the hospital give me and they will cover my shifts for me no problem, my area manager especially has just said whatever appointment you need, you take.

The trouble is im an integral part of the store shift wise, if i get a sudden appointment in means my manager needs to change his day off with a days notice, i hate puting people out like that, no one actually comes to cover, it just means the store gets behind and i have more work to do when i come back in.

Also, at the moment its madness at work, its Christmas, we are getting hounded about targets, and weekends are a complete nightmare, abusive, rude customers, and everyone is constantly stressed, and because all my appointments are during the week, im basically spending every day either at hospital or at work, i work at least 55 hours per week over 5 days, so i am having no rest time at all.

So now, i am am worried about the health problems i am having, and about work, and im getting no real time off to deal with it all.

Have i really got any right to ask for more time off?, im not talking legally here, as i know i wont have really, but does anyone think it would be cheeky to ask for additional days, or reduced hours, or maybe some sick time?

The worry of it all is getting to me a bit, they wernt going to discharge me from hospital yesterday as my blood pressure was way too high, luckily it came down a bit, but i dont want to give myself a heart attack with the stress and doing long hours.

In my contract, in the event of sickness i would get 100% pay for 3 months, then 75% pay for another 3 months, then 50% for 6 months, but if i was to take a day off sick, would that be allowed for things here and there, like i had a overnight stay in hospital so i rolled my 2 days off together, could i take them off sick and then have my 2 days off as well, would that be unreasonable?

I know this is long winded, and thanks for taking the time to read, and i appreciate any responses.

nearlyrich

You should be able to get your doctor to sign you off full stop, no-one would blame you for going sick during this stressful time. I hope the tests show nothing to worry about in the end but whilst you are going through this be kind to yourself.

Tiddlywinks

I agree, you could ask your doctor to recommend a break from work or reduced hours (if you want to keep your hand in).

In reality, being entirely away from work may just give you too much time to dwell on things.

As an aside, there are NICE guidelines about how long tests and diagnostic results should take when cancer is suspected. You could call MacMillan for more information, support and even advice about work.

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/?gclid=CIn4zZWjzckCFVdsGwodfowDdg

Hope all goes well - remember, your health is the most important thing - not work.

Gordie1975

Thank you for the replies, i will have a loom at the macmillan website, i never thought of them, and i have actually did a few sponsored events for them.:o

Im kinda stuck between being stressed with this health problem and not wanting to let people down.

bluenoseam

I've been in the position you find yourself currently in, I too was "work" minded but ultimately you have to realise that when it boils down to it, work is unimportant. By the sounds of it your manager & higher ups are of the mindset they'd rather have you fit & healthy first & foremost, that's the important thing.

At this time ask yourself the question, who would you rather "let down", the company you work for or yourself, your family & friends? Because failing to look after your long term health is doing precisely that, letting down everyone you care about for the sake of a company who when it's all said and done sees you as a payroll number. They might give a toss, but it's not worth risking long term complications for - right now the only important thing is dealing with your health issues.

pol-zeath

Please see your GP and either get signed off or get a note from him to say you need to drastically reduce your working hours, personally I think you should be signed off .
You really do not need the stress of worrying about your health and the stress of rude customers and meeting targets. You need to put yourself and your family first as I am sure your managers would do if they were in your current situation.

Gordie1975

thank you all for the help, im still weighing up what to do.
I'm salarised, would it be acceptable to ask to reduce my days in work (or hours at least) and take sick days for any hospital stuff i have? the problem is the amount of hours im doing, and spending all my days off at hospitals getting tests or procedures.

Im not sure if work would allow me to do reduced hours(my contract says i should do at least 40), or use sickness, as really a hospital appointment isnt "sick", and my contract seems to focus on sickness in terms of weeks/months, so im not sure i could use sickness here and there, it may be far easier just to get a sick note and take a month off:o

the hospital have given me a phone number of the nurse who helps cancer patients with things like benefits and work, i may give her a call tomorrow.

esmy

I was in a similar position a couple of months ago - daily appointments at hospital with two lots of investigations going on at the same time (and apparently departments not talking to each other so repeat tests).

I self certified as it was becoming impossible to work productively and then got a sick note for a further 2 weeks.

I wish you all the best.

theoretica

If work knew you were going to be off, working part time, it might be easier for them to get others in to cover your shifts than working at short notice. If you approached your doctor I am pretty confident s/he would give you a fit note saying you should work reduced hours only and with a note your sick pay should kick in.

Darksparkle

Does your work not have a separate policy for sick and time off for medical appointments?

Ours generally works that if it's a routine appointment then you use your own leave or unpaid leave. If it is a hospital appointment (where you cannot choose the time of the appointment) then you get paid time off. If it's a hospital stay it's sick.

TELLIT01

Your management are supportive so you need to concentrate on your own health issues, not how they will cover your absences. Ironically, it might be easier for your managers if you were signed off for a while. They would then know exactly where they stand and could reorganise the rota accordingly. Absence at short notice is always more disruptive for those trying to cover it.