Question about sick pay and ESA

Toomuchdebt

elsien wrote: »

If your illness could fall into the disability category, you need to ask about reasonable adjustments - they do not have to agree these if there is a solid business case against them, but they should give them proper consideration.
So when you are closer to returning to work, would an occupational health assesssment benefit you to support with this?
What adjustments do you think would help you return when you are well enough? Would you be looking at a phased return, aiming to build up to full time or would you be looking at permanently reduced hours, for example.
Do you need longer breaks, a quieter environment? I'm not saying these are possible or would help (not knowing your situation) it's just to give an idea of what a reasonable adjustment would or could be.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/duty-to-make-reasonable-adjustments-at-work-what-must-employers-do/

ETA - do they have a company policy on long term sickness absence? If so, ask for a copy.

What would help me-Shorter hours and less days a week, more time sitting down than standing up-the problem is I work for an opticians and do the pre tests and also hearing tests-with my hands going numb I drop things a lot which looks bad in front of customers and also means I can't fix hearing aids etc. My close up vision goes blurry which means I would struggle to do ear examinations etc. We're not allowed to keep water with us which led to bladder problems for me and headaches. I get a break of 15 minutes which is OK but the break would sometimes be after an hour of working or not until 30 minutes before the end of my shift. The pain is variable day to day so one day I can manage to walk and sit and do things, the next I can't get out of bed. My concentration is bad-I'm ok for short periods of time but a hearing test lasting 20 minutes is beyond me. It's a very stressful environment sadly-lots of pressure on staff due to shortages and expectations from managers to pretty much devote your life to work. Although at interview I mentioned I would be looking at part time only until my youngest was old enough to walk home from school alone and be able to be left, I(and the other part timers)were asked several times if we would increase our hours asap. The solution would be to let me do the office work(all on the computer, plus phonecalls) but there are office staff who work full time and one part timer and no more office staff are needed.
It sounds like I'm complaining a lot-I liked the job-loved interacting with the customers, and was good at my job. I picked things up very quickly too. I just know I won't cope with it yet and if this pain/numbness continues I won't manage it at all.
Even this reply has taken a while as I have to keep going back and reading what I've written as I lose my train of thought.
It's horrible thinking that last year I was working and going jogging and was fine...