Never go sick again?

GlasweJen

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

I wouldn't be on oral steroids of it wasn't serious

Steroids don’t turn immunocompromised people into superman, fighting off germs at superhuman strengths. If they did hospitals wouldn’t need transplant follow up teams, autoimmune conditions wouldn’t be a headache to treat and no one ever would be sick again.

Murphybear

elsien wrote: »

If you genuinely have flu you would be unable to get to work, let alone power through. Sharing norovirus with colleagues is just irresponsible.
As a manager, if a worker tried to make me send them home to make it my responsibility, I would point out that as I am not a doctor it was their judgement and decision as to whether they were able to stay or not. However if they did stay, I expected them to be able to carry out their role fully, not droop around sighing at me not getting very much done.
This is mainly because the ones trying to make me send them home or holding their heads and groaning were usually the people with higher sickness levels and generally taking the proverbial. When you have staff who are hard workers and you know only take time off when they need to, then within the bounds of the formal policy there is generally some leeway. It's not hard to tell which is which.

If you genuinely had norovirus there is no way you could even have left the house let alone go into work. I had this (diagnosed by home visit from GP) and for a few days stayed in bed just getting out to use the bathroom, about 20 times a day. It would also be highly irresponsible if you were to go in with such a nasty and highly contagious disease.

suki1964

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

I wouldn't be on oral steroids of it wasn't serious

You don’t half talk a load of nonsense

I am put on oral steroids two or three times a year, very high doses, so high that the pharmacist always ends up ringing my GP to confirm that the script is right and still takes me into a room to discuss actually taking such a high dose

I’ve had 12 days sick from work in 12 years, 2 single days and 10 days It was after the 10 day episode that I myself knew I couldn’t carry on in the role that I was in as I was becoming a danger to myself and others , so I looked around for another job, one that I could do without killing myself and others.

I have a responsibility to myself to keep myself well. I also have a responsibility to my work place. I would never be in work if I was endangering anyone else

As for flu, I had it two years ago. Luckily I had just left one job and hadn’t started another. Within a matter of hours I went from feeling very well to be totally bed bound. For four days I was totally out of it, so I’ll that I would have cried if I could. It took me two weeks to be able to spend more then a few mins out of bed Even when I went back to work a month after the start of the flu, I was so exhausted all I could do was work, then home to bed. No way on this earth did you “power on through “

The other thing I want to point out, is I’m on ZHC, and I can assure you I get the same sick and holiday entitlement as my colleagues on fixed hour contracts. I’m also included in the works pension scheme. It’s my choice to be ZHC because of my health problems. If I find I’m getting to the point where a flare is going to knock me out or make me a danger in work, I cut back my hours because as I and others have said , my health is my responsibility

System

Suki - so you are evidence that you are on steroids for a serious condition, and that your employment terms don't really make allowances for your unfortunate condition. You also sadly had to change jobs and that's something I don't want to do because I'd lose pay. I want to avoid losing that much to the condition.

Motorguy- I haven't advertised what I do to look after myself, but I eat well and get plenty of excersise, I have good vitality. I can't prove any of this to you

The reason you could figure out my job from my condition is its the sort of condition that would only be a problem to a narrow range of jobs. I have already leaked too much private info here.

Glaswejen - it's the steroids that do the compromising in my case, the steroids are there to weaken the immune

scd3scd4

Decent companies had systems to monitor sickness. Return to work interviews and sickness reviews.


I need 2 months off after an operation. They were fantastic and never asked for anything more than sick notes from my GP and the odd phone call from my manager who I welcomed.

They have no issues with documented illness just the repeated days here and there.

I think my contract gives me 6 months plus at full pay. The older men on an older contract can have a whole year!!

Takeaway_Addict

motorguy wrote: »

If an employer concludes that they cannot keep an employee because they have ungoing health issues that impacts productivity to the point whereby it is not economically viable to keep them, then that is not a disciplinary, thats a business decision.

These are businesses we're talking about, not charities.

I don't disagree but you're missing the point that businesses can and quite rightly start the disciplinary process for excessive absence.

System

Whichever way you'd lose a job or get demoted it would feel the same, it may be more depressing if it's something you can't control

suki1964

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

Suki - so you are evidence that you are on steroids for a serious condition, and that your employment terms don't really make allowances for your unfortunate condition. You also sadly had to change jobs and that's something I don't want to do because I'd lose pay. I want to avoid losing that much to the condition.

Motorguy- I haven't advertised what I do to look after myself, but I eat well and get plenty of excersise, I have good vitality. I can't prove any of this to you

The reason you could figure out my job from my condition is its the sort of condition that would only be a problem to a narrow range of jobs. I have already leaked too much private info here.

Glaswejen - it's the steroids that do the compromising in my case, the steroids are there to weaken the immune

Once again you are not reading what has been written and you are choosing to believe what suits your arguement

I was employed as a cook/chef. Pretty hard to put me in another role when I had lost use of one arm. My boss was very accomadating as far as she could be, always ensured I had a competent KP on with me, kept me off the double shifts etc etc. But she couldn't make me well, nor could I whilst being in that role. I chose to leave for a job that I could do. Right now I have no feeling in my hands whatsoever , two years down the line. I need help dressing. I can't use a pen, pick up small items, braid my granddaughters hair etc, but I can still work

I've had to make adjustments, slip on shoes, zips or pull on/off clothes, automatic car These things are for me to change, not up to an employer

I have enough medication to take to fill a pharmacy. Some days I feel like carp and can do nothing then sleep. I use my days off to rest as much as I can so I can do a full shift at full capability. My ( or any) employer is not going to pay for slackers. It's not for nothing that this job I do now I was only taken on for 4 weeks holiday cover (as I was honest about my capability),that I'm now a permanent member of staff


So yes I do believe that I'm a valued member of staff and that this and past employers have been very accomadating

Reading this thread,many your others over the years, you come across as a shirker, wanting as much as possible for the least amount of effort. So many people on these forums are working with serious health issues, your post is a total mockery of them

As for your comments on keeping yourself fit and healthy, after reading your posts over the years I shall take that with a pinch of salt

System

Suki - I'm sorry to hear of the trouble you have, my problem is different, but nevertheless one severe enough to cause me these problems and this medication. I just don't want to lose income as otherwise it'll be difficult to save.

As for being a "shirker" i get good results, I strive for efficiency at work and at home, and aiming to retire early is trying to be efficient with life itself

System

I'm not a chef but I wouldn't be allowed to be a chef with what I have