Can I get sacked due to arthritis?

Roadtonowhere100121

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

Marcon

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

You can be sacked for any reason or no reason, just like any other employee - but that certainly doesn't mean you will be! This worry does seem to crop up quite a bit on your posts: eg https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6492376/could-i-lose-my-job#latest

If you can do your job satisfactorily while working from home, then you need to have a conversation with your employer should the '3 days a week in the office' rumour become fact, and make your case, if necessary with supporting medical evidence. 

singhini

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

I have arthritis
Has it been medically confirmed or is this self diagnosed?
Also is your employer aware of your condition or are they unaware to the extent it impacts you? (I'm assuming they are aware of your condition as each time you have a flare-up you should not be working but should be on sick leave). 

the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up.
Depends which type of arthritis you have 
Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Reactive arthritis, Juvenile arthritis, Septic arthritis
At this stage it sounds like the 3 day a week is just a rumour, so it might be a good opportunity for you to speak to your line manager or HR now to make sure they know your condition and to see what training or support they can provide. 

Marcon

singhini said:

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

I have arthritis
Has it been medically confirmed or is this self diagnosed?
Also is your employer aware of your condition or are they unaware to the extent it impacts you? (I'm assuming they are aware of your condition as each time you have a flare-up you should not be working but should be on sick leave). 

Why is arthritis in the ankle a barrier to working from home?

singhini

Marcon said:

singhini said:

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

I have arthritis
Has it been medically confirmed or is this self diagnosed?
Also is your employer aware of your condition or are they unaware to the extent it impacts you? (I'm assuming they are aware of your condition as each time you have a flare-up you should not be working but should be on sick leave). 

Why is arthritis in the ankle a barrier to working from home?

its not (i think you have misunderstood me, I'm also questioning the OP on exactly the same point as you).

More importantly if the OP has confirmed arthritis from their doctor they could prove its an official diagnosis with treatment/medication and should have already approached their employer regarding support (lots of people have arthritis and work in an office and im sure lots of companies would be more than willing to help an employee, but the OP needs to make them aware, the employer needs to be made aware they cant second guess it. And the OP needs to want the help). 
Personally its not about the 3 days a week in the office IMHO
The employer surely has a right to know about any pre existing condition that impacts on someone's ability to do their job so they can better support the employee. 

I will try to be clearer - the OP has a pre existing condition that impacts them. It should make no difference if its one day or three days, it would be beneficial that the employer knows of the condition so they can help there employee. 

singhini

OP - you asked "can i get sacked due to arthritis?"

No

singhini

Marcon said:

singhini said:

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

I have arthritis
Has it been medically confirmed or is this self diagnosed?
Also is your employer aware of your condition or are they unaware to the extent it impacts you? (I'm assuming they are aware of your condition as each time you have a flare-up you should not be working but should be on sick leave). 

Why is arthritis in the ankle a barrier to working from home?

If their arthritis has flared up they are ill
Are you saying an employee should work if their ill?

EnPointe

Roadtonowhere100121 said:

I have arthritis in my ankle and it flares up making it impossible to walk on. I am currently working from home and one day a week in the office but there are rumours office days will increase to three days. Obviously the more I walk, the more chance I have of it flaring up. I am frightened that I won’t be able to make it into the office every week due to my arthritis flaring up 

1. likely this constitutes a  Disability for the Purposes of the Equality Act 2010 
2. have you discussed an occy health referral and suitable reasonable adaptations ?

EnPointe

singhini said:

OP - you asked "can i get sacked due to arthritis?"

No

unfortunately that is incorrect, if someone frustrates their contract or there is a genuine operational requirement which cannot be achieved termination on capability grounds  is potential outcome 

Savvy_Sue

singhini said:

OP - you asked "can i get sacked due to arthritis?"

No

But ... 

EnPointe said:

singhini said:

OP - you asked "can i get sacked due to arthritis?"

No

unfortunately that is inocrrect  , if someone frustrates their contract   or there is a genuine  operational requirement which cannot be achieve  termination on capability grounds  is potential outcome 

So any dismissal would not be "because you have arthritis" but "because your arthritis prevents you from carrying out the duties for which we employed you, and we are unable to change your role in a way which would make it possible for you to do so."

singhini

OP - you asked "can i get sacked due to arthritis?"

Seems the answer is YES

speak to @Savvy_Sue and @EnPointe who hopefully will provide better guidance