Work capability

juliee19

Morning, I am hoping someone may be able to offer the benefit of their experience.

I have an ongoing and fluctuating medical condition and have been signed off for a few weeks. I have not had time off previously. To return to work I have requested short breaks to help me manage symptoms. There is no certainty that this will work, but until I try I won't know.

My employer had advised that they are only willing to do this for a month. My need for this is, in all likelihood, not going to go away in the foreseeable future. If I need longer breaks, am unable to work without them or go off sick again then I will be assessed on capability grounds.

Staying off longer is unlikely to change this.

I need to add that this is low paid, office based, stressy, I don't love my job and the company are known only to do the bare legal minimum.

When it comes to future job seeking, is it better to resign or be dismissed? How are potential employers likely to perceive the situation?

Thanks

TELLIT01

If you resign you may not be able to claim unemployment benefits for a number of weeks.  If you have been signed off by your GP at that point your entitlement wouldn't be affected.

juliee19

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I know I wouldn't get jsa and I don't qualify for uc in either scenario, unfortunately. It's the longer term explaining myself at interview or a reference that my dilemma related to.

lincroft1710

Is this medical condition permanent? If so, it may well hamper future job prospects 

juliee19

Yes, it's permanent, but not progressive. Though with the exception of the initial medical appointments this is my first absence from work because of it in 30+ years.

Feel very stuck as not ill enough for any benefits, but our savings are too high for uc. Some days driving is just not safe too. Zero hours jobs all seem to be warehouse or shop work, which are outside my capabilities.

I have spoken to agencies as I thought working on my good days/ weeks might be an option, but there is very little demand any more. Part time opportunities are few and far between - I've been looking since New year.

Marcon

juliee19 said:

Yes, it's permanent, but not progressive. Though with the exception of the initial medical appointments this is my first absence from work because of it in 30+ years.

Feel very stuck as not ill enough for any benefits, but our savings are too high for uc. Some days driving is just not safe too. Zero hours jobs all seem to be warehouse or shop work, which are outside my capabilities.

I have spoken to agencies as I thought working on my good days/ weeks might be an option, but there is very little demand any more. Part time opportunities are few and far between - I've been looking since New year.

Have you looked at WFH jobs, in case that might help? If you google on 'remote jobs' and 'WFH jobs' that will give you an idea of what's available.

Savvy_Sue

I'm wondering if your condition 'counts' as a disability?

Whether or not it does, an Occupational Health referral might be useful in terms of getting the breaks agreed in the longer term. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/using-occupational-health-at-work I don't know if that helps - you don't seem confident that your employer would want to be helpful but worth knowing about it. You can self-refer, but I'm not sure if you'd need to pay for it. 

It would probably be worth trying the breaks for a month, because as you say, that's the only way to find out if it helps. If it does, that's your signal to be finding another job UNLESS the employer is willing to continue with them. One can only hope that if they see it helps, they decide they'd rather keep the employee they have than go to the trouble of finding another one. 

juliee19

It could count as a disability, yes.

Thank you both for your suggestions, I will definitely take them forward.