Does leaving a job, when you believe you're going to be fired, affect benefit eligibility?

Shadweller

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952171#Comment_81952171

Please see above and below:

Disclosing at work has been an ongoing consideration, ever since I started learning about Autism, about 5 years ago.

Legally there are meant to be accommodations for people with conditions like this, but after very extensive research and consideration, over a very prolonged period, the conclusion I have come to is that more often than not, in today's workplaces in the UK, disclosing such disabilities will result in the employee being fired.* Never directly for the disabilities, as that's illegal, but they could simply cite the PIP targets that failed to be met, and that's me out the door.

*Things can be a bit different if you're a highly gifted, highly trained specialist, with understanding employers. Unfortunately I do not fit into that category.

huckster

How long have you worked for the employers?

Are you aware that there is Government help to try to help people with health conditions or disabilities stay in employment? Such as Access to Work, which can help with existing employment.

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK https://share.google/PQHj1F4XXWNRnkqvT

Access To Work - Support for Disabilities/ Health Conditions https://share.google/GNQukqEXIW2Ldb97h

If you have diagnosed health conditions, if you were receiving Government employment support, I would expect your employers would start acting more reasonably and agreeing reasonable adjustments with you.

Don't allow yourself to be managed out of employment by employers, without trying to obtain support required. Otherwise you risk the same repeat issues with future employment.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952118#Comment_81952118

If you believe you need reasonable adjustments, such as staying in the same section, then you need to ask for them.

It is not a given that you will be fired simply for asking, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get. They may not be granted, but they might be, and given how precarious you are indicating your employment situation is anyway I don’t see what you’ve got to lose.

Shadweller

About 2.5 years.

I am aware of the assistance to work schemes.

As I said though, after a huge amount of research (that's what us Autistics tend to do) it seems that no matter what theoretical legal protections there may be, more often than not, the employer can easily enough find a reason to get rid of an inconvenient employee.

There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence supporting this, and also even the Autistic advocates and influencers advise that if you're going down that route, it's generally better to ask for accommodations without fully disclosing such conditions. Prejudice is rife, and careers get torched when people do so.

The party with the most money always wins any potential legal battles afterwards.

In some lucky cases, disclosing can work as it is supposed to. Most times it makes no difference in protecting the employee. It is especially frustrating in my case, seeing as asking to be kept on one sector, rather than constantly changing, would benefit me hugely. And this is directly due to my Autism.

It's the constant changing that is causing my slow performance.

Shadweller

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952274#Comment_81952274

Yeah this is true. I may see if there's a chance of an opportunity of another role. If not, then agreed, nothing to lose at that stage.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952266#Comment_81952266

I believe he current wait time-frame for Access to Work is about 37 weeks.

elsien

I wasn’t referring to access to Work, more the possible adjustments that would make life easier for you.

And I can’t see how you could request those without disclosing the reasons why.

Obviously it depends on the company and the sector (my company has a lot of neuro divergent people and people with physical health issues with reasonable adjustments ) but working on the basis that more people report bad news than good maybe the people saying it doesn’t work are not fully representative.

Still can’t see what you’ve got to lose if you think you’re going be fired anyway.

huckster

Access to Work do prioritise support if registered before going into employment and where there is a high risk of employment being ended.

i say, no harm in enquiring about support available. Although those with Autism may conduct lots of research, as is found by AI results not all information online will provide a balanced or accurate assessment on any particular issues.

What about joining a Trade Union?

What about charities that offer employment support to those with Autism?

Shadweller

"And I can’t see how you could request those without disclosing the reasons why"

You can simply say something along the lines of 'It would help me be more productive and quick at my tasks, if I could remain on one section, rather than having to change sections every day.'

You don't have to go into the reasons why.

But I guess if you start down that line, there is a risk that the manager may persist with needing reasons. But I presume it could just be explained as a character trait?

2 well known advocates, one of whom is an employment specialist I believe, have gone into great depth about all of this and they've done loads of research. And they've been through personal experiences with all of it as well.

A 3rd swears by accommodations, but it's taken him several employers until he's found one that would work with him on his accommodations. And he's a highly talented niche professional in his career. Things went badly wrong with his previous attempts, he had to leave his previous employers, causing huge amounts of stress and angst.

2 of these 3 are UK based. One is American. The situation seems roughly the same in both countries.

elsien

You have to go into the reasons why if you want adjustments under the equality act due to a disability. Which is what you would be asking for.

Your choice obviously, but as I say, if you think you’re going to fired anyway, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason not to at least try it.