Hey everyone,
My mother has stage 4 cervical cancer. It's just me, her and my three younger siblings. I'm 21 and work full-time. My work know about my circumstances but I feel like my assistant manager is really cold-hearted/being difficult with me whenever I ask about possibly swapping a shift to go with my mom to her chemotherapy treatment. I don't know if I'm being unreasonable but are there any sort of rights when dealing with a family member who has cancer?
Occasionally my aunty can take her and go with her to these treatments but I never want her to be alone, especially as this is her 2nd time round with cancer. The last time she had cancer I was in school so I could never go with her to her treatments but I just don't want her to go through it on her own.
I never really ask that often for her chemo and my manager normally puts it as a day off request or swaps the shift for me no problem, but she has left now :(
She had a consultant appointment today and I asked last week if I could possibly swap my shift to get the day off as it's been a long time since I've come with her and I'm having to work 6 days straight (doing two split shifts) just to be able to go with her. I just feel like it should be easier than this and if my manager was still here she would have done it without a problem!
I just feel like there should be more compassion in my situation, am I wrong to feel like this?!
If anyone could give me some advice I would truly appreciate it.
Hi and welcome to the community. Sorry to hear about your mum and that your employer is not helping. As a carer of someone with cancer, you have rights under the law which your employer should be aware of. Mac have published some information if you click here, Carers rights at work . I would also recommend you call the free helpline on 0808 808 0000 (8-8 every day). They have experts on hand to help you with how to approach your employer, as well as any other help you may be entitled to. Best wishes.
