BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)

Hi Bob. I just wanted to add my two pence worth on this one as work has been an issue for myself in the past. As porkie says, absolutely you are very well covered under the Disability Discrimination Act. Your employer has to give good reason for reducing your hours and they have to be seen to be treating other people the same ie if one person has to reduce hours then others should too. You have a lot of rights here. Not sure what your HR team are like but at this stage it may be worth raising the concerns that you have. Just by starting that sort of conversation with them it may help.

It's hard that at such a hard time anyway you have to think about dealing with the practical issues of finances etc. I haven't worked much myself lately. My sick pay ran out in March and so I get paid only for the hours that I work. I have never gone down the benefits route but I know there is help available and I would take that option if I really had to.  Your situation is different to mine as I am only a single girl with little committments - if you haven't done so already then perhaps just do some research to find out what you are entitled to. For me, once I knew what I could get it helped me feel more relaxed about things. Hope that makes sense!

On an emotional level, I completely understand how you feel. Before my cancer I was a career girl and I was planning for promotion etc. Since my diagnosis I feel that my career has just nose dived and it hurts a lot. Some people at work just wrote me off. I am lucky that my boss is wonderful but I am aware that relationship could change tomorrow.  Don't ever doubt yourself - if you want to be working then fight for it (fighting is a cancer patients area of expertise, you know that!!). Failing that, then walk away, a job is just a job and however wonderful you are at a job there is always someone that fill your place. For me, now on borrowed time I feel that my prospective has changed. Life is about doing the things that you make you happy, being surrounded by the people that you love the most. Yes, we need money to pay the bills and put a roof over our heads BUT there is always a way to work it out. 

I have waffled long enough. Don't let them get you down - it is a waste of energy. Your thoughts and time can much better be used!! Lots of love x x x

Thanks Jackie and Rosie for some very usefull advice and tips. Our main manager is coming to our office today so at least I am forearmed, if necessary with info.  It is tough and I might have to give up work anyway but Im not about to be forced in to doing it.  I have given sweat, blood and tears for over 30 years and I deserve better treatment than that. All they have suceeded in doing is making me more determined to work my three days a week for as long as possible. Its not just about the money, although of course it is an issue to a degree, its about my feeling of worth and a need to work to enable me to have a life outside these cancerouse four walls.  I am again feeling much better today and am confident this will continue to be the case.  I still have tinitus but im either getting more used to it or it is a bit better. We will be dropping of Kate to school at nine and then its off to work I go.

Hi Bob

Sorry I havent posted in a while but have been keeping up with all the posts.  You've been through so much recently and the job situation hits the nal on the head.  I know how much you want to contunue working but as Rose said you have to do what makes you feel happy like spending as much time with the people you love.  Back to the work thing.  I have never claimed any benefits in my life but due to all the things that have happened to me over the past few years I have had to change my way of thinking.  I worked for a bank and was treated very similarly to you  Eventualy they wanted to cut my hrs  I decided to go off sci and contacted my union and hr.  We went down the early retirement du to ill health.  This took them 6 months and last month I was offered this and was given a large lump sum (same as what I would get if I had died in service)  This money will be spent on holidays and nice things  Not house or practical things lol.  The mac people helped me fill out my DLA which I got and is £477 every 4 weeks.  I am also due other benefits and am waiting on the Mac to get back to me on that.  Sorry your having to go down this route and I am sure everything will work out for you and your family.  Also if you are off sick they cant reduce your hrs or make you redundant.  I will keep everything crossed that you get this sorted out.

As you know my cancer has spead to my bones and bone marrow and for the last 6 months I have been going to the doctors once a week and the hospital  every week to have chemo  Yesterday I told them I wanted to stop my chemo as I have had enough.  Yippeee  I dont have to see them for a month.  It will be fantastic to get my life back for a whilt and not be sick every day.  There will be a time when I will have to go back on chemo but fingers crossed I will get a few months off.  Off to Lanzarote a week on Sunday  Taking my 3 teenage boys and their 3 friends and of course hubby also going.   (this was all paid for from my pension money) Think I must be mad me and 7 guys lol  Hope Im not running around after them. 

Anyway thinking of you and your family.  Hope you have a lovely weekend and please dont overdo it!!!!

Lots of love Lorraine xxxx

Hi Bob,

It might be an idea to get a letter from your consultant saying that you are ok to work 3 days each week on a flexible basis?    Are you still being paid sick pay when you are off ill and can't manage the full 3 days?  I don't know if it is relevant for you, but would changing your contract to one day each week impact upon any death in service lump sum or pension that your wife and daughter would receive - if so then this is perhaps a point you need to make to them very strongly.

They can't just go ahead and reduce your hours without medical advice and without your permission - unless of course they are prepared to just go ahead and then have to pay the compensation at an employment tribunal. 

Make sure you make a note of any meetings or coversations you have on this topic at work  - you may need to refer to them in the future.

 Regards

Karen x

Bob, all the advice you've been given stacks up, but as well as your work HR dept, try talking to independent people like CAB, also any charity that would represent your problem, HR departments are after all under the company's jurisdiction and will probably have to follow the company's route on this. I certainly feel the Disability Discrimination Act covers this. Oh, and as well as making notes, take your own chosen representative with you to any meetings about this and ask them to make notes too.

Getting your consultant's viewpoint on it might help, maybe also your Specialist Nurses, who are often a very great help.

My very best wishes, love and hugs, hope you have help sorting this out

Moomy, I work in HR and I can tell you that I would never ever side with managers who wanted to act improperly, indeed they would be told in no uncertain terms about how they should treat people both from a legal and moral point of view.  Bad HR is bad for business!

Karen

Karen, while I really respect those like you who can be that independent, I came under the HR department while I was off with stress due to work related problems and they were as bad as my manager, both demanding I appeared for a meeting with them every month to start with, then eventually every other month, sending my stress levels to the roof each time, causing the stress to last even longer! And that was the NHS! So my experience may well be very biased!

Thank you all for your sound advice. my day went better today and I went into work all guns blazing. I walked in to my branch managers office and told him I would be continuing working three days a week and he seemed happy with that. I will be documenting all my conversations and will see how things go for a bit. Im sure I will be alright up to Christmas and then will review things myself.  I went into work at 09.30 and managed to stay untill nearly 5,30 so im well pleased with that and achieved quite a lot whilst I was there.

Lorraine 1    really good to hear from you again and I hope you make the most of your time off the chemo.

Hi Moomy , I'm really sorry for your bad experience in the NHS, you are right of course, as others have mentioned some HR departments are not really managers in their own rights but puppets for those above them.  It's a great pity, because like I say, it's bad for business be in the public or private sector..  Karen

A real good nights sleepagain last night and , for the moment anyway, things are ok at work. I do think they were trying it on as they have real tight targets to try and make and if my wages were out of the equation they might be a little nearer,  Not my problem. It will be a tough callenge at work but I want to be part of that challenge and I will be for as long as I can.

Last night I nearly had a fainting episode. I was in the bathroom when all of a sudden I got that  feeling in my head and tummy that says "youd be better off sitting down. I took that advice and sat on the edge of the bath before feeling brave enough to make a dash to the bedroom. As I literally dashed in there Linda looked at me with horror  as my colour was not good and in the finish Justin and herself settled me in bed for a while. I felt really bad but after a while was better. I feel fine this morning and put it down to being on my feet at work for the best part of the day. Today is Justins birthdayand we plan to celebrate it with him today. He, like the others, is a real good son to me and never hesitates in helping me out and he desperately worries about me. I cannot take that worry away but I can help him in other ways. Happy birthday Justin x x