New to the group

Hi  and a warm welcome to the online community although I'm sorry you've had to find us.

It must have been very difficult for you to hear today that you need to have surgery next month and then to be told by your employer that you will need to use your holiday entitlement to take time off.

I don't know all the ins and outs of your rights at work but I think you may benefit form reading this information produced by Macmillan on your rights at work. I would also suggest that you give the Macmillan Support Line a call on 0808 808 0000 and speak to one of their work support team who can help you understand your rights at work. It's free to call and available Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Can I also suggest that you join the very supportive breast cancer group where you can ask questions about your upcoming surgery and get support from others.

To join just click on the link I've created and then choose 'join this group' on the page that opens. You can then introduce yourself or post a question after selecting 'start a discussion' or join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

When you have a minute it would be really useful if could pop something about your journey so far into your profile as it helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

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Hi Amanda

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis hopefully they've caught it early enough and the surgery will remove it all completely.

With regard to work Breast cancer comes under the umbrella of having a disability and as such you are covered under the Equality Act 2010 with regard to employment rights.

With regard to your being told to take time off as holiday leave, have you checked your contract of employment with regard to sick pay, it could be (and without having the full details) that you may not get paid whilst off sick and the only payment you would receive would be statuary sick pay and as such your employer is suggesting taking holiday leave to ensure you get some money whilst you are off work, this leave is sometimes called disability leave.

As latchbrook has suggested do speak to our telephone support team as soon as possible, when you phone it would be helpful if you could have as much information about your employment in front of you as possible to enable you to answer any questions quickly it would also be helpful to you if you prepare a list of things you want to know before making your telephone call, could save you having to phone back when you realise that you haven't asked about something.

One of the things you need to get straight is how much holiday leave have you have available and what happens when you've exhausted all your leave, is that when statuary sick pay kicks in.

I don't suppose that with your employment you are a member of trade union as sickness is normally covered under local rules.

I hope with this information and what our telephone support team (0808 808 0000) can suggest that you come out with a good deal and you can down to the serious business of concentrating on your health and recovery, you don't need the added stress of this hanging over you.

Good luck with everything especially your surgery which I hope is very successful.

Could I ask you to do one thing, as this is an interesting point could you keep in touch with us and let us know how to get on with the leave situation and I am sure many of your fellow members will be interested in the outcome.

Best wishes

Ian