Problems at work

Hello Dorisw 

I am so sorry to hear of your OH's work issues, I will "tag" Community Member  mstev2 (Steve) to this post as I am sure he will be able to help with your question. - He's better at this type of "stuff" than me. I am sure he will be along soon when he sees he's been "tagged".

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Dorisw .

I am sorry to hear about your husband's work issues. A cancer diagnosis is covered by the disability discrimination act and reasonable allowance should be made to allow for treatment but also how that treatment might affect your ability to work. With larger organisations there is often more understanding and flexibility but with smaller concerns it can create problems, plus it depends on the nature of the work. The first port of call is usually the manager or HR department who should be made aware of the situation and to see if a mutually agreeable adjustment can be made. It would also put it on record that your husband considers the PIP warning is unfair under the circumstances. I would also speak to an advisor at Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00 who can possibly point you in the direction of where to get help. Citizens Advice are another useful resource. Also do you have a Maggie's in your area.

This link might help with the first discussions.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/work-and-cancer/talking-to-your-employer

I tried to keep my prostate cancer diagnosis a secret at work but when they found out I was asked if I wanted to go off sick and could leave immediately. They paid me full wages for two years and then put me on the pension insurance, which pays half wages until I reach 66 next March and retire.

I have also been drawing a full final salary pension throughout.

Good morning Dorisw .

I am sorry that your other half has to go through this. Some employers handle this very badly indeed.

If your other half is a union member, make sure that you take their advice.

if he is not, then some basic preparatory work may be needed.

if the company concerned have a staff handbook then make sure that you have a copy to hand.

if you look at that and believe that the company is not obeying its own rules then you will have ground for a grievance against them, which you may ish to follow.

Given that it appears that your other half is not able to fulfil his full duties, then you might need a "reasonable adjustment" to be made. This is, effectively, an agreement between you and the company about what exactly needs to be done. It may be a legal requirement.

I will give you the information you need to understand your husband's position. This is likely ton be considered as discrimination, which is actually good because it gives you more options.

Here are three websites which give you information, in the order you may need to use them:

https://www.acas.org.uk/supporting-disabled-people - this is what employers are supposed to do. It is often good to know both sides of the story. Look at the part about "Who is considered to be disabled".

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/time-off-work/time-off-work-overview/ - this is general advice about taking time off work. You will see that paid sick leave is one of them.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/dealing-with-discrimination-at-work/taking-action-work-discrimination/asking-your-employer-for-changes-to-help-if-youre-disabled/ - this gives you a good deal of information about the details of actions you can take.

You may need some further support when you have looked at this. Your local Citizens Advice should be able to help you. You can find out who they are, and how to contact them from the "Find Your Local Citizens Advice" box on this page - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/.

I will also send you a "Friend Request" on this web page so that you can ask questions directly without making what might be personal information available to everyone.

It is better if you read the information from the above before you contact people, so that you can ask questions that are specifically relevant to your circumstances.

I hope that things pick up, and that the employer's come round to your way of thinking.

Best wishes,

Steve.

Thanks Steve  (mstev2) 

You are a star!!

Kind Regards - Brian.

Hi

It's unbelievable - you both have enough to concern yourselves without aggro from work.

Others have come up with all the suggestions that I came up with so I can't add anything further other than to say we are all wishing you well.

Regards

Stuart