Work
I was just wondering how people have gone on when telling their employer about their condition. I work in a primary school and did my job perfectly for a few years. I recently had to tell them about my situation and if I could make a couple of changes so I could keep working to the best of my ability. Now 9 months down the line it has been horrendous, my boss has made me feel nothing but a spoke in the wheel and I'm not quite sure where to turn to with it. I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.
You need to go to your union right away and get them to act on your behalf. If you're not in a union, join now. Your employer is breaking the law. You are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, which covers MS from the moment of diagnosis.Your employer is obliged to make 'reasonable adjustments'which can cover what your duties are and also any things like special furniture, location of your classroom etc etc. You have all the cards on your side, because it sounds as if your employer is failing in their duty of care. This would be pounced on by, for example, Ofsted, when they assess the quality of management in your school. Even outside DDA, employers can be sued if they cause unnecessary stress to their workforce. It would be a good idea, before the union comes to see you, to make a list of the changes you would like to see because the rep will be used to the legislation but probably won't know the first thing about MS. This is urgent - apart from anything else, the stress won't exactly be helping your health! Keep us posted. (To answer your question, my employer (fortunately brilliant) did the following: removed me from active outside patrol duties; swapped one of my responsibilities to a purely admin role; relocated my teaching base to the classroom nearest the staffroom; gave one of the admin staff a 'watching brief' for me so that she could sort out potential problems on my behalf. All little things but they transformed the workplace for me.
Hi I have been having some issues at work too and completely sympathise with you. I used to have a really understanding boss but then they had a move about of team leaders and I ended up with a boss who I think believes she has inherited a problem with me being a member of her team, didnt help I was poorly when she took over. I have been threatened with disciplinaries and have felt very uncomfortable and have been asked If I have considered going part time. I am in a union and have got them involved they have been really good, I am being referred to Occupational Health which is good for me and my employer as any changes that I need doing will come from Occ health and my manager will then have to implement instead of her thinking I am just being awkward. I would definitely recommend speaking to your union if you have one, or as Cameron says join one asap it may also be worth speaking to your HR dept as they may be able to get you referred to Occ health or something similar. I hope this helps and good luck, if you need a chat just shout xx