netdogg2637
Newbie
- Messages
- 4
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Daily injections.
Hi Beat2K
I hate it when this happens, I've read about Employment Law cases where employers have failed to support their employees with Type 1 Diabetes which have led to serious health issues for the employee. In a BT case involving a contact centre employee, (British Telecommunications plc v Pousson UKEAT/0347/SM)
it ended where he could never return to work because BT discouraged him from testing his blood sugars, and colleagues where offended because he was testing his BG in front of them. This cause him to avoid testing altogether and it ended up where he hypo'd hit his head on the floor and suffered a serious head injury! The Employment Tribunal found in the Employee's favour as the Company failed to put the reasonable adjustments in place such as providing him with time to check his BG, access to regular food and water. You could use this case to show your Manager how important it is the ensure you are given reasonable adjustments such as a quiet room to allow you to take your medication (I have attached a link here in case you need to print off the full case notes, or you can simply google the above case law and there are loads of Law Firms and HR websites that provide discussions about it- http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/UKEAT/2005/0347_04_0508.html). I used to use the toilet because I was afraid of people's reaction, I have now been allowed to use the First Aid Room. Or if I don't want to use that (As I've raised concerns over - what if someone is already in there!) I now check my BG and take my insulin in my car in the Car park. My manager is completely fine with this and she often says that I should tell her where my car is parked in case I'm not well.
From a HR perspective, I can understand your manager is in a difficult position as a. He does have to investigate and resolve any concerns raised by staff, however b. He also has to ensure from an Employment law perspective that you are supported at work with a medical condition. The best resolution therefore from his perspective is to ensure you have somewhere quiet to go in order to take your medication or do a blood test as a reasonable adjustment. This would also keep those unsupportive, unbelievable narrow minded colleagues of yours happy (They should wish themselves lucky that they don't have to deal with the **** that we have to!!)
I know this means that you have to change the way you do things but it's like Miklo said, people are strange and very unforgiving when they can't be bothered to consider your feelings!
Hope this helps!
I agree with all the people who are mightily offended at this. Insulin pens are extremely discreet. You'd have to be sitting really close to even notice the short, thin needle on them.
Someone made an anonymous complaint to the manager about me injecting in the office at my own desk, and after I'd got over the initial shock and surprise I went totally ballistic! How DARE someone sit there nosing at what I'm doing and then complain! What a selfish, pathetic person! We all sit at desks with those low 'walls' around them so this person must have had to make quite an effort to see and be offended.
I was so very angry at the idea that anyone should make a complaint, that I think I terrified my manager with my response! I also pointed out that a normal adult response would be "Oh, I'm glad I dont have to do injections every day like that" not a prissy, interfering, cowardly anonymous complaint. Nobody was making this person look.
I'm getting angry even thinking about it again! I stayed where I was and injected and tested when I needed to. I don't know what the manager said to the complainant, but I never heard another word about it.
Some people need educating (did they think I was sitting there injecting for a bit of fun?). They also need to learn to mind their own business - and to develop a bit of human empathy.
It's bad enough having diabetes without being made to feel like some kind of outcast. I'm certainly not going to hide in toilets or special rooms. Its the same as those pathetic people who complain about women breastfeeding in public - grow up and get over yourselves!
Absolutely spot on @azure!
Sorry if i bring this up, i read a post earlier today by a teacher who experienced same thing that happened to me this morning.
My day started, but manager wanted to have a few words, said its nothing serious, then went on to say that several people have mentioned that they feel uncomfortable when i take my insulin in staff room, i use a novapen, i eat my dinner, was my plates, then take my insulin, i feel i'm discreet, i take my jumper off and just lift my sleeve, few clicks and its gone, i don't pull down my trousers or sit with a big syringe while i draw the insulin, now i've always as many of you have struggled through life trying to be accepted as having a normal life, but to be told that i should get up and go and take it else where, means i'm hiding my problem, i'm being pushed into a corner so i don't upset peoples peace, I admit i got very angry and upset, felt like crying myself as i've worked with these people for years and felt that they all understood i had Diabetes and accepted the things i have to do, but obviously not, i now feel like i've gone back to the dark ages and struggling to find how i can work with people like this who can't even speak to me about it.
I'm deeply hurt is about all i can really say.
Sorry if i bring this up, i read a post earlier today by a teacher who experienced same thing that happened to me this morning.
My day started, but manager wanted to have a few words, said its nothing serious, then went on to say that several people have mentioned that they feel uncomfortable when i take my insulin in staff room, i use a novapen, i eat my dinner, was my plates, then take my insulin, i feel i'm discreet, i take my jumper off and just lift my sleeve, few clicks and its gone, i don't pull down my trousers or sit with a big syringe while i draw the insulin, now i've always as many of you have struggled through life trying to be accepted as having a normal life, but to be told that i should get up and go and take it else where, means i'm hiding my problem, i'm being pushed into a corner so i don't upset peoples peace, I admit i got very angry and upset, felt like crying myself as i've worked with these people for years and felt that they all understood i had Diabetes and accepted the things i have to do, but obviously not, i now feel like i've gone back to the dark ages and struggling to find how i can work with people like this who can't even speak to me about it.
I'm deeply hurt is about all i can really say.