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Type 1 Legalities for blood testing at work

lottykins

lottykins

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi I'm currently working as a nursery nurse. On Thursday I was approached by the deputy manager and told I would no longer be allowed to test my blood in the staff room as its 'unhygienic' and apparently people have said things to her about it. She advised that I test my blood sugar in the toilet. I wanted to know am I within my rights to refuse this? I said its discrimination and imagine if I were testing my blood in a restaurant and they asked me to do it in the toilet. I'm shocked and so upset about this, I feel segregated and uncomfortable. I intend to speak with the managers about this on Tuesday and refuse either way because I can't see what the problem is other than other people's ignorance. She did then backtrack and say i could also test it in the office or corridor, but why should i have to i want to be able to test my blood where and when i see fit. If anyone could offer me some advice on where I fit legally etc I'd really appreciate it. I've never been made to feel this way before after having diabetes for 15+years so I'm extremely upset about it.
 
Hi @lottykins

The equality act 2010 provides protection for the disabled from discrimination in the work place. Type 1 diabetes is a disability for the purposes of the equality act. So your employer has to make reasonable adjustments such as letting you test your blood in the staff room (personally I would struggle to see this as an adjustment because where you test your blood has absolutely no impact on anyone else, all they have to do is look away - there's nothing unhygienic about testing your blood, it would be unhygienic to do it in the toilet).

Perhaps your colleagues who have suggested it is unhygienic don't realise you're diabetic? Or don't realise what that means?

If you are meeting with the managers on Tuesday I would remind them of their duties as employers under the equality act not to discriminate against disabled employees. i would hope that the deputy manager has just made a snap decision without really thinking about it and having a sensible discussion with your managers would resolve things.
 
I think you can refuse to do it in the toilet but they could provide you a room to do it in. You could always suggest the company provides you with a libre and sensors so that you do not need to prick your finger in the staff room. Throw the problem back at them. If they do not want to have a back bone and tell their other staff to grow up then they can pay the price.

BTW I have even tested in meetings and workshops in front of all.
 
I know we've probably all tested in toilets/bathrooms etc but for them to suggest that should be where you do it is ridiculous, obviously I expect it's clean in there but the most unhygienic room in the building is where they are suggesting you go!? Madness!

Have you been in the job long? I'd be questioning why it's suddenly just become a problem when you've done it for X amount of months/years!

I understand some people don't like needles/blood etc but they would know what you're doing when you get your bits n bob's out and could simply look away!

What if your bg was so low you needed to test ASAP but instead you had to go and collect your bg monitor, go to the office/corridor/toilet, you're losing valuable time!?

I second Andrew's advice on suggesting they supply you with a libre if it's that much of an issue for them
 
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