New Boss new problem..

[Shiny]

Hi. I'm shiny

I'm type 2 and have only been on insulin(detamir 60ml) for 4 or so months. I take a shed load of metformin and other goodies too

I used to 2 work days and 2 nights but as I'm hyperglycemic It sent my bood sugars through the roof and made me ill..but I NEVEr went sick despite feeling half dead.

After yet another hbn1 test that had gone up and fasting blod tests every morning..my sugars were sky high and my gp was telling me to stop nights..I realized I needed to change my rota..thats when the trouble started..

My senior said she would speak to the acting manager..and talk about it she was veery supportive..he said put it in writing ..I did I spoke to him again and he said carry on for another 2 weeks and he would make sure i was put on days by the next two week rota..he didnt.

I then wrote another note to by then new manager..who saw me and said that she cant gaureentee me the hours..(was told I was..but hey ho,,I know they were trying to get me to back down as they couldnt cover my nite shifts) I said fine I'd have to leave as I cant live on the three days she offered me..all weekends..i work every weekend already..

She then blinked and said ok write down a rota of what you can do,..I did being careful to make it fair and included a balanced shift of Earlies and lates...Got a phone call thursday...from her saiying she had tried her best to fit me in,,,I thanked her i know that doing the rotas is a hellish job..you cant please everyone..then she dropped the bombshell..

She wants me to do a long day on the sunday b4 I go on holiday...13th june..now a long day is 7.45am to 9pm...a night is 8.45pm..to 8am.. (i work in a care home for dementia patients and we dont get many breaks we dont even have a staff room) I balked and said .I wasnt happy as thats is one hell of a long day and I need my insulin and medication and rest..well you should of heard her..

I wasnt being flexible..I wouldnt meet her half way despite her going out of her way to fit me in...I tried to press that I'm insulin dependant and it was the long hours that were contributing to the fact my sugars were through the roof....she made me feel like ****...so in the end I backed down and said I'd do it but I needed to go home and care for my dog...I will have to rush off and sort her out and then drive back..no way will I have time to eat...

I feel totally demoralised about this..I know that I have to do my fair share..but .in all my 4 years as a diabetic I've NEVER had a day off sick due to it..what rights do I have and can my GP help me...keeping in mind they charge 30 quid to write a letter (Yeah you heard right 30 disgusting isnt it?).

Please help...If I go sick she will make my life hell..and I know I'll get all the ****** shifts..

Sorry for the essay..

Shiny xx

 

[ebony321]

Hi,

Bless you!

I had similar problems with high sugars and work, but luckily my boss is very thoughtful unlike yours!

I'm no expert but i'm sure there must be some kind of employment law to protect this from happening!

i would contact your local advice bureau and see what advice you can get.

It's awful this is happening to you, you should be entitled to work reasonable shifts, whilst still being able to think about your health!

Is there maybe some people you work with who could maybe swap some shifts with you?

I understand that you doctor has said to not do night shifts but is it possible to adjust yor medication to suit different shifts? i'm only type 1 so i only use insulin not the little cocktail you mention you take so i'm not sure if this is possible for you, but maybe worth a bash?

Also do you follow a low carb diet? maybe instead of adjusting your medication you could lower your carb intake to takle those high sugars?

hope at least some of this helps and your boss learns to be more appreciative of you and more sympathetic to how rough your finding your work at the minute.

good luck

ebony

 

[dorcas61]

Hi Shiny,

Diabetes is covered by the DDA (Disability Discrimintaion Act) and employers must take your health into account, even if it seems that as a result you get more favourable treatment than other staff... if you have a union, join it and see a rep asap... if not, check out www.directgov.uk for employment rights, or see someone at the CAB...

I'm fortunate to have a job where there is a strong union and good HR policies, but the law applies to all of us.

Good luck!

 

[Shiny]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I've emailed the CAB and am awaitng a reply...I may have someone to swap or do the morning for me..thing is i dont want to get on the wrong side of my boss as shes new and I dont want to end up being seen as a winger...

I have 2 options...

1. My diabetic nurse is a fiesty one and very up on her knowledge ..and if I tell her how they are behaving she will hit the roof..and will give them what for...I

2. The Care director of the home is aware of me being on insulin and we've known each other for years so she may be the one to go too as I strongly suspect she does not know about this...she told me that if I need a break then I take it...

people who use emotional blackmail raise my hackles and if this is how this new manager is going to be then I think its time to show her I'm not one to walk over...

What strikes me from reading through all the posts here is the complete ignorance of employers and lack of empathy...I know people have a business to run but without workers and looking after the ones you have you dont have a business...its staggering to see that these employers have no comprehension (maybe through not choosing to have :evil: ) of the DDA..and their roles to uphold it...

I dont have a union...my company think they are the law...the CAB has a file the size of a house of unfair dismissal cases from them and I've tussled with them in the past and won so I'm up for a fight... but the thing is by backing down and doing this long day shes going to think shes won and I'll roll over and do them all the time...and if I fight I'll be labelled as a trouble maker but I'm used to it...I'm a bit out spoken... :mrgreen:

I think I will see how it goes....if my nurse cant help i'll do the long day and if I get ill I'll go home ..and if she gets shirty I'll smack her in the mush with the DDA and Health and Safety at work act... :lol:

Thanks again you've been very helpful

hugs Shiny xx

Thank you all again for your help...

 

[dorcas61]

Go for it! And do let us know how you get on

 

[Shiny]

Hello all..

Well heres the update...Ended up doing a split shift...6am to 1pm then back at 3.30pm till 9pm...wasnt too bad turned out that the night senior went sick so I volenteered to come in early to help out...

Had my hoilday...had some fantastic bloodt sugar readings and came back to see that my new rota was up and it was more or less the way I wrote it...all went well until last week....

I turned up for work last thursday to find some one had scribbled my name out...i had to go home...asked if I would be paid they said..,no I refused to go....It was not my mistake...so why should I lose out...? I stood my ground. A few hours later I noticed the rota had been changed again...all my earlies had been changed to late shifts...reason being that the woman who was off sick was back and all she does is earlies...not happy but as it was only two shifts and a short week not too bad...

Looked again just as I was about to go home..the following weeks rota had gone up and all my early shifts on my 6 day week had been changed to lates that made 9 shifts at 1.45 to 9pm..on the trot ...not one early...only the saturday...

My work mates could not believe it...and they all said it was really unfair and out of order...I was stunned...we are still 2 staff down and could give me my shifts....the reason was that they had new staff starting ...great....thanks for that i thought..

I was told to speak to my manager...but couldnt really get time to speak to her and I really couldnt find the words to ask./i was too emotional and didnt want to lose my temper.

..I feel as if I'm being pushed out...this all started the moment all those weeks ago when I wrote the note saying i could not work nights anymore....at the advice of my line manager who told me too ,who has now backed off....not so brave as she makes out..

I wrote a letter to my manager expressing my concerns asking her to ring me on monday..she hasnt bothered...i got a call asking me to act up as senior thursday...I need the cash and said yes....but I'm not happy and now I'm dreading coming to work weds (2morra) I hate confrontation...I've started a diary listing whats happend....what the hell is her problem with me?

I have a right to a social life and this rota of constant lates shifts when no one else has that many...is stopping that very effectivly...I dont want to get nasty and approach ACAS and the CAB but I dont know what else to do...I want to stand up for myself but I'm so scared I'm gonna lose my job...because I'm being a problem.....all because my doctor asked me to drop nights...I really really am starting to hate my illness and resent it...and thats not like me...

Any suggestions would be appreciated...

 

[dorcas61]

In the absence of a union, approaching ACAS and/or CAB isn't nasty, it's standing up for your rights under the law... if your employer won't voluntarily comply with the DDA or the H&S at Work Act, someone has to remind them of their obligations - and if they won't take any notice of you, you need professional help.

You could also try your local Job Centre Plus - some offices have a Disability Officer who may be able to give advice, but I reckon ACAS has more clout!

 

[Shiny]

Thanks dorcus..

I've got my last complaint on file with the CAB...I also have been to the ACAS Site...and read the info there..

i have also just sent a long email to the help centre of the equalities and human rights comission to see if I have a case...

I'm reluctant to go through with it as the last time I tried to get help (on another issue 5 years ago )they suspended me for 2 weeks and forced people to write statements about me...to scare me into behaving she said....this is what I'm dealing with..and i only went back to them because there were no jobs out there .....and things evened out ....turned out she liked the fact I had b***s and stood up to her...

I will have to go through the companys grievance proceedure which is long and convuluted and will make the new manager hate me ,,or give her good reason too...I think if I dont get any joy I'll go up to the offices and speak to the HR manager and see what she says....and inform her that I know my rights....

I wish to god I'd never been diagnosed with diabetes as its ruined my life....but its there and I have to deal with it....just makes me so mad that employers think they can play god...

Thank you again xx

 

[dorcas61]

Hang on in there, Shiny

If your company has an HR person and grievance policies, that's a good sign - shows they know they have obligations!

If it's any consolation, I recently won a Grievance against my own employer - it can be done!

 

[Shiny]

Thanks..

I've come to the conculsion my boss is really really **** at doing the rota!

I was told this 10 late shifts on the trot was a mistake...yup...still gotta do em though siigh .that she had fixed it and my rota was back to normal..yup for 2 weeks and then shes got me on 9 days in a row with no day off....!!

I work in a nursing home for people with dementia...we dont get many breaks we are short staffed and its really heavy work and the clients are violent more often than not...and there is nothing out there..job wise so I'm stuck here until I can get out...if I do 9 days on the trot I'll end up with dementia by the end of it.. :lol:

So I'll draw her attention to it and say...did you really mean to give me 9 days in a row? cus if i do that I'll end up in a flippin coma ! I've found humour works with her....I dont want to bash em over the head with the law...and I'm going to ask her where my new contract its..as once I have it I will have much more power to fight my corner the next time she has a brain storm when doing the rota..

I know she hates doing it...I'd hate it too as you cant please em all...but flippin heck its always mine shes mucking up .....grrrr! I am continuing to keep a journal though....and as soon as pay day gets here I'm on the phone to Unite and joining up....and am speaking to my diabetic nurse specialist about it on wednesday to see if she has any advice..as my diabetic nurse is pants...

Little gem of info....my doctors want £30 to write a letter....for gods sake...thats day light robbery...I never knew stamps had gone up that much? :lol: :lol: Cheeky though innit?

At least I've still got my sense of humour....just!

Shiny x

 

[dorcas61]

Hi Shiny,

you sound really positive - keep it up! Humour + Unite sounds like a good combo

 

[FionaR]

Hi Shiny,
I realise you are a type 2 on insulin, I am type 1, not quite sure what the differences are (sorry I am a bit ignorant as to the workings of a type 2 diabetic! :lol: )
Anyway, Just wanted to say, I worked in a care home for the eldery for 5 years, doing 3 x 13 hour (both day and night shifts) shifts and 2 x 6 hour shifts a week (once a month doing 12 days in a row the way the rota worked out)
I never had any problems, as my employers were aware of my diabetes. By Law They HAVE to allow you to take a break to check your BG, take your insulin and eat, even if it is only 5 minutes. The fact it is a care home, and has RGN's, SN's, Charge nurses etc they should know better. (You are entitled to a 15 minute break every 4 hours if I remember correctly, 8 hours you are entitled to 30 minutes for my 13 hours shifts, start work at 7:30am, 15 min break @ 10am, 30 min lunch break @ 1pm, 15min brak @ 3:30pm, 30min break @6:30pm finish at 8:45pm - things may have changed re: the breaks since I left)
I obviously don't know your personal circumstances, but diabetes really isn't an excuse not to work the shifts that are expected in a care home. It is up to you to fit your diabetes around your life, not fit your life around diabetes.

(ps I also had 2 dogs and a daughter, no car and only my mum (who also works full time) to help :shock: )

Sorry thats not what you want to hear, just want you to see it is possible to be "normal" (ish)

Hope things work out for you whatever happens

Fiona x

 

[Shiny]

Thanks Fiona..

Its not the work I'm opposed too it the blatent igonorance to the employment law and the fact because I had to stop doing nights on doctors orders they got thier noses put out of joint and decided to give me the **** shifts that no one else wants to do...

9 days on the trot is illegal without a day off as are long days 14 hours ....unless you signed a form to say your happy to work over the 48 hour week ....I have done my research...and know all the stats...but have re read them and wanted to add....

....There are some concessions and jobs that do allow those shift and days...e.g. doctors and hospital workers..but these have to be agreed on the employment of the workers and be in their contracted and agreed hours...and can be changed should the need arise..in writing....and that on doing said shifts and hours they have sufficiant rest periods and rest days inbetween ...this is also relevant in the Health and Safety directives as employers have a legal right to protect the health of thier employees...and the Civil Rights act that states that we are entitled to have a private and home life...

As we all know the law is as long and as short as we want it to be and is open to interpratation (sic) its also constantly changing....in Oct this year a new act will replace most of them one of them being the DDA..it will be called the Equality at work act..direct gov have it on pdf but its still being written and fine tuned...but will give us employees more rights and say... all good :0)

Sounds like your employer was taking the mick with you as well....I wont be walked over...I manage my diabetes fine but when I'm denied the right to a home life 10 late shifts in a row and made to feel I'm a problem because of me being diabetic then I'm going to stick up for myself...

The Disability Discrimination act 1995 states that an employer has a legal right to adjust your shifts and make resonable changes....they had not..in fact had gone out of thier way to make me see that they dont care.. they think they can change someones shifts at a seconds notice without thier consent...

There is an uneasy truce at the moment....

I dont expect them to fit my diabetes around my work....i expect them to treat me fairly like the other staff ..I've never taken a day off sick with my diabetes and am one of thier hardest workers..if other members of staff have noticed that was treated unfairly then I cant be mistaken...Not having a go at you Fiona just stating the facts.

Shiny