• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

set shifts in work???

M

mattyjdavies

Member
Messages
7
Hi
My girlfriend is Diabetic Type 1
She works in a call centre doing shift work (a week or 8-4's then a week of 12-8's)
She finds it hard to control he diabetes and anxiety on her lates.
She has asked her manager if she can do 8-4's only for a couple of months so she can get her bloods down and sort her head out. (We want to start trying for a baby)
Her work has refused and she has a meeting tomorrow and discuss in more detail.
Does anyone have any tips on what she can say to get them to agree.

My girlfriend has been very upset last few weeks over work and I don’t think stress is good for her and I’m hoping someone can help or give some advice.
 
Is there any particular reason why she's finding late shift more stressful!

How long has she been working for the company!

Is there any particular reason behind why she finds it more difficult or stressfull on lates shift!

Is stessed being increased due to fitting her current regime eating/testing pattern into this shift or is it a case that the level of stress faced by the team is pushing up her levels...

The first one could be addressed by looking at her break times and perhaps asking for these to be at a more suitable time for her, but if she's on the basal/bolus system then then break times shouldn't be too much of a problem..

Perhaps she may need to speak to her DSN, ask to go on a carb counting course, which will enable her to understand this method better and give her mroe confidence about adjusting her insulin to suit her needs..

If the stressed is a team based thing, then this needs to be addressed are the customers more difficult on the late shift than they are on the early shift!

She should with basal/bolus regime be able shift here working times around without too many problems, I used to work a shift pattern that changed by the day, so one day I could be doing 7or 7.30am start to 2pm then the next day do a 2pm-9 or 9.30 and visversa.. But I was in the position that I could easy take my break when I needed too most of the time, only one or two time slots in the shift that I was unable to unless it was to treat a hypo
 
I think the problem is more the job causing her stress and anxiety because of the targets and regulations (she works for a bank). which in turn has an effect on her health and diabetes control.
As we all know you just want to eat rubbish and watch TV when you’re down,

She already has to deal with many possible complications due to her diabetes and we don’t work making things worse

They are fine with her taking her breaks at set times and give her time off for hospital appointments.

Sarah is good with her diabetes she carb counts and always carries hypstop gel etc,
she has been off for the past three months with anxiety and depression but is now ready to go back.

I just feel that set shifts would be good for both her health and her diabetes control. she will be able to exercise more and have more time to prepare healthy meals

my granddad died of an early age which was linked to diabetes (they didn’t have glucose testers in his day). so I just want her to have a healthy life style. and have to best possible chance to live a long a healthy life.

Thanks
 
If she has been off with anxiety and depression would her boss agree to a slow start eg reducing her hours and then building them up gradually over a few weeks? This might help her to have more time to get things sorted a bit better and then she may feel she can manage both shifts. A friend of mine who isn't diabetic, but has other health issues and depression did this and it really helped her :D
 
You say she has been off for the past three months with anxiety and depression

GP can issue a back to work sick note with adjustments to allow a return to work
Ask employer for OP heath return to work assessment a bank will have both HR and access to OP health. Or your GP can request the OP Heath work assessment to enable back to work
example ie day shifts to start-with or even part time
your doctor can:

advise when you may be fit for work with some support
suggest common ways to help you return to work
give information on how your condition will affect what you can do
Click to expand...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Sicknessabsence/DG_187161
She suffers from anxiety,depression and diabetes
She has the right to ask for reasonable adjustments to be made by her Employer for a return to work

Get advise from CAB or Union if she is in one ,Talk to her GP, HR dept

Diabetes UK Advocacy pack link below :
Download and read lots of helpful info for you

http://uk.sitestat.com/diabetes/web...ts/Advocacy/Employment_Advocacy_Pack_2010.pdf

Bob
 
Hi Bowell

she has had a meeting with op health, they were the ones who sent the request to her manager, she also has a note from her GP advising she she do early's

and they came back with well you need to stay off work untill your ready to do all shifts,

she has a meetig tomorrow with her manager and also someone from HR.

we'll see what happens after the meeting

i think her management are more botherd with the tagerts than the health of there staff
 
She has the right for a work mate or union rep to come in with her to meeting
or the meeting to be postponed to allow union rep to come.

Good luck
 
mattyjdavies said:
Hi Bowell

she has had a meeting with op health, they were the ones who sent the request to her manager, she also has a note from her GP advising she she do early's

and they came back with well you need to stay off work untill your ready to do all shifts,

she has a meetig tomorrow with her manager and also someone from HR.

we'll see what happens after the meeting

i think her management are more botherd with the tagerts than the health of there staff
Click to expand...

Under the DDA your girlfriend is entitled to reasonable adjustment being made at work to account for her current state of health as bowell suggests, make sure she takes someone else into this meeting tomorrow - either a union rep or a colleague who will act as a witness to whats been said, after the meeting if she isn't satisfied with the outcome then take this up with the Union Branch Secretary or the Citizens Advice.

Targets don't go before people's health, all employers have a duty of care to their employees!

Nigel
 
do you know if she can take someone who isnt employed by the bank in? they dont have unions in this bank, they make you sign something when you join to that effect.
 
I'm not so knowledgeable with the employment rights as these guys are, but just an idea.. Is there anyone she works with that would be willing to shift share?

Someone who is willing to do all lates, and she can do all earlies. Surely it shouldn't matter aslong as it's covered?

Good luck :)
 
My personal opinion is that employees in call centres have a high rate of anxiety and stress regardless of any chronic condition.
Call centres are the pet hate of many consumers and those of us, who would normally be quite controlled, see it as a place to vent our feelings. The automated start before a conversation takes place, the music played, being put on hold and a scripted answer seem to bring out the worst in many of us. This must have an effect on the employees.

Health and Safety Organisations even do surveys on the employees. The only one I have to hand is this one,
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr169.pdf

I have spoken to people who have worked in call centres and their general consensus is that they feel like battery hens.

I know the job market is pretty empty at the moment but has your girlfriend thought about doing some more training to get a more satisfying job?
 
well I work at the same bank but in a different office so i'll go with her.

well we have the backing of op health and her gp so hopefully the manager can help her out and agree to some better shifts,

yeh we've been looking at jobs last few weeks so hopefully she can escape the place

Thanks for your help guys
 
I just wanted to say I wish your GF the best of luck tomorrow, knowing from personal experience of working in a call centre for a building society i know exactly what they are like and good luck to her on the job hunt
 
mattyjdavies said:
well I work at the same bank but in a different office so i'll go with her.

well we have the backing of op health and her gp so hopefully the manager can help her out and agree to some better shifts,

yeh we've been looking at jobs last few weeks so hopefully she can escape the place

Thanks for your help guys
Click to expand...

As there is two members of management present in the meeting (girlfriends manager and HR) you are wise to go in with her and sit as a quiet observer, from my early days of working I was always told to never go into a meeting with two members of management unless you take someone in with you.

Hope your GF gets a satisfactory outcome!

Nigel
 
SHe is entitled to have reasonable adjustments made to the workplace under the DDA!

She has the right to take them to an Employment Tribunal! Think about it - it is relatively easy to do, if you phone your local office they will give you all the advise you need!

If she doesn't feel able to - be careful about future references, although they cannot give her a bad one - they can say it was down to "health problems" - which makes it seem like her Diabetes became a problem!

Good luck!
 
Back
Top