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Shift work problems

Dave4jackie

Member
Messages
13
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I am a bus driver and have type 2 diabetes and am on insulin, I work a 2 days 2 nights 4 off shift system and have done so for over 2 years. Last year I had 2 bad HBA1C results of 78. I was having fatigue problems so went to see the company’s occupational health doctor who reported I was fit to continue working with reasonable adjustments and that they considered the disability clauses of the duty of care act would apply in my case they gave me days only for a month and I managed to mutually swap my nights so did only days for about 4 months. My HBA1C results during this time dropped to 54. Went back to occupational health doctor again and his report stated I should be kept off of doing nights as the improvement shows that working nights was detrimental to my health The other driver I swapped with wanted to go back to the normal shift pattern so I had to return to the shifts also but my HBA1C has now climbed to 65 in less than 2 months. I went to my company again and asked for flexible working doing just days but they have refused stating needs of the business, additional costs and problems employing staff. I feel they have not taken my health condition into account and they are making my position with the company untenable. Has anyone any advice as to what I should do now.
 
Do you have a union. I think TUC covers bus drivers.
 
I have already tried this and they have refused to make any adjustments stating the needs of the business
 
 
My understanding, from experience is that reasonable adjustments apply if they can be put in place. eg if they can demonstrate that it's hard or much more expensive to find people who can cover your nights. On the other hand if they can easily cover your nights but refuse they are being unreasonable.
I worked in situation where it wouldn't have been possible to make such adjustments permanently, covering all night shifts (short staffed, hard to recruit skilled night staff, locum too expensive), but also in different places where it was achievable.
If you can't fulfil a contract, and reasonable adjustments are not possible, you can legally be dismissed.
I hope this information is useful, and good luck!
 

The issue with reasonable adjustments’ they have to be reasonable for the company too

If the company works on a shift basis, and it causes many problems with scheduling and staffing the can decline your request as ‘unreasonable’

Now you have the option of raising a grievance or even taking advice from acas

But this does not guarantee success and even if you went to tribunal could lose if they can demonstrate that these changes are unreasonable over longer periods

You would be better off working with your care team to see how you can better control your BG

It is possible to do shifts and have good control.. I know I drove class 1hgv with hazchem doing shifts
 
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