I am so frustrated! I was diagnosed T2 July 1st, and as quite poorly at the time but am adjusting and felt better with antibiotics. Went back to work asap. I have tried explaining that I do not need special adaptations and that I can drive safely, and that it is obvious now that the sick leave I have taken over the last year or so has either been because I was undiagnosed and caused by very high BG, or my rocovery time was lengthened by same. I have also told him that now i am getting treatment and changed diet/lifestyle etc so I can prevent/adjust with assistance from DSN so less likely to be off sick except when highly contagious for other reasons, and that I feel fitter and healthier than I have for years. He is just not listening! He still bangs on about driving and recovery! I have explained I won't recover but am managing my condition intelligently and will continue to do so. He is still insisting I go for an Occupational Health assessment, which could be a doctor or a Practice nurse and I have no idea if either of these will know much about Diabetes. He is also doing an Attendance Review which is Policy. I have answered every question on the referral form but he says I am not qualified to answer questions about my health it has to be a doctor or nurse who won't know me from Adam so I have asked if it could be someone who specialises in Diabetes as i think this would be more productive and fairer. No reply on that one yet! He seems to believe I don't know what I am talking about and am unrealistic about being able to continue working the same hours doing the same things. I visit people at home so drive quite a lot, and I spend the rest of my time sitting at a desk, neither of which are strenuous physically! Has anyone else had this sort of thing? I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall and they (him and the organisation) are just covering their posteriors, or maybe tying to force me out as he has also asked if i am in the company pension scheme. I'd love your opinion on this folks!
Stubborn Boss
- Thread starter Jenfy
- Start Date
How awful!
My boss has been tremendously supportive of all my health issues. Horrible that you've got such an a*******e of a manager.
Keep a diary (this was useful for me when I ended up reporting a previous manager (previous company) to HR for reasons unrelated to my health/this topic) I was successful
Check your HR policy re harrassment/bullying.
He's going to have tread very carefully if he thinks he's going to manage you out because of you being ill.
Many companies do have a 'capabilty procedure' where certain triggers warrant a formal review e.g patterns of short sickness absences - don't be afraid of this, it's usually a routine thing, I hate when managers don't re-assure their staff of this procedure and often staff get very worried that they've done something bad by being ill and absent from work (I used to be a manager by the way and would like think I was considerate to people) - at the end of the day a company needs people to work, and their approach of doing a formal review is to identify if the person needs additonal support or if they are ultimately capable of doing their job because of their illness.
What was the outcome of the review? Where there objectives discussed, support plans, change of your duties, shifts etc?
The Occupational Health Assessment get involved to help improve your working environment - it should be from a company care perspective. Personally, I've not had to have this for my Diabetes but it's not affected my attendance or ability to work (just the appointments I have to attend) I did have one because of my spinal condition once I got diagnosed, I had an assessment and I got a special chair and my manager was advised I was allowed to take microbreaks because sitting too long causes compression of my spinal discs and excerbates my nerve problem.
Ultimately you need to consult HR and not your boss on this matter. Find out if it's standard practice to involve Occ Assessment following a formal attendance review. Also if it's to 'assess your Diabetes' what outcome are they looking for here? Will they give you more breaks, change your shifts, allow extra time for taking medications...I actually don't understand it to be honest. I do hope it's not going to turn into you having to report how much/what you eat, how much excercise you do etc, that's incredibly personal and intrusive...if someone's had any other illness say IBS, do they have to report how often they go to the loo and how much fibre they've had???
Sorry I can;t be of more help, but just wanted to re-assure you someone here cares.
Good luck
My boss has been tremendously supportive of all my health issues. Horrible that you've got such an a*******e of a manager.
Keep a diary (this was useful for me when I ended up reporting a previous manager (previous company) to HR for reasons unrelated to my health/this topic) I was successful
Check your HR policy re harrassment/bullying.He's going to have tread very carefully if he thinks he's going to manage you out because of you being ill.
Many companies do have a 'capabilty procedure' where certain triggers warrant a formal review e.g patterns of short sickness absences - don't be afraid of this, it's usually a routine thing, I hate when managers don't re-assure their staff of this procedure and often staff get very worried that they've done something bad by being ill and absent from work (I used to be a manager by the way and would like think I was considerate to people) - at the end of the day a company needs people to work, and their approach of doing a formal review is to identify if the person needs additonal support or if they are ultimately capable of doing their job because of their illness.
What was the outcome of the review? Where there objectives discussed, support plans, change of your duties, shifts etc?
The Occupational Health Assessment get involved to help improve your working environment - it should be from a company care perspective. Personally, I've not had to have this for my Diabetes but it's not affected my attendance or ability to work (just the appointments I have to attend) I did have one because of my spinal condition once I got diagnosed, I had an assessment and I got a special chair and my manager was advised I was allowed to take microbreaks because sitting too long causes compression of my spinal discs and excerbates my nerve problem.
Ultimately you need to consult HR and not your boss on this matter. Find out if it's standard practice to involve Occ Assessment following a formal attendance review. Also if it's to 'assess your Diabetes' what outcome are they looking for here? Will they give you more breaks, change your shifts, allow extra time for taking medications...I actually don't understand it to be honest. I do hope it's not going to turn into you having to report how much/what you eat, how much excercise you do etc, that's incredibly personal and intrusive...if someone's had any other illness say IBS, do they have to report how often they go to the loo and how much fibre they've had???
Sorry I can;t be of more help, but just wanted to re-assure you someone here cares.
Good luck
angieG
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 725
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Jenfy,
If it's of any help to you, I was diagnosed last November Type 2.
I drive coaches and minibuses on an as and when basis (sometimes full-time, some weeks just one day or whatever) but so far I have had no problems. I end up with meals at irregular times and some long journeys without breaks but you have just got to think ahead and be sensible.
I always have some biscuits (Nairns Oatcakes are pretty good) in my bag for a snack in between meals if I get caught out a bit. I also find some mints like TicTacs are handy as nobody queries you having a few of those whilst your driving. Just make sure you have food with you when you are driving around so wherever and whenever you need something it doesn't cause a problem and then there should be no cause for your boss to complain.
Hope this helps, good luck.
If all else fails there are better bosses out there!!
Angie
If it's of any help to you, I was diagnosed last November Type 2.
I drive coaches and minibuses on an as and when basis (sometimes full-time, some weeks just one day or whatever) but so far I have had no problems. I end up with meals at irregular times and some long journeys without breaks but you have just got to think ahead and be sensible.
I always have some biscuits (Nairns Oatcakes are pretty good) in my bag for a snack in between meals if I get caught out a bit. I also find some mints like TicTacs are handy as nobody queries you having a few of those whilst your driving. Just make sure you have food with you when you are driving around so wherever and whenever you need something it doesn't cause a problem and then there should be no cause for your boss to complain.
Hope this helps, good luck.
If all else fails there are better bosses out there!!
Angie
Thanks guys, lots of good information and advice. The OCC Health assessment is supposed to "assist" him in the Attendance review but as I have not yet signed the consent form for the former nothing has happened yet. I'll post again when things have moved on. The really sad thing is that he has a disability himself and we work for a local authority Care department!
Hi,
I found this very interesting as I've recently been diagnosed type 2, and am also in a position where I have employees with diabetes. My team are all field engineers, so driving is a big part of their job.
Going back a while, I also asked occ health to assist me by interviewing one of my engineers. The reason was simple, in employment law (and morally), I have a duty of care to my employees, and I felt that the only way to understand the impact of diabetes on my employee was with the help of a medical professional. I would still take this approach, even though I have the condition, it does not make me an expert.
I made this clear to the employee, so as not to make them think I was trying to get rid of them etc, as they are a highly valued employee.
Long story short, it's clear you could have a better relation with your boss, and I'd work on that. Ask them what their intention is, and assure them of your commitment to your role.
Just my two peneth, hope it's helpful.
I found this very interesting as I've recently been diagnosed type 2, and am also in a position where I have employees with diabetes. My team are all field engineers, so driving is a big part of their job.
Going back a while, I also asked occ health to assist me by interviewing one of my engineers. The reason was simple, in employment law (and morally), I have a duty of care to my employees, and I felt that the only way to understand the impact of diabetes on my employee was with the help of a medical professional. I would still take this approach, even though I have the condition, it does not make me an expert.
I made this clear to the employee, so as not to make them think I was trying to get rid of them etc, as they are a highly valued employee.
Long story short, it's clear you could have a better relation with your boss, and I'd work on that. Ask them what their intention is, and assure them of your commitment to your role.
Just my two peneth, hope it's helpful.
Hey all. I am new here and found this posting the most interesting right now, had to reply.
I was fired! Yup, had sore feet and found it very hard to work, cleaning machines. I was working midnight shifts (11 yrs) most likely eating wrong and even put on a few pounds but I didn't know I had diabetes, just had very sore feet and was tired and after realizing (three years later) that this is not just in my head and now I am feeling crippling effects I went to my doctor and told him I had sore feet. He said yer diabetic! Test came in, full fledged diabetic.
At this time I was starting to take sick days and they were a small percentage higher then the rest of the work place so I did that review thing, told them what had happened and that I was on it with nurses, doctor and meds,,, No good, they harassed me till finally I had my right arm go out of service. They then tried to tell me I was faking it and had me go to that occupational testing.
I was smart, I took a union representative with me who was great about spending the day with me because she knew I was getting messed around at work. I was about 43 and the results came back that I was as able and an 80 yr old lady and needed to be placed in sedentary work, Well,,, They were mad. They placed me on medical leave, messed around with the WCB portion which the arm was (work related) and had WCB claim it was my disease (arm works fine now after some recovery time). Then they messed around with my medical plan, had it canceled after three months and terminated me from my job.
Whats good about all of this is my hubby knew I had lots of experience in home care and he (working at the same place) knew I was gonna get fired so he bugged me to get us into doing care at home. After some nagging by him I did get it going and now we are both care givers in our own home and in all of this I lost about two months pay after being fired and so it was a small hit to the visa and master cards but we survived, Now taking the case to the courts of my union and see if we can nail these people to the wall for treating a disabled person the way they did.
I am still sore in the feet and sort of disabled on most days but living and working at home are bearable, Better then being out of a job or stressing an 8 hour a day job for some fool who thinks he knows it all, I wish this on him and his mother for having him. Thats my story, Get your ducks in line if you have any other route to take, it will help later if your jobs goes kerplunk. Good luck with it all and take care.
I was fired! Yup, had sore feet and found it very hard to work, cleaning machines. I was working midnight shifts (11 yrs) most likely eating wrong and even put on a few pounds but I didn't know I had diabetes, just had very sore feet and was tired and after realizing (three years later) that this is not just in my head and now I am feeling crippling effects I went to my doctor and told him I had sore feet. He said yer diabetic! Test came in, full fledged diabetic.
At this time I was starting to take sick days and they were a small percentage higher then the rest of the work place so I did that review thing, told them what had happened and that I was on it with nurses, doctor and meds,,, No good, they harassed me till finally I had my right arm go out of service. They then tried to tell me I was faking it and had me go to that occupational testing.
I was smart, I took a union representative with me who was great about spending the day with me because she knew I was getting messed around at work. I was about 43 and the results came back that I was as able and an 80 yr old lady and needed to be placed in sedentary work, Well,,, They were mad. They placed me on medical leave, messed around with the WCB portion which the arm was (work related) and had WCB claim it was my disease (arm works fine now after some recovery time). Then they messed around with my medical plan, had it canceled after three months and terminated me from my job.
Whats good about all of this is my hubby knew I had lots of experience in home care and he (working at the same place) knew I was gonna get fired so he bugged me to get us into doing care at home. After some nagging by him I did get it going and now we are both care givers in our own home and in all of this I lost about two months pay after being fired and so it was a small hit to the visa and master cards but we survived, Now taking the case to the courts of my union and see if we can nail these people to the wall for treating a disabled person the way they did.
I am still sore in the feet and sort of disabled on most days but living and working at home are bearable, Better then being out of a job or stressing an 8 hour a day job for some fool who thinks he knows it all, I wish this on him and his mother for having him. Thats my story, Get your ducks in line if you have any other route to take, it will help later if your jobs goes kerplunk. Good luck with it all and take care.
Oh and just to add to this, My hubby who was there for 18 years did the nasty to them, He quit once we were all set up, On a Friday night about two hours before his shift was to start. He grabbed a beer, took the phone outside and sat down in his favorite lounge chair and told them he is calling in sick and never coming back. That was soooo funny.
Sallysmart
what can I say but OH MY GOD!
Some companies are just run by absolute dafties (how did we end up in such a massive global recession?) they think the small person won't dare to take them to court and they rely on that fear.
So good luck to you lady!
Wonder how Jenfy's getting on?
what can I say but OH MY GOD!
Some companies are just run by absolute dafties (how did we end up in such a massive global recession?) they think the small person won't dare to take them to court and they rely on that fear.
So good luck to you lady!
Wonder how Jenfy's getting on?
Why not go to your Doctor and get them to sign you as being fit for working? He would find it harder to argue with a qualified Dr that has assessed you, could be your regular GP or Diabetic Dr that might be able to do this for you ?
