Work discrimination

[Sasha1!]

Hi, I am posting this as an unsure how to handle sutuation
I have worked at my current job for 3 years
I am a type 1 diabetic
I had quite a bad low this am at work (supermarket) to the point that before the store was open I had had 1 glucose extra gel, this wasn’t enough & I didn’t have anything on me to eat, 5 mins before the store was about to open I got some sweets to bring my sugars up & told my colleague I would pay for them as soon as we opened, I paid for them when we opened
The hypo was quite bad but I carried on working, I told & showed my manager the receipt & explained that I had a bad hypo & had to grab some sweets as was so low! He really went for me, telling me I could get sacked & don’t ever do that again! Honestly it was so upsetting
I didn’t have to tell him, I just thought I’d do the decent thing & mention it (being honest)
Then later on a particular colleague who has made remarks (more than once about my diabetes) was walking up the aisle, making a face as though he was weak/going to pass out (basically mocking me)
I am sick of this
I carried on working when I could have just left the shop floor to get over my hypo
Has anyone got any advice please?
Thank you

 

[lovinglife]

Hi @Sasha1! & welcome to the forum,

I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that, it all sounds quite distressing. As T1 s classed as a disability they have to make reasonable adjustments for you. Have you tried speaking to someone in HR? Was it the store manager you spoke to or just a duty manager? Is there someone higher you could take this too.

Sorry can’t help more as I’m T2 so have never been through this but we have lots of friendly T1 who I’m sure will be along soon to share their experiences etc. hope you’re feeling better now

 

[searley]

Hi, I am posting this as an unsure how to handle sutuation
I have worked at my current job for 3 years
I am a type 1 diabetic
I had quite a bad low this am at work (supermarket) to the point that before the store was open I had had 1 glucose extra gel, this wasn’t enough & I didn’t have anything on me to eat, 5 mins before the store was about to open I got some sweets to bring my sugars up & told my colleague I would pay for them as soon as we opened, I paid for them when we opened
The hypo was quite bad but I carried on working, I told & showed my manager the receipt & explained that I had a bad hypo & had to grab some sweets as was so low! He really went for me, telling me I could get sacked & don’t ever do that again! Honestly it was so upsetting
I didn’t have to tell him, I just thought I’d do the decent thing & mention it (being honest)
Then later on a particular colleague who has made remarks (more than once about my diabetes) was walking up the aisle, making a face as though he was weak/going to pass out (basically mocking me)
I am sick of this
I carried on working when I could have just left the shop floor to get over my hypo
Has anyone got any advice please?
Thank you

My advice would be to always have some treatment in you pockets and something more suitable nearby

 

[Sasha1!]

It was the store manager, I thought I was doing the right thing telling him! You know, just being upfront about it
Also I feel management are allowing the discrimination/mocking behaviour
I asked for a break the other day over the headset & got told no - unless I was having a hypo, then the rest of the day, the same colleague was saying over the headset - I’m having a hypo - need a break now & laughing
Honestly I pity this person really but getting fed up with it

 

[Sasha1!]

My advice would be to always have some treatment in you pockets and something more suitable nearby

Yes I know - I should keep something near instead of upstairs in locker

 

[Nicola M]

Your boss sounds like someone who is probably very big on sticking to all of the rules. As much as I have done the same as you and eaten/drank something before paying for it (worked at a supermarket myself) it is technically against the law to consume a product before paying for it. Would I do it again though? Absolutely! Needs must sometimes.

When I worked at a supermarket they made reasonable adjustments for me, I primarily worked on checkouts and if I did have a low blood sugar and felt I couldn’t carry on to the usual standard I could flash my light and someone would take over for me whilst I went to the back room for a short break.

I personally had a big stash of hypo treatments in my work locker and refilled it regularly and always took something to the checkouts with me once I arrived. If you can do I’d take it to HR, they are there to help you and under the equality act have to make reasonable adjustments for you. You can also report all of the above instances and they can make a note of it incase anything further happens.

 

[Sasha1!]

Your boss sounds like someone who is probably very big on sticking to all of the rules. As much as I have done the same as you and eaten/drank something before paying for it (worked at a supermarket myself) it is technically against the law to consume a product before paying for it. Would I do it again though? Absolutely! Needs must sometimes.

When I worked at a supermarket they made reasonable adjustments for me, I primarily worked on checkouts and if I did have a low blood sugar and felt I couldn’t carry on to the usual standard I could flash my light and someone would take over for me whilst I went to the back room for a short break.

I personally had a big stash of hypo treatments in my work locker and refilled it regularly and always took something to the checkouts with me once I arrived. If you can do I’d take it to HR, they are there to help you and under the equality act have to make reasonable adjustments for you. You can also report all of the above instances and they can make a note of it incase anything further happens.

Thanks Nicola, I know it wasn’t right of me - as in had it before I paid for it, but my pump was saying 2.8 & dropping & felt awful- it was a case of needs must. I just now feel bad when I paid for it as soon as I could- I just feel like I can’t win there

 

[searley]

Yes I know - I should keep something near instead of upstairs in locker

Well that would have prevented this problem

The manager is technically correct in that taking something before paying is considered theft

You are responsible for your own treatment and health



Whilst the company is only required to make adjustments to make that easier for you (if required). But adjustments are discussed in advance not retrospectively.

As for bad attitude in relation to diabetes you can discuss the issues with the manager or higher.. you can ask for occupational health appointment so that they can confirm the dangers and risks to the company

 

[Deleted member 527103]

I think there are two things happening here
- As others have said, @Sasha1! needs to be prepared for hypos at all times. Having some treatment in the locker is one option but it is not just when at work that we need hypo treatment. Hypo treatment must be carried at all times.
- The treatment (and snarky comments) from the colleague. These are unacceptable, discriminatory and rude. Whilst @sacha1! could speak to the guy themselves, I think it is serious enough that management should be informed. The guy needs a serious telling off rather than a request to be more sensitive to someone with a chronic disease.