I’m lucky that I am in work. But I feel like I get no support from management, I work in a different building so its a case of if they can’t see the problem there is no problem. I email them when there are problems and they keep saying “we don’t want you to be stressed…I will phone you…blah, blah, blah”. They never do phone me. I know people with ms sometimes feel paranoid, but I know I am being avoided - so the voices in my head keep telling me This causes stress and resentment with the other person I work with as they have to work harder.
I have seen OH several years ago, maybe another meeting is needed? Anyway, looking forward, if I were to get so bad that work was too stressful and inpractical for me what happen? Would I just be finished off after taking sick leave, would I be medically retired?
What is the process of medical retirement. Six months full pay, six months half pay and then?
Hopefully I can still work for years to come, but you never know whats around the corner.
Yes if you can still work do; make a decision in haste; repent at leisure; you’re obviously feeling alone.
I suggest you call in https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work they will talk to your bosses or HR; either will give them more than gentle nudge that they must help you under the Equalities Act not ignore you. Plenty of other help they can give.
Hopefully you can continue working but beware the “hidden” financial consequences of IHR.
If you get a pay-off and a pension, then you may not be entitled to:
Employment Support Allowance
Disabled Facilities Grant
Personal Independence Payments
etc
(I am feeling very bitter about this at the moment, as I worked for 30 years so received a decent payout. However, whilst earning, I never had a holiday abroad or had a decent car - I never worked to my means. All i wanted to do was clear my mortgage. Now because of MS, i have had to buy a costly bungalow as house prices have increased so much, and pay for it to be adapted and get a Wheelchair Accessbile Vehicle for which the minimum advance payment is £15k). Worked hard all my life for no benefit and can’t afford drugs that are denied to me because of the postcode lottery. Seems to me there is no benefit from struggling to continue working unless you enjoy the benefits and spend, spend, spend at the same time.
You should contact Access to Work and also speak to your line manager about seeing OH again. I wonder if you have a union in your workplace - if so they should be able to help too.
Regarding the process to stopping work, that would depend on your terms of employment. Are you in a pension scheme? What does your contract of employment say about sick leave - that would determine the amount of time you would be entitled to be paid.
You really need to look into all these things before you make any decsion. If your company has a HR department they should be able to help you with any questions regarding the terms of employment and how your organisation manages ill health retirement.
Generally speaking, employees are most likely to be off sick for a period before retiring on medical grounds. It is likely to be a long and possibly not an easy process as it is a drag on any pension fund. However when employees get to the point where staying in employment is no longer an option then it is possible to organise. If you dont belong to a pension scheme with your employer then you will be on state benefits and of course how much you get will depend on your circumstances. Your local CAB should be able to advise you.
I agree with George that you should explore all the options to keeping you in work. Your employer has a responsibility to make all “reasonable” adjustments to make this possible. It is not reasonable of them to do nothing and leave your co-worker just to work harder to cover your shortfalls. No wonder you are feeling resentment from them. A meeting with OT and your line managers to work out an equitable plan is what is required at this point I think.
If after this has been done you still feel that work is beyond your ability what happens next is dependant on your contract of employment.
The first stage is that you would go off sick. You are entitled to 6 months Statutory Sick Pay but many employers give better than Statutory – Eg 6 month’s full pay and 6 months half. At some point during this time (after 6 months or a year – dependant on your employer’s sickness policy) your employer will want to know if there is a chance of you returning to work. If not, this is deemed frustration of your contract and your employment will be terminated.
What happens next is again subject to your circumstances. If you have been contributing to a pension scheme you can apply to draw this pension early and thus retire on ill health grounds. (Often this will be a lump sum and monthly payments)
When you finish work (or when SSP ends) you can apply for Employment Support Allowance This is a very complex benefit and would take me too much typing to tell you about it but you can Google. The earlier anonymous poster was correct that IHR payouts can effect state payments.
This causes stress and resentment with the other person I work with as they have to work harder.