i have been suffering for a very small amount of time compared to some of you. However, I am interested to know how you deal with work? If you do work that is? In the years that I have been diagnosed my health overall has really deteriorated and I am finding every day tasks extremely difficult, especially as I live by myself, and I have lost all confidence and motivation. This mindset has been brought on by a lesion which was very active, got big enough for it to hit the edge of my brain; I inturn collapsed went unconscious and had a fit. This resulted in the loss of my driving license. I know for some this means nothing but for me is extremely difficult as I have a passion for my cars and have built up a hobby with this and going to shows and putting my car on display. I have lost my freedom and independence. I don’t think I have ever been so angry and unhappy in my life.
Since my seizure I have not had the confidence, like I say, to do much. I have not been as efficient and consistent with my work and feel my health has a big part to play in it. I have been going through my probationary period and I failed it due to my inconsistency with all aspects of my work. I had it extended because the manager knew it was not like me to work like this. However, I am close to the end of my extended period and feel that I could still fail. I have found a document about reasonable adjustments and can see there are aspects that the organisation has not fulfilled and I genuinely feel that they are trying to find ways to get rid or make me feel that uncomfortable to leave.
I am unsure if a seizure would have implications and long term effects on me or not I am a little bit confused about what would happen afterwards
I have been thinking long and hard about work and the job that I do does not give me a feeling of reward or accomplishment. I have started to look for other jobs because of this. That and the fact that I don’t think they have actually looked up what MS does to an individual or how things have changed so quickly despite me informing them. But I just feel that if I knew what you all did it could help me out.
Any kind of chat or advise would be appreciated. I apologise if this does not make any sense. Knowing me I have missed loads. Thank you for reading.
i am not sure if I can be of any support to you as I am quite well most of the time and got grumpy just when I had dvla restrict my licence , can’t imagine what it feels like to have it suspended … anyway just wanted say hello and share my experience . My employers know about my ms , I am lucky in that they are very supportive , but they are social services so one would hope they are… the only issue i have had is around parking which they don’t get but that’s facilities management not the department .
What I wanted to share is I fully understand that feeling if not performing as well as you used to, my brain definitely doesn’t process things like it did and I am not as productive … thankfully most of my job is decision making so I can do that …
did your employers know about ms when you started ? If so surely they must have given thought to what that may mean . Have they given you clear reasons why you are “failing” and what you need to do to remedy it ? Have they looked at options to help you get there or alter their requirements … for example with my job if I am not feeling great I can work from home , it’s difficult if I have meetings but they’d rather I do that then be off sick . Do they have access to an occupational health service ?
I guess as a last resort keep good records of your meetings and send them copies of any notes you take , this would help I think if you needed to challenge them later .
The other thing I may consider is really thinking about what I works want to do and what kind of money I need to earn . I choose to stay in the business I do as whilst it isn’t easy I know it but I have reduced my hours, it affects my pension but I decided taking time for me while I can enjoy it was better than waiting until I can’t plus it supports my recovery time as the fatigue is another challenge I have . Don’t feel guilty about having a duvet day as i still have my weekend to do west I want .
Sorry might not be much help …good luck I am sure more folk on here can help
That is some real loss that you have gone through, and all the worry on your plate too. No wonder you feel sad and distressed - who wouldn’t? I am sorry that things are being so difficult.
One small point on ‘reasonable adjustments’ at work. I am way out of touch with how these things work, but my understanding is that it is you, not your employer, who is responsible for figuring out what adjustments would help you do your job the way you would do it if you were not disabled. It is then your responsibility to ask the employer to make those adjustments, explaining clearly what you want and why you want it. Then they say yes or no, bearing in mind that they are legally obliged to say yes if your request can be judged ‘reasonable’ under the meaning of the Act (the interpretation of which is their problem, not yours).
It is not your employer’s job to guess what you need. It is your job to figure out exactly what you need and then ask for it.
Apologies of you know all this already and I have just misunderstood, but I did want to clarify just in case.
I work full time with reasonable adjustments - these had to be put in place by occupational health and myself. In my experience Alison is right I did have to engage with occ health and work with them to find what would best suit me and help keep me at work.
I have been very lucky with my employer in that they have been very supportive, I did need to be very open with them and I took them literature from my ms nurse appointments such as “MS an Employers guide” which they then used to understand their position and obligations better.
I am so sorry that you have had your licence taken away - even when my car is being fixed I am lost I’m so sorry I can’t say anything useful here but I wanted to acknowledge this has happened to you and send you a hug !!
Unfortunately even though the law is strong for disabled workers there are always ways around these things and employers will look at things like “Capability procedures” which first lands you on informal support and then formal which can see you sacked. However it is important to remember that these are support measures and you can succeed - as you are in your probationary period I am not sure if this process will apply for you or if it is for established members of staff?! Maybe someone else will know.
If I was in your position I think I would be looking at other jobs but also I would go and have an honest chat with my line manager within which I would be letting them know about my desire to pass the probationary period and ask for a referral to occ health so adjustments could be looked at to help me achieve this.
You are a very strong person going through an awful lot and still wanting to work - I think it’s very obvious that you have a lot to offer and your employer will want to hold on to you, It is awfully hard to sack people for capability as there is an awful lot in place to prevent this and this offers much opportunity for a person to succeed before this happens.
My adjustments are like Molly moo in that I have the freedom to work from home along with flexible starting hours, air conditioning in my office, a good chair and an evacuation plan (in the case of a fire someone has to get me out as I cannot run and if I was to get panicked I would lose my legs completely)
I am sorry to hear about losing the right to drive. On a very general note I would say that if at all possible you should try to avoid getting too angry. Anger and frustration, whilst very valid are massive energy stealers and we all have limited supplies of energy so, when you can save it for the important or valuable stuff. The more you stress about work the worse it will be. If you can demonstrate your commitment then your employer should try to accommodate your new circumstances as best they can.
Flutterby Butterfly has eloquently expressed my views and thoughts already so I will shut up.
There is good advice on this website appropriate to your concerns and rights as an employee. I think there is also a help line if you want to talk to someone.
This things need open discussion with your employers. I made a list of things to present as possible adjustments. I also had an assessment from Access to Work.
You can imagine why the DVLA has stopped you driving; you do not want what happened to that bin driver in Glasgow; that was caused through him blacking-out.
looks like you have had loads of good advice. I found the access to work people very helpful, sadly it was too late for me I am on long term sick whilst the ill health retirement is sorted out.
Do what’s right for you, working can be very positive but remember don’t let it sap all your energy you need to be able to enjoy life.