Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out for advice and support. My partner, who was diagnosed with MS in 2015, has been steadily employed but his symptoms have progressed over the years, resulting in increased absences from work. In the past 12 months alone, he has had a 60% absence rate. Today, he was dismissed due to unsustainable absence, with the explanation that his incurable illness and unpredictable condition necessitate letting him go.
Has anyone else here experienced a similar situation? We’re unsure how to proceed in terms of appealing this decision. Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
This is beyond my experience or knowledge but your best first step is probably contacting Citizens Advice. I do know that MS is classified as a Disability and that employers should make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities. What counts as ‘reasonable adjustments’ isn’t defined but your husband’s employee could argue that in accepting his absences they have gone as far as they can in making adjustments. Could some of your husband’s work be done from home - in ways that would make it easier for him to do his job ?
Sorry didn’t notice this until now. I’ve recently had similar.
One was a staff job which went fairly similarly. Lasted a year and was on the verge of being made redundant then got another job.
I would just be knocked out for a week because it got slightly hotter. Which I still try to just find amusing but it’s not. Also my wife moved out straight after starting that job.
They did try most things, maybe not the adaption side as much.
The new job was great and the lower stress made a massive difference to my MS. Slowly the job got worse, the MS got worse.
This time as a contractor so mix of stress MS and I think COVID ended up a month off which I’d reported in (meaning in bed sipping water mix of days awake in pain and sleeping). Work place was insane so they never even said I was getting let go
The theory is you can’t get binned but I can understand both of my cases.
Everyone has always said to put health first which I’ll be honest I’ve always never been anywhere even close to just forever pushing through work (including literally crawling to my chair for WFH).
Maybe a short break might actually be a good thing?
Ironically now unemployed for the first time since I was 15 working after school and at the weekend pretty happy about the break finally.
Won’t really advice as I’m just trying to figure it out also. Maybe two/three days a week might be more attainable? I’m not sure what to do but doing nothing all the time would wind me up.
Either that or sell stuff on the internet that I’ve got experience in maybe that? It’s hard to know.
All the best though,
Andrew
Edit: Better read though possibly still illegible. 
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Hi, firstly I’m sorry to hear you and your partner are having to deal with this as financial and in some cases self identity issues are stressful and confusing and I hope you find the answers you need. I, until recently worked in the public sector, similarly like your partner I have worked since I was 18, and I had to deal with financial (I supported my partner and I) and self identity issues ( rightly or wrongly working for so long, it was big part of my identity ). Although my managers were kind, they had to re-evaluate what they needed from my role and although my role had changed to adapt for my health my job description did not and because of my initial job description they were able to let me go. In my case I was able to work with my union and agreed to finish on ill health grounds. sorry if TMI but wanted to give you my background before any advice. Firstly if your partner is in a union they should be able to step up and help, if not I would agree with a previous comment and say get in touch with citizens advice, they can help you with your rights. They will also help with financial issues (whether successful in work issues or not)
I don’t know where your partner is, age wise, in working lifespan, for me (just 49 when I finished) it felt early to finish work but late to restart and my stress/ anxiety created lots of issues with my MS and Lupus. Once I knew my financial issues could be managed I adjusted my narrative and now feel the enjoyment I can get out of life with my family (especially before I end up in a wheelchair) has help relax me and adjust to a new identity. Financially I’m definitely worse off, but bills are paid and I had to re-adjust my value of work over that of myself.
Sorry if too self indulgent, but I hope my experience helps, good luck x
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