Hi all,
I’m in a rut right now and need some advice. I’ve had MS for 10 years and day by day I’m finding work a struggle. I work in IT for a sports data company and it is always busy. For the past year I’m finding it a struggle to concentrate, take ages to compile an email as I can’t find the words and I get really tired every day. My cognitive state is degrading quite rapidly. I really want to quit as it is affecting my mental health has well as my MS. I am eating healthy and taking vitamins including Lions Mane but nothing is working. I can quit my job if I want as I am not dependent on anyone or has massive bills to pay. Has anyone left their job because of their MS? If so have you ever regretted it?
Or I was thinking of speaking to my boss and see if reasonable adjustment can be made. Part of my role I have to be oncall one week, every three weeks and that is tiring me out as I do get called out and it makes me stressed. I was thinking of asking to be taken off the oncall rota for good. Has anyone asked their work to make any reasonable adjustments I.e fewer hours? If so did they accommodate your needs? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Angelique
My company took me off shifts when my MS was getting worse, they opened up a position in the lab doing testing and more of an admin role, that was roughly 3 years ago, my MS then got a bit worse so I asked to reduce my days to a 4 day week, which they allowed.
I’ve been furloughed for the last 5 months and I know I’m going to struggle when I go back, the MS has shifted a bit more, so I’ll see how things go and if I cant cope I’m going to see how I can finish on ill health grounds ?
One worry is that I will regret finishing, I’ve always worked, never been unemployed, yes financially this will be a worry at the start readjusting, but for me not being in the position to have to get up in the morning and physically not go to work will be mentally challenging.
Its a big decision.
Hi, I had to retire on ill health in 2000…20 years ago!
I did miss it but my MS progressed very quickly and I was never fit for any other work.
Your boss should make alowances for you as it is law.
But if you decide to go dor early retirement, you need to do by going long term sick…that way you`d get a better pay out.
Do you get PIP? It is available even if you work.
Boudsx
I’ve been looking into finishing on ill health a lot lately, Boudica is right in saying to go on long term sick first.
With my company its a minimum of 6 months unbroken sick leave before you are considered for ill health termination, you then have to be signed off as unfit for work by the company GP, if you are signed off its only 2 thirds of your annual pay that you receive, which includes any other outside benefit payments you receive such as PIP, apparently companies are allowed to add any outside benefits you receive when calculating their ill health termination payments.
I’m not sure if being finished on ill health means any income you receive must not be greater than 2 thirds of your original wage ?
Hi yes i am getting standard rate PIP. But with me going on long term sick leave could they terminate my contract for good? My boss and HR know about my MS
Hi, with my company their sickness policy is 3 months full pay,the next 3 months half pay. After that I will not get anything unless they terminate my contract by making me redundant. By end of Sep 2020 I would have done 2 years. Anything less than that i will not get anything. They can also make me redundant before my 2 years to avoid paying me redundancy pay.
Yes I agree it is a big decision. Same as you, I have always worked and to be unemployed is gonna be hard for me. Then again I am struggling in my present role and I fear my MS will get worse due to the stress. It’s difficult
Do your company have a disability or sickness scheme ?
Like you I get 3 months full pay and then the usual statutory sick pay for the next 3 months, it is then decided by the works doctor if you are fit for work, if not theres a possibility of going onto the CDS, (Company Disability Scheme), it pays 2 thirds of annual salary, however they can take into account any outside payments such as PIP.
I’m not sure if all company schemes operate the same ?