Disability discrimination

Iamclarissa

Hello all I’m being bullied and discriminated at work by a woman who keeps giving me jobs I can’t do then making me redo them!  I can’t lift anything heavy and walk very far without a rest and she took me on as disabled I told her in my interview I couldn’t lift anything heavy!   I also told her I could not walk very far!  So far she has asked me to lift a heavy glass cabinet.  Lift laptops and put them in classrooms and.  Clear out a construction cupboard with farming marquee stands construction appliances books and folders!  She also waits until I do it.  I have to ask everyone else to help me and asks me to do it again!  My actual job is a Maths and English teacher for intervention one to one!  The other day she bullied me into going across a city on my own to an invigilation centre when I was unfamiliar with the area and had to use public transport!  I ended up having a massive anxiety attack as I rarely go anywhere without my partner carer! The walking was too much as I got lost and I had to call my partner to pick me up as my back was in such pain causing severe anxiety!  I haven’t been back since!  I have worked there 4 months on agency!  I complained to the agency and the college but is there anything else I can do as I have now lost my job as I am in fear of her!  She talks down to me and is demeaning!  There are far fitter younger people to do these jobs but she always chooses me!  The agency when I was in the middle of a anxiety attack still tried to make me go and invigilate!  It’s shocking how I have been treated as a 58 year old teacher with anxiety Bradycardia spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia!  If this is the government’s idea of the disabled and over 50s getting back into work they can keep it!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

L_Volunteer

Oh no @Iamclarissa You deserve so much better! I would have recommended talking to your manager but as you have now lost your job, it might be more appropriate for you to talk to Acas / employment tribunal. How is the support around you at the moment? 

Breacon

Hi Lamclarissa,
How awful, having read your post, that's disgraceful & clearly shows a lack of understanding, in all area from the agency to your superiors, your boss, does have a duty of care towards you, whilst in the workplace, but I agree, she sounds as though she has bullied you & singled you out.
I'm so sorry this happened to you, did the school have an HR office, or OH department, perhaps with hindsight, they could have possibly advised or helped you.
I understand how you feel, especially where the government is concerned.
Please do take care of yourself.

Alex_Alumni

I'm so sorry to hear about how you've been treated in work @Iamclarissa this isn't at all acceptable!

I would also encourage you to contact ACAS for help and support, they have pages on disability discrimination, reasonable adjustments and how to raise a grievance with your employer. Can I clarify if you are still employed there, or if you have formally left?

I'm sorry to hear how much anxiety and stress this has been causing, if this is having a negative impact on your mental health and wellbeing, I'd advise you have a chat to your GP about additional support. 

If there's anything else we can do to help, please ask. 

Iamclarissa

L_Volunteer said:

Oh no @Iamclarissa You deserve so much better! I would have recommended talking to your manager but as you have now lost your job, it might be more appropriate for you to talk to Acas / employment tribunal. How is the support around you at the moment? 

Hi no I haven’t lost my job yet but I don’t see what choice I have since I cannot work with her!  They want me to go in for a meeting on Tuesday to sort it out but I don’t want to see her again!  She manages through fear and she has put me in a situation where it affected my health!  They are just ticking boxes for themselves!  They actually couldn’t care less about me and the agency!  That’s how I feel right now!😞

L_Volunteer

Apologies, I must have read your post incorrectly! That really doesn't sound right @Iamclarissa - you deserve so much better 

Have you had the meeting yet and, if so, how did it go? If not, do you know who might be at the meeting or the purpose of the meeting?

We are here for you if you would like to talk to us. You don't deserve to feel fearful, especially not at work 

Iamclarissa

Iamclarissa said:  Hi no it has all now gone back to the teaching agency!  They offered me my job back but I can’t work with that manager so I declined.  They said they are going to resolve it with a satisfactory outcome whatever that means!  All I know is I have come off worse in this situation!  I’m glad I flagged it up though and my MP even called it disabled discrimination!  The trouble is the Head of School was her good friend so will do what’s best for her friend.  She phoned me trying to say that the manager was unaware but that’s just not true!

L_Volunteer said:

Oh no @Iamclarissa You deserve so much better! I would have recommended talking to your manager but as you have now lost your job, it might be more appropriate for you to talk to Acas / employment tribunal. How is the support around you at the moment? 

Hi no I haven’t lost my job yet but I don’t see what choice I have since I cannot work with her!  They want me to go in for a meeting on Tuesday to sort it out but I don’t want to see her again!  She manages through fear and she has put me in a situation where it affected my health!  They are just ticking boxes for themselves!  They actually couldn’t care less about me and the agency!  That’s how I feel right now!😞

L_Volunteer said:

Oh no @Iamclarissa You deserve so much better! I would have recommended talking to your manager but as you have now lost your job, it might be more appropriate for you to talk to Acas / employment tribunal. How is the support around you at the moment? 

Hi no I haven’t lost my job yet but I don’t see what choice I have since I cannot work with her!  They want me to go in for a meeting on Tuesday to sort it out but I don’t want to see her again!  She manages through fear and she has put me in a situation where it affected my health!  They are just ticking boxes for themselves!  They actually couldn’t care less about me and the agency!  That’s how I feel right now!😞

L_Volunteer

You deserve so much better than that @Iamclarissa Which Tuesday is the meeting on? 

Iamclarissa

I have now negotiated with my agency and they are compiling an email after an investigation!  However I have no rights they even didn’t pay me for that day but I have asked them to do that or I will take it further and get my money back at least!

Wibbles

@Iamclarissa Are you in the NEU (trades union)?

They will definitely help you - join now