I'm not sure if I should quit my job, or stay on the sick

splatcat
splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
edited March 2022 in Work

Hi all new to this and need some advise as really confused about my condition and where i actually can go from here.

Comments

  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Hello @splatcat

    Wishing you a warm welcome to the community, I hope you are having a nice Friday.

    Sorry to hear that you are finding things tough at the moment, I'm sure that our members would be happy to talk about what you are going through if you're comfortable with explaining a bit about your situation?
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,790 Championing
    Hi @splatcat - & welcome to the community. We may have members with your condition who may be able to share their experiences with you.
  • SueHeath
    SueHeath Online Community Member Posts: 12,388 Championing
    Hi @splatcat welcome to the group - i have found you can talk about any thing on this lovely forum - there is always some one here to help/chat to about anything - look forward to seeing you around.
  • splatcat
    splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Ok i apologise if my details seem quiet minor but to me it feels like big issues.
    2018 had cervical spine decompression and fusion,2021 had lumbar spine decompression after both of these i was left with pins and needles and weakness more on the left side both on right as well. i saw a rheumatologist who agrees i have osteoarthritis in my knees, hips and hands and slightly restricted movement in my neck shoulders and back. I get pain in my hips and back and get really stiff anytime i sit or lay down, I can walk ok but if any distance the next day i will be in a lot of pain but not at the time.
    Anyway been signed off sick by DR with the arthritis in my hands ,my job is shelf stacking at night in Tesco. The rheumatologist says the job is unsuitable and i need to find lighter work . im just not sure if its classed as a disability and if i need to keep on the sick or just quit the job ,how am i going to survive for the next month with no money coming in... so many questions just dont really know where to start and i get so tired keep falling asleep.
  • SueHeath
    SueHeath Online Community Member Posts: 12,388 Championing
    Bless you @splatcat you've been through a lot and i take it your sick pay is only 28 days.

    Have you tried seeing if there is lighter work you can do at Tesco.
    I have a sister who does the same at Home sense and one of my daughter in laws does nights at Sainsburys, i know its hard work, but unless you ask you wont know.
  • splatcat
    splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    I will ask but i already moved from dot com as that was playing up my legs and hips, filling started ok but couple of weeks in it has given me so much pain in my hands and down my left arm its the heavy boxes that is the problem .
  • SueHeath
    SueHeath Online Community Member Posts: 12,388 Championing
    splatcat said:
    I will ask but i already moved from dot com as that was playing up my legs and hips, filling started ok but couple of weeks in it has given me so much pain in my hands and down my left arm its the heavy boxes that is the problem .
    Do you mind me asking - how long have you been in the job x

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi there 

    Never just quit tesco will have policies in place for medical dismissal which may have compensation payment 

    First stage is to get them to refer you to oh for a work place assessment  they can then receive any reasonable adjustments or next steps 

    Talk to hr find out what your options are if you can no longer work 

    A disability is defined as any physical or mental impairment which significantly affects the ability to carry out day to day tasks that is expected to last 12 months or more 

    You should be entitled to 28 WEEKS  statutory sick pay if you earn above the threshold and do not consider leaving until at least all sick pay has been paid 

    Check your company policies for medical dismissal or if in a union consult with them 
  • splatcat
    splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Thank you janer1967 that is really helpful.  Its because i start to feel guilty that i have let them down.
  • splatcat
    splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
     started in November on dot com but moved to nights in January .
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Don't feel guilty they ars a massive company and will be uses to dealing with this situation 

    I worked in hr for Sainsburys for 30 years so fully understand reasonable adjustments and dealing with colleagues no longer able to work 

    How long have you worked there and are you in a pension and your age as there may be other options 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    splatcat said:
    Thank you janer1967 that is really helpful.  Its because i start to feel guilty that i have let them down.
    As janer says, don’t feel guilty. You’re health problems are not your fault. If you go off sick you will be entitled to SSP (£96.35/week) if you have been earning at least 120/week when averaged over the last 8 weeks. Depending on your household finances you may be able to claim Universal Credit to help - but take further advice before trying this.
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 63,012 Championing
    Hi @splatcat hope your OK, janes advise is spot on, I was the same as you at 1 point, I went through occupational health, with then adaptions in the work place, was struggling with things, luckily, well i say that half heartedly, but we all as a whole team got made redundant. Then I tryed a job I'd never done before, to see if I could cope better in a new role, but my health was too much and I ended giving up work. Its a big issue deciding on that.  I hope you go through OH as it's very useful and it may help you.
  • IrishManc
    IrishManc Online Community Member Posts: 75 Empowering
    janer1967 said:
    Hi there 

    Never just quit tesco will have policies in place for medical dismissal which may have compensation payment 

    First stage is to get them to refer you to oh for a work place assessment  they can then receive any reasonable adjustments or next steps 

    Talk to hr find out what your options are if you can no longer work 

    A disability is defined as any physical or mental impairment which significantly affects the ability to carry out day to day tasks that is expected to last 12 months or more 

    You should be entitled to 28 WEEKS  statutory sick pay if you earn above the threshold and do not consider leaving until at least all sick pay has been paid 

    Check your company policies for medical dismissal or if in a union consult with them 
    I worked for Tesco for 17 years before my Aspergers diagnosis (I saw how others with the same disability were very badly treated) despite a lot of bullying that went on and others in my store were in the same situation on different issues, some were mandatory early retired due to recurring health issues, in one case a day before thier pension was due - I faced prejudice and discrimination, on top of ridicule right from the time I started there in 2003 and was bullied into staying and taking the bullying on so many issues until my redundancy in Sept 2019 - in my experience, like all supermarkets, the trade unions are useless, they agree with everything management says, backing them up at every turn and automatically disagreeing with everything workers say - you get nowhere with them, as there is a deeply ingrained culture of bullying that filters down from Management to other colleagues there and any “policies” focus on silencing targets, meaning that bullies always win, it’s been going on for decades before I joined and since I left, I’ve heard it’s got far worse - horrible company (worst supermarket) to work for, best avoided - other targets have just kept silent, took the bullying and (quietly) found another job, despite the problems with getting references out of them - if you are thinking of leaving and finding something else, don’t tell anyone, they will tell you (in police-style “meetings”) that you “do not have any right to make any comment on any issues, on a “common sense” basis” on top of being screamed at on the shop floor in front of customers by managers of all ages, both male & female and/or openly ridiculed for no real reason and/or pretend “reasons” that are totally fabricated - you won’t get justice through the legal system either, so many have tried and all have failed, instead they have been basically bribed to stay silent and have been threatened with legal action for defamation if they proceed with any case 
  • splatcat
    splatcat Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Thank you everyone,I started in dot com in nov 2021 but was finding it really hard going on my hips and was in more pain as the days went on ,they were desperate for night staff so in january i changed to shelf filling at night but have hurt my wrists twice now and have been signed off as the pain is in my fingers and thumb also wrist and up my arm.I saw a rhumatologist and he said i need to find lighter work as i have arthritus in my knees  finger joints both thumb joints,tender in the flexions in both palms,in the hips and signs of pinching in the tendons of my shoulder.My sick note runs out the beginning of April but the pain in my arm is still getting worse.I dont think i could do my job if i go back to work and i cant see who they could make adaptions but i dont know. Right now i dont want to think about it,its hard enough to keep motivated and get out of bed each morning.
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hi @splatcat thanks for updating us, it's understandable that you're feeling overwhelmed. Have you spoken to your GP about the pain in your arm getting worse? They might be able to support you with pain management treatment.

    It's always worth asking the question about any adaptions or reasonable adjustments, you're entitled to do so. 

    It sounds as though shelf filling wouldn't be the most appropriate role for you now if it's causing pain, but there might be an opportunity for other types of work during the night shifts?

    Scope's Support to Work programme might be worth looking into, the team may be able to support you with Access to Work or reasonable adjustments. You can contact them Monday to Friday, 9am-7pm. Please bear in mind it's not a face-to-face service, so may not be right for everyone. 

    If you would like to talk through things with someone you are also welcome to contact the Scope Helpline, which is open 
    Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm. You can call them on 0808 800 3333.

    If there's anything else we can help with, please do let us know.

    Alex