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I need advice regarding employment!!!!!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/11/2008 11:40 AM (GMT -7)
I have seen this posted many many times on here but need your advice desperatley!  I have supposedly been inremission for sometime now but the past couple of months I have had bouts of where I can't get out of bed and I still have diarrhea every darn day!  The joint pain has gotten worse and some days I just am darn depressed.  I had a note when first diagnosed three years ago to work only 4 days a week.  Friday was the best day as it is the slowest.  I work for a homeless clinic and am the office manager.  (Corporate puts a lot of stress on you) I work very hard and always put the company first.  I do almost anything they ask and really am a team player.  Well it seems it is really pi**ing them off now that I am only working the 4 days.  I have been out sick quite a few times the past couple of years since diagnosed.  This week I was out two days with severe joint pain and diarrhea and extreme fatigue.  I don't know if it is a flare or not.  It can't be IBS only can it?  I don't have a GI appt until October for a colonoscopy.  I did go to my primary last night and she did give me tylenol with codeine which only takes the edge off.  Besides I really don't want to stay on them.  My GI did say he would put me on steroids low dose.  Maybe i should call him?  Anyway when I went to the doctor last night I had her give me an updated note for the 4 days.  Can they fire me?

Help disgusted!

Stacy

Posted 9/11/2008 1:07 PM (GMT -7)
And also UC!  Sorry

Posted 9/11/2008 2:30 PM (GMT -7)
hi sdaless,

I don't have an answer for most of your questions, just a suggestion that may help with UC and that is to avoid anything that contains sugar and do this for as long as possible. You may start to feel worse before you feel better when you do this.

feel better.

NBT
Posted 9/11/2008 2:56 PM (GMT -7)
Sdaless, that's a complicated question, I think only a lawyer could answer it, and then you probably couldn't count on it 100%. UC is one of those conditions that isn't always accepted as a disability, and even if it is, if they can make a case for a four-day work week not being a "reasonable" accommodation given their business needs, they can let you go. So I guess the answer to your question, "maybe."
Posted 9/11/2008 3:02 PM (GMT -7)
If it were just that easy! Avoiding sugar never made any difference for me. Why would it?

If you can't do your job missing that much work, you might have a problem. Very frustrating, I know. Even if you played the disabled card, you have to be able to do some job, I think (not my area of expertise). I guess I can understand that it seems kind of arbitrary to them to say you can work four days, but not five days. They don't have to respect a doctor's note (although they can demand one).

Sounds like you need higher doses or other meds, fast. And not just a mask like codeine (I would be afraid that would irritate my system anyway)
Posted 9/11/2008 7:04 PM (GMT -7)

Well if I can't get short term disability due to UC then how can you not get disability.  In the US it is considered a disability now.  I really don't want to go that route.  I like my job.  As for doing the job I give 110% and more during those hours I work.  Well if it comes down to it I will have to get a lawyer.  Just doesn't seem right to me.

I believe it is just a jealousy thing believe it or not. 

Stacy

Posted 9/11/2008 7:37 PM (GMT -7)
There is no right to work. So to answer your question sure they can let you go.

Posted 9/11/2008 8:01 PM (GMT -7)
Our terms are confused, I meant a situation where you ask to be accomodated because you are disabled, which is different than applying for disability benefits.

Thinking about your situation, if you know they are not satisfied then initiate a negotiation. What can you suggest that will give them what they need, but give you what you need, too? For example, maybe longer hours each working day but several long breaks in each day for you to rest. I don't know, but perhaps if you reach out you can find a win-win solution and you can keep your job while you get throuh this.
Posted 9/11/2008 10:27 PM (GMT -7)
http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

Family and Medical Leave Act - if your employer falls within these guidelines, then they can't let you go. So Check and see if this is the route you can take. It does mean you forego 3 months of pay, however.
Posted 9/12/2008 4:07 AM (GMT -7)
See if your employer qualifies for fmla. If so, inquire about intermittent fmla. If you can, they have to protect your job, or a similar one.
Posted 9/12/2008 10:17 AM (GMT -7)
unless it was agreed to in writing, just b/c you have a Dr's note, I do not think will save you. If they want to get rid of you they will find a way.

my company rarely fires people, they 'promote' them out.......they create a job put them in it for a year and then lay them off. I have an opportunity to advance and am terrified of that.
Posted 9/12/2008 12:16 PM (GMT -7)
Ahhh, my heart is with you. Sometimes life just doesn't seem fair. I am one of the fortunate ones, I only work 2 days a week and my employer is very understanding in that the owner has UC as well. She's been in remission for many years, but she understands first hand.

I just want to say I will pray for you and I will wish you nothing but the best.

Gigi1227
Posted 9/12/2008 4:04 PM (GMT -7)

It doesn't seem fair does it.  In so many ways.  I can't get short term disability due to UC.  I really don't know what to do.  I do my job and more work never suffers.  I do agree if they want you out they will find a way.  I hope that doesn't happen.  I'm scared.  I need my job.  I do have a call into my GI to see if he will prescribe the low dose prednisone and I hope that will help.  Do any of you have the problems of other illnesses from UC?  Even if I am in a small flare with IBS when I start to feel better the joint pain doesn't go away it is just getting worse.  The anxiety gets the best of me also. 

Thanks for all your input.

Stacy

Posted 9/13/2008 12:12 AM (GMT -7)
If you have worked for your employer for 12 months, you are probably covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act. If there is an HR person you can speak with, you should do that. FMLA allows you job protection while taking time for an illness. You don't have to file for disability to get this. You will likely need a letter from your doctor. You can take FMLA leave in small increments. Like an hour a day, if that's what you need. (For example, someone who needed to take an hour for medical treatment and then return to work that day, could track their FMLA time by the hour.) States have different FMLA laws. The federal law is 12 weeks in a rolling 12-month period. 12 weeks would give you 60 separate days to take off. That seems pretty good to me!

I would think that if you ask whomever at work handles HR things, mention FMLA and say that you're pretty sure you have job protection because of your serious medical condition, they should help you. If they don't, you can casually mention that you want to check with your attorney to find out what your rights are. That should make them worry enough to be helpful.

Last, the most important thing is to feel well. That's hard when you are worried about your job. Perhaps you can explain to people at work that the more they pressure you, the sicker you feel, and the less you can work. It's a shame they can't be more supportive and less petty. If you are comfortable sharing info about UC with your co-workers, you could print out some info to give them.

You can also call the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America for free advice. I bet they can give you some good information -- both about dealing with your job and your medical treatment.

I'm sending you very good wishes from here.
Posted 9/13/2008 4:34 PM (GMT -7)
It's a good idea to ask the Foundation if they can have any advice. It sounds like you would rather take a non-adversarial route, which is why I suggested initiating a negotiation. Who wants a job they only keep because they made threats? That can't end well.
Employers can be heartless, no matter how loyal and hard-working you are. Good luck
Posted 9/14/2008 12:30 AM (GMT -7)
sda,

Sorry - a little off topic

I also used to work directly with the homeless.  It was right around the time I got sick.

I'm not sure that would explain exactly why I got UC - but with the news lately talking about community-based-MRSA makes you think.

Posted 9/15/2008 4:52 AM (GMT -7)
Thank you all for your support.  If I have to I will go the route of the FMLA.  Not where I want to go but will if I have to.  This darn disease sucks emotionally also.  I have awful anxiety from it.

Thanks again,

Stacy

Posted 9/15/2008 9:41 AM (GMT -7)
Hopefully you can get it resolved and get some peace. Let us know!
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