Work Dispute - Advice needed!!

[Crohns85]

Im looking for advice from anyone who has knowledge of disputes with work.

Im currently having trouble with the company that I have worked with for a year and a half. Since the day of my initial interview, I notified them that I have Crohn's and that although it is currently stable I can get flair ups.

Unfortunately, I have recently had a flair up which has progressively gotten worse over the past month, not helped by stress enduced from my working environment and some personal issues. I have tried to attend work as much as possible and constantly kept work updated in terms of how I was feeling, doctors appointments, tests etc. Where possible I have given them notice of time I will need off, but a few times I have had to leave work early as I was feeling extremely unwell. In total I have had almost three weeks dispersed over a month off. I recently got signed off by my doctor and have been given a sick note for two weeks.

The company I work for are now threatening to let me go if i do not attend work, regardless of my medical condition and the doctors note. I have recieved an official verbal warning and was advised by the company to book time off if i needed to recover. I did this for the past week and they are now telling me that because they did not sort anyone to cover my tasks that I am in the wrong and that I must produce them with doctors appointments for every day that I was off ill or left work early due to my illness. As all sufferers from any long term illness know, you do not visit the doctor every day, so I cannot supply all this information.

The company are now progressing to issue me my four weeks notice. Is this correct procedure? Can they do this? What can I do about this as I feel it is completely discriminate when it is a certified medical condition that I am having time off for and I have never kept it a secret from them.

All feedback will be much obliged.

 

[dablocks]

Hi there, are you in a probationary period or are you part of the full time, permanent staff?

Go to a Citizens Advice Bureau (that's what we have in Scotland) and they should be able to provide you with a referral to a solicitor free of charge.

Sounds harsh to me and they have to follow a very strict procedure if they try to get rid of you so best take proper advice.

 

[rygon]

May be worth having a read of this from the NACC website http://www.nacc.org.uk/downloads/factsheets/employment.pdf

Also theres a website run by Martin Lewis (from tv) called http://moneysavingexpert.com Theres a forum area there which deals with disabilites. They might be able to help more

 

[Crohns85]

My probation period is over and im fully employed with a contract. They havent questioned my ability to do the job, just that I've had to take time off and they havent been able to cover the tasks I do and therefore its a sackable offence. They are claiming that it will be for my benefit if im let go, that way I can completely focus on my health and getting better.

Thank you for your advice, ill check with those sites and the citizen advice bureau.

 

[Astra]

here's our recent thread on Employment issues, instead of me repeating it all again!

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=16936&highlight=employment

I feel for ya! I'm going thro the same, and to answer your question, NO they can't do this.
Join a union, it's not too late, failing that, CAB will help
good luck

 

[Crohnie78]

No, your employer can not do that. I speak from experience and am going through something very similar as we speak and it's been ongoing since last November. I took legal advice at the beginning of February and ended up getting solicitors to write to them. It's been a long hard slog to force them to accept they have a duty of care Unser the Equality Act but I am hopeful I'm coming out of the other side with them now.
Do not let your employers get away with this speak to the citizens advice bureau or seek legal advice