susiepoos Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I have been in my present role with the NHS too long and I want to move on and try my hand at something else - preferably outside the NHS. I saw a post for a forensic nurse and I though it sounded very interesting and quite challenging so I applied. I got a letter back yesterday saying thank you but no thank you because of my sickness record. I had a brain tumour removed in November 2006 and was off work for 5 months - prior to that I'd had 4 occaisions in the previous 2 years with migraine - due to the tumour which of course at that time I didn't know I had and I also had a period of two weeks when I was diagnosed and had to get my head - excuse the pun - around the idea that something was growing in my brain Unfortunately the police have strict guidelines over sickness and I have breached them - I can understand why but I'm peed off because this is going to follow me now for the rest of my career - it wasn't my fault and I'm not the sort of person who throws a sickie when I can't be bothered but the whole situation is so frustrating. I realise I should be grateful that I'm well and that I have a job etc - but I'm fed up with the way the NHS is heading and I want out but what do I do???? Sorry to moan but I'm really, really fed up. I think I'll go and check my lottery numbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Bad luck. That does seem unfair when all your time off has been related to a condition that you no longer have. Best of luck. I hope something comes along soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Sue, I'm really sorry, how frustrating for you. It would seem so much more simple to look at pattern of sickness rather than total sickness. After all major illnesses can happen to anyone, need treatment and resolve, which may well mean that they're never going to e a problem again. It's all the 1 day off here, 2 days off there that worry me when someone is really quick to take lots of short sick leaves for trivial things. Keep looking though, hopefully other employers will be more understanding. I know what you mean about the NHS though, I've worked in it for 25 years now and am so demoralised it's not true. Fortunately I've found a way out, not sure if my change will prove to be the right thing, but I can't stay in the NHS getting more and more frustrated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 How frustrating. Is there any opportunity (obviously it's too late for this job) to explain the reasons for the sickness absence? Surely it must sort of 'drop off' the record after a few years, the longer you go on building up a good history. Don't give up on looking for another job, it does sound as if the police rules are very specific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Please feel free to moan, that is very frustrating... I can't help thinking it feels like discrimination... there is a difference between people who throw sickies all the time for no good reason, people who have conditions that mean they have to be off work regularly, and people who have had one health problem which is now solved... those differences should be taken into consideration by any employers... Don't lose heart.... I hope that things work better with the next people you apply with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Having worked in the NHS for over 30 years, I can empathise with your frustration. I took Voluntary Early Retirement last summer and don't regret it at all. There is more to life than money!!! Sanity for example, although that may be too late in my case! I agree that it seems unfair to be considered on an isolated sickness incident which is now resolved. Unfortunately, many big concerns do have a strict sickness policy. It may be worth writing a letter of explanation and also stating you are still interested in future positions, if they have filled the one you applied for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I can understand your frustration, I've worked in the NHS for 28 years 18 years of it in GP surgeries, I moved to a new job 6 months ago & then injured my ankle & needed sugery, got 2 weeks full pay 2 weeks half pay then SSP so much for loyalty. nurses just don't get the same treatment as other service workers do we Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Hello Sue, I am glad that you are better now. At BA where OH and I work, they have introduced a Dickensian sickness policy. OH also has a brain tumour removed last year and was off work for 5 months. He then had gall stones removed and had a further 2 weeks off. According to be BA he should be one step away from dismissal (various stages along the 'process') but they do have something called a 'one off life event'. Quite rightly his Manager has used this clause to cover both operations. He is lucky to have her as his Manager, as most are heartless, pencil pushing morons. Is there no way you could appeal against the decision? Surely that must look at every case individually? Hope it works out for you. C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Susie, I do think you have a right to query their decision. Obviously an employer can refuse someone a job based on their sickness absence history, but they do have to be careful that they are not discriminating against someone with a valid reason for that absence, ie as in your case, a condition that required treatment, is now resolved and unlikely to reoccur. If you want to take it further, I would ask them to justify their decision. All police forces do have different policies, but I've done pre-employment health checks for the local force, and we assess everyone indivudually. If someone does have a poor record, they would be assessed further and there is no way someone with your record would be refused employment on account of it (unless the job would put them at risk of a reoccurrence, which in your case I cannot see). I do feel for you, I got out of the NHS many years ago and although I sometimes think it would be nice to go back, I am looking through rose tinted specs! I don't think I would cope with it these days But keep looking, most employers will be more circumspect when looking at your history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 OH also has a brain tumour removed last year and was off work for 5 months. He then had gall stones removed and had a further 2 weeks off. According to be BA he should be one step away from dismissal (various stages along the 'process') but they do have something called a 'one off life event'. Christian I am horrifed at BA's sickness policy How can it be right that they can dismiss an employee because they had the misfortune to be sick and require two ops? I would think that employee could take them to court and claim unfair dismissal? It's a disgusting state of affairs, thank goodness your OH has an understanding manager. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I'm sure if you were in a job and dismissed/disciplined for days off sick WITH medical evidence then you would definitely be able to go to a tribunal or whatever. Is the policy perhaps that unsupported sick days - i.e. one-and-two day absences where you don't go to the doctor - are monitored and trigger "investigation"? I mean, some people do take these little sickies pretty frequently, and it does cost some businesses a fortune. It's appalling that the selection procedure is such that they look into total-days-absence and decide based on that. Given that equal-rights legislation means that an employer must consider disabled applicants equally, I don't see how it can be right that they don't give a fair assessment of those with a past medical condition. If I were in your shoes, I would consider drawing attention to it at interview stage so you can explain what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I suspect it is more to do with the actual reason for the sickness Migraine is debilitating no doubt but currently it is not described as a disability but it can lead to a sufferer taking a tremendous amount of time time off due to it Now the problem here is that the sickness problem has been removed but there is no guarantee that you will never suffer another bout of migraines in the future and should this illness be reclassified as a disability the law would protect the sufferer It will stay like this until it is challenged in the courts which means an empoyer being taken for unfair dismissal for someone who suffers and is disciplined over it Doesn't make it fair in your case but because it is at this point in time a very grey area it makes you a high risk employee - sorry If it were classified as a disability you would discount all days sick due to this so they would not know at initial interview stage that this was your sickness record That info would appear in the confidential questionairre that only personel and then occupational health see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 OH also has a brain tumour removed last year and was off work for 5 months. He then had gall stones removed and had a further 2 weeks off. According to be BA he should be one step away from dismissal (various stages along the 'process') but they do have something called a 'one off life event'. Christian I am horrifed at BA's sickness policy How can it be right that they can dismiss an employee because they had the misfortune to be sick and require two ops? I would think that employee could take them to court and claim unfair dismissal? It's a disgusting state of affairs, thank goodness your OH has an understanding manager. Tessa Sadly, it is becoming more and more common for companies to use sickness as an excuse to get rid of staff - major companies at that. Tesco (and these other companies that use it) has a phrase written into the staff contracts that basically says that if you are unable to work the hours you are contracted for, then you're out. That's whether you are sick (WITH a sicknote), skiving or whatever. I was given a written warning for having a miscarriage and being signed off for a fortnight when I worked for Tesco. Company sickness policies nowadays are far more protective to the employer, rather than the employee, and they've all been approved by the unions that are meant to be protecting the employees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 You are right Shona - having a genuine illness is no protection against dismissal for failure to meet your contracted hours, even if it comes under the DDA. And I suspect you are right about the migraines Louise. The tumour would be covered if it was malignant, but not if was benign. But I still have concerns that someone has been refused a job because of something that has a very slim chance of reoccurrence. I suspect that a lot of people have had medical problems in the past that might reoccur. If they refuse to employ people on those grounds then they are seriously restricting their recruitment pool Oh well, food for thought Susie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Migraines is a very grey area just now I know that for a fact but unfortunately I can't go into any more detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Migraines is a very grey area just now I know that for a fact but unfortunately I can't go into any more detail Oh dear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...