Health issues and job
Discussion
I had a bad year last year, an un-diagnosised long-term autoimmune disease, meant i had a year of trying new drugs and treatments, which came with side efforts that inevitability led to me loosing my job. I've tried to find a job to fit around my hospital appointments but it hard and ending up taking temp roles etc. The hardest part is should I explain the situation, as I have a few big gaps last year.
My illness doesn't preclude from doing a job (well certain jobs) it is the medication side effects, which i have ended up changing consultant and finally being diagnosed, and getting better treatment, but no solution and will be with me for rest of my life.
I've lost a lot of confidence and pretty much pushed to the brink but really want to turn it around this year. Just finding it hard to find roles that i can fit with.
My illness doesn't preclude from doing a job (well certain jobs) it is the medication side effects, which i have ended up changing consultant and finally being diagnosed, and getting better treatment, but no solution and will be with me for rest of my life.
I've lost a lot of confidence and pretty much pushed to the brink but really want to turn it around this year. Just finding it hard to find roles that i can fit with.
The Spruce goose said:
yes thanks it wasn't a woe is me, i tried not to do it that way just wondered if anyone had experienced it and best way to move forward.
I had a heart attack, then a triple by-pass. Was off work for 6 months.Got myself fit and returned to my old job.
Sadly I worked for Carillion and within a few months they made me "redundant" (despite being the best qualified and most experienced in the section)
Took the redundancy package and got another job - told them about the heart issues. No probs, great employer.
After 5 years took early retirement due to ongoing ticker issues.
Sorry to hear your situation; particularly the bit about losing your previous job due to issues with treatments/side effects etc - you'd like to think an employer would cut you a little slack under the circumstances. Hopefully with your medication better sorted, less issues going forward.
My opinion and personal experience would be to be as open and honest about it as you feel you are able to be. I have a progressive muscle condition that requires fortnightly treatment. Treatment that effectively means I can't do much/any work that day (treatment lasts 4-5 hours). Prior to diagnosis I took the decision to be honest with work - effectively 'I seem to have something odd wrong with me as doctors are saying to other doctors 'have a look at this chap, I can't work out what's wrong with him' '. Once I got a diagnosis and was told the treatment pattern, I told work about it and suggested an adjustment to accommodate it (essentially I work a 9 day fortnight so total hours same, just tweaked a little) - they were fine with it and have been brilliant in being understanding about it.
I have actually recently successfully applied for another job - I went for an informal chat with prospective new boss prior to applying, not least to explain that this was in the background and needed to be able to work round it: one of the positives of moving is that the flexitime at the new place allows me to accommodate the treatment without needing to be a 'special arrangement' - he thanked me for being open about it and added that I wasn't obliged to mention it (I presume he was thinking discrimination laws?). But I wanted it to not be something that they discovered after I joined and then it become an issue.
I realise your situation with gaps to explain isn't as straight forward, but if it were me I'd try to be as open an honest about it as you feel you can - you want to trust your employer and them to trust you.
Good luck and hope with time the gaps in any case become irrelevant and your performance speaks for itself in outweighing any issues related to your health.
My opinion and personal experience would be to be as open and honest about it as you feel you are able to be. I have a progressive muscle condition that requires fortnightly treatment. Treatment that effectively means I can't do much/any work that day (treatment lasts 4-5 hours). Prior to diagnosis I took the decision to be honest with work - effectively 'I seem to have something odd wrong with me as doctors are saying to other doctors 'have a look at this chap, I can't work out what's wrong with him' '. Once I got a diagnosis and was told the treatment pattern, I told work about it and suggested an adjustment to accommodate it (essentially I work a 9 day fortnight so total hours same, just tweaked a little) - they were fine with it and have been brilliant in being understanding about it.
I have actually recently successfully applied for another job - I went for an informal chat with prospective new boss prior to applying, not least to explain that this was in the background and needed to be able to work round it: one of the positives of moving is that the flexitime at the new place allows me to accommodate the treatment without needing to be a 'special arrangement' - he thanked me for being open about it and added that I wasn't obliged to mention it (I presume he was thinking discrimination laws?). But I wanted it to not be something that they discovered after I joined and then it become an issue.
I realise your situation with gaps to explain isn't as straight forward, but if it were me I'd try to be as open an honest about it as you feel you can - you want to trust your employer and them to trust you.
Good luck and hope with time the gaps in any case become irrelevant and your performance speaks for itself in outweighing any issues related to your health.
it is difficult the drugs i take are basically the same as chemo. The problem is constant blood tests and appointments that a 9-5 would be difficult to fit around. I am looking for shift work so hopefully can fit it around without them knowing. i lost my job as the biggest side effect was compounded by me being a contractor, making too many mistakes and having a fuzzy mind/vision issues.
It worked well as i came off night work and my health has improved, just now try to find work to fit around.
It worked well as i came off night work and my health has improved, just now try to find work to fit around.
The Spruce goose said:
it is difficult the drugs i take are basically the same as chemo. The problem is constant blood tests and appointments that a 9-5 would be difficult to fit around. I am looking for shift work so hopefully can fit it around without them knowing. i lost my job as the biggest side effect was compounded by me being a contractor, making too many mistakes and having a fuzzy mind/vision issues.
It worked well as i came off night work and my health has improved, just now try to find work to fit around.
ahh - yes, very difficult.It worked well as i came off night work and my health has improved, just now try to find work to fit around.
best of luck with both your treatment and finding work to fit around it.
Hi
Sorry to hear your situation. I have been lucky with my employers with health issues - they have been really supportive. (at a previous employer, I lost my driving licence due to epilepsy and fits and my employer paid for taxis/ travel for me to visit customers/ suppliers, etc) My current employer has allowed one of my direct reports to work from home two days a week because her husband has recently had a terminal diagnosis. Essentially, there are good guys out there!
You don't mention what skill set you have, but could you do any flexible type work from home? I accept getting a new role where you need certain time periods off might be a struggle.
Best of luck.....
Mike
Sorry to hear your situation. I have been lucky with my employers with health issues - they have been really supportive. (at a previous employer, I lost my driving licence due to epilepsy and fits and my employer paid for taxis/ travel for me to visit customers/ suppliers, etc) My current employer has allowed one of my direct reports to work from home two days a week because her husband has recently had a terminal diagnosis. Essentially, there are good guys out there!
You don't mention what skill set you have, but could you do any flexible type work from home? I accept getting a new role where you need certain time periods off might be a struggle.
Best of luck.....
Mike
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