Hi Ed

Things went downhill when companies stopped having a Personnel Department, and changed instead to HR. 

Are you in a union? If you're a member then they can supply someone to accompany you to meetings, and to represent and fight your corner when things get tough. 

Hi telemando

thankyou for your comments, my company do not recognise a union unfortunately, I feel the only way forward for me is to seek alternative employment, I think I will just have to bear it until I have another job/ career,although I have been in my employment for 13 years and don’t see why I should change, 

its quite ironic really as my company are one of the largest suppliers to the nhs for medical equipment driving home that they always putting the customer first , maybe this needs to change to the employee also.

Thank you 

ed

You can still join a union without it being recognised by your employer. That way you can still get access to telephone advice at least.  Also, if sufficient workers join a union, then the employer can be legally forced to recognise it.  Lots of people think that unions are somehow old-fashioned or not for them, but as you're discovering, if you work in a non-unionised company then you're completely powerless in situations like this.  Unfortunately, you're discovering this the hard way.

Still, the situation is what it is. Have you discussed your position and treatment with your line manager or head of department?  Perhaps they can intervene for you. 

I know from personal experience that returning to work after cancer is difficult, and my employer was pretty enlightened. Cancer is a shock to the system, and sometimes a return to work to the same company isn't going to work out, because you've changed and you're no longer the same person. In my case, I crashed and burned after a year, but I  was lucky that I'd reached retirement age and I could take my pension, plus my enlightened, unionised, employer kindly sweetened the deal when I left. Others are not so fortunate.

Perhaps the very first thing you need to decide is whether you want to return to that company anyway. If your answer is no, then time to work out an exit strategy and find a new job. 

You can still join a union without it being recognised by your employer. That way you can still get access to telephone advice at least.  Also, if sufficient workers join a union, then the employer can be legally forced to recognise it.  Lots of people think that unions are somehow old-fashioned or not for them, but as you're discovering, if you work in a non-unionised company then you're completely powerless in situations like this.  Unfortunately, you're discovering this the hard way.

Still, the situation is what it is. Have you discussed your position and treatment with your line manager or head of department?  Perhaps they can intervene for you. 

I know from personal experience that returning to work after cancer is difficult, and my employer was pretty enlightened. Cancer is a shock to the system, and sometimes a return to work to the same company isn't going to work out, because you've changed and you're no longer the same person. In my case, I crashed and burned after a year, but I  was lucky that I'd reached retirement age and I could take my pension, plus my enlightened, unionised, employer kindly sweetened the deal when I left. Others are not so fortunate.

Perhaps the very first thing you need to decide is whether you want to return to that company anyway. If your answer is no, then time to work out an exit strategy and find a new job. 

Telemondo

i have returned to the company, if any employee pushed to join a formidable union or seemed to get others involved from a production point of view they would be fired , unfair I know but thier is nothing I can do as wrong as it sounds 

but thank you for your support

Hi Telemondo 

i have not looked into cab but to be fair I am not sure how the could help on the situation as I am still employed by the company for the time being, as mentioned I will just have to deal with the situation as unfair as what it is for now , don’t get me wrong I really do appreciate your advice as I know you can see this is wrong also but all I can do for now is keep playing by the book for mine and my family’s sake 

thanks so much ed

That is often how employees think their company will behave. In practice that would be unfair dismissal and would open up the company to whole wave of bad publicity.  In these days of social media, companies know that a reputation can be destroyed in a few minutes, and once you get a reputation as a spiteful employer, then future recruitment becomes far more difficult. 

No worries. Was just a thought as it sounds like your employer is in breach of the Equality Act. It's worth getting advice from your specialist nurse or team too. This is also a useful read: www.macmillan.org.uk/.../your-rights.html

But as you say what's the point- just grin and bear it. Hopefully you will get through it x 

Thanks Chrissie/ RP / Telemundo 

i will look into the link also and maybe send Link to our hr, won’t take them long to figure out who sent it if I do I’m guessing,

thankyou all for your support 

Ed

The acas website is pretty useful as well.  

Employers are supposed to make reasonable adjustments to help you with your recovery at work, sounds like your HR needs to brush up on the rules.