You are also covered by the Disability Discrimination Act as you have/had cancer. 

Hi there ... Now I'm not exactly sure, but from what I have read, you are protected while your cancer is causing you to have time off ... McMillan have a free phone number so give them a call as they have legal people that can get back to you with your rights ... But l know the law is now helping those going through this ..

If you look on a simerla thread of " cournishpastie " she has had a lot of response to hers that may help you too ... Don't let them walk over you now ... Cancer doesn't have a time limit ... You make sure your well enough before going back ... I think even then they have to give you reduced hours or lighter work if needed ... Good luck ... Chrissie x

Chriss is right. Your  employer has to make what are called reasonable adjustments to help you. 

Welcome to Cancer Chat Claire although I'm sorry for the reason you find yourself posting.

We have a section dedicated to coping practically on our website which I hope will prove useful as it covers money matters as well as the disability discrimination act that Rileyroo mentioned above. It may also be worth getting in touch with Macmillan about this as they have financial advisors you can chat to, so do give them a call when you can and see what they say.

The discussion that Chriss was referring to is just here if you'd like to have a look and one of our members [@davek]‍ is fairly knowledgeable in this area too so I'm just tagging him in this post to let him know his words of wisdom are needed. Once he's notified I'm sure he'll pop by when he can to chat.

I hope this helps Claire and that you're able to get the information and advice you're seeking at this time.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Claire,

If you are in a Union, please get them on the case asap. Also MacMillan have some benefits advisors who really know their stuff. They have just run a high profile campaign on exactly this issue. More info at 

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../information-for-employees

and

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../legislation-about-work-and-cancer.html

Even within the NHS (who should know better) there was a degree of uncertainty and ignorance in exactly what my own rights were. After six months sickness absence my pay should have been reduced by 50%, then after another six months down to almost nothing. As it was, I was well enough to return to work well before my six months was up. I then worked full time for a few months (after a phased return) and finally opted to retire on ill-health grounds, as I was getting stressed and the chemo had left me physically weaker and tired much of the time.

Good luck

Dave

Thanks so much everyone for your comments and advice. I have already been in touch with my union and will be contacting them again tomorrow as received an email from my employer today telling me that even though I have been with the company 19 years I’m no longer entitled to company sick pay!!!! I’ve only been off just short of 3 months. Ready to do battle now.....both Cancer and employer!!

You go girl!  Don’t let the ******** get you down!

Hi Claire. Sorry to hear that your employers are giving you hassle. I called Macmillan and they really did help. My employers made me redundant knowing my cancer diagnosis and it's another challenge to come your way which i know you'll face with boxing gloves at the ready!

The most important thing is getting rid of that ******* cancer. I was very angry at my employers but the shock of what i had to go thru healthwise- I ignored the rest. I concentrated on my health only as was very fortunate to be able to afford to have a year off. Looking back I wish I had made my old employers give me my rights but would i want to work in a place that treated me so appallingly when I was down? So I cut all ties and have moved fwd. Your life realigns itself and we just have to go with the flow.

Hope the rest of the chemos don't give too many side effects. You got this!

I wonder how they'd feel if cancer was dealt to one of them or a loved one, just how their attitude would change then ... they must be so lucky not to have been touched by cancer ... and all the effects treatments cause ... life sucks sometimes ... you go girl ... get your rights, take them ... then move on later ...  but wer all there with you ... chrisie

Bar stewards - give them hell!