I've just walked out of work !!

[jac34]

I have had some problems with my eyes recently.
I have a history of eye problems, which began with detached retinas about 16 years ago, which left me with very little sight in my let eye.
Over the years I have coped well with it and do a job that involves very detailed, close work,which normally is no problem to me. However,I recently had a sudden change in my "good" eye, it is under investigation, I've had a series of tests and I am waiting to see a consultant for the results.

On reurning to work after holidays I explained this to our clinical lead, and was told not to put any preasure on myself and where possible reduce work to a less intricate alternative.
I can still perform my job, however it is very tiring and takes me a bit longer.

Over the last week I have tried to perform to my usual standards, and no one has had any complaints.I've been running the department alone or with very few staff as alot of people are on holiday. However, today someone put alot of preasure on me to do a very complicated piece of work in a very short space of time, I asked if they could have an alternative, or if I could take slightly longer to do the work, and she realy lost her temper, in the end I agreed as she wasn't taking no for an answer.

After sitting there trying to cope with the anger for a while I just decided to go home.
I was so upset that I've realy put myself out, to go into work, but they don't seem to want to make any concessions at all.
I don't know whether to just go to my doctor and get signed off??

[SleepySuzy]

Yes, go to the doctor, they will be able to advise what you should be doing, and tell you whether you should be at work or not. Then you have covered yourself.

[Surfermum]

Do you have an Occupational Health department that you could go to as well? They would be able to advise your manager about what you should and shouldn't be doing, and what allowances they should make.

[jac34]

I rang my occupational heath department, they said there was a form my manager could fill in, which sort of stated that I was on light duties.
My,manager,I know,would have been very suportive, but he is away on leave, so was the clinical lead, who had more or less said I was on light duties.
However, the person I spoke to in occupational health, said that if the form was filled in then, if some one tried to preasue me into something more then they could be disaplined, so it would cover me for when my manager wasn't there.

DH thinks that occupational health is just designed to keep you in work, and that as long as I keep going in and trying to keep things going, then people will still try to put upon me.

[Twiglett]

it doesn't sound like you have a problem with your work per se but with one individual placing unreasonable demands on you

What professional relationship does this woman have to you?

[Twiglett]

And do you think you might not have been firm enough with her? No should mean No so if she wanted you to do something and it was unfeasible you shouldn't back down.

I don't know the situation so it is very easy to say from afar

[SherlockLGJ]

[jac34]

She isn't senior to me but, lost her temper and tried to make me feel guilty, that I would incovenience her patient by not doing the work when she wanted it.
She had swaped her patients round,without informing us. The patient she was treating required more comlex work than the one we had already booked in, which is why I had asked her for a longer time to complete the work, or to change the treatment. However, both options were unacceptable to her.

[Twiglett]

well I think she's probably worked out that doing that gets her absolutely nowhere

I would ask Human Resources to have a word with her to labour the point.

I am really sorry you are going through this. It must be incredibly tough.

If you would feel better getting signed off then do it, but if you feel better actually staying in work then I would return with your head held high tomorrow and try to be a little more assertive in what you can take on. If people get irate or demanding ask them to calm down / leave your office until they can continue on a reasonable footing.

I hope that helps in some way. Good luck.

[lemonice]

Nothing to add except a bit of sympathy, it's horrible when you try to go that extra bit further at work than you should and people are still over demanding

[jac34]

I'm not due back until after the bank holiday.
A collegue did ring up this afternoon to see how I was, he knows I've been under a lot of stress worrying about my sight and said he thought I'd done a great job to come in and try to keep the service running.
I think my manager may be back on Tuesday, so perhaps I'll let him know about the form from occupational health, and see if he will sign it.

[Eaney]

Pretty sure your condition could be classed as a disability -see site Disability

An employer has a duty to make a 'reasonable adjustment' so that you can carry on working. See this -Reasonable adjustment
Have they done anything to ease your working life?

[jac34]

Thanks Eaney,
That was interesting reading.
I'm sure they are required to take my current sight into account, and as I do work for a large employer with an occupational health department then, they will make an effort to be helpful.
However, there is often a difference between what they tell you, you are expected to do, and what people actually demand in the work place.
I also think I might be a bit over sensative and emotional about it at the moment.

[jac34]

I've made an appointment to see my doctor on Tuesday(earliest I could get), I think I'll wait to see what he says about me working. The doctor I saw at the eye hospital,didn't even ask if I worked or what sort of work I did, he just told me not to drive as my vision was below the legal limit to drive. I've been catching the bus to work, but it has been a bit of a pain with the boys being off school, as I've had to try to think of places to go thats on a bus or train route.

[Twiglett]

Thinking of you jac. You sound immensely strong.

[mamhaf]

Basic question - but did the person who pressurised you know the full circumstances? Your manager and clinical lead may have treated it as a confidential matter, or may simply have not communicated the situation to this person, who may have thought you were being difficult if she didn't know all the facts. It must be a worrying time for you and it's natural to be emotional about it - but perhaps thinking about it from her perspective might help you in resolving it. If she did have the full info, then you need to talk to your manager.

[Whizzz]

From a Health & Safety point of view, they should take account of your situation & not expect you to do things that you cannot reasonably do. If you have told them about your condition, they should take steps to help you work round it.
Losing her temper was out of order - you shouldn't be put under such stressful conditions.

[Eaney]

HAve they offered you 'voice recognition' software for your PC if you use one?

[jac34]

No Eaney,
I haven't been offered any sort of aids, I do use a PC and struggle to see the text on the screen.
I have bought some magnifying glasses which help, other wise I wouldn't be able to see to work at all, but I'm still missing the middle portion of my field of vision.

[Eaney]

You really need to be assessed by an 'Access to work' expert see this - Access to eork

It explains the process. I have had it done and it's quite straight forward. If memory serves me you contact them yourself and start the ball rolling. There is loads of equipment available which I'm sure would help.
Your employer is probably in breach of H&S legislation s well. You should have a risk assessment done on your workstation which would pick all these issues up.

Have a look at this - Info about workstation assessments

Hope it helps.

[Whizzz]

Happy to advice on any particular aspect of Health & safety (It's my job & I'm fully qualified )

[jac34]

Thanks for the info.
I'm hopeing that, whatever is currently wrong with my sight is treatable, and it might improve.
However, I was given the impression by the doctor in the eye clinic that, whatever treatment they give me may just stop my sight getting worse, but not improve it that much.So may be these are things I'm going to have to look into.
I know I can find ways to overcome difficulties that arise, I did it 16 years ago when I lost most of the sight in my left eye. It's just a bit of a downer having to start all over again.
I was warned at the time that I would need repair work as time when on, I supose I'm lucky to have had so many years without needing further treatment.

Eaney, are you diabled in some way yourself, or do you workin that area???

[lalaa]

jac
i just wanted to say that it sounds as though the person who got angry with you was completely out of order. of course, she/he may not be aware of your situation, but that doesn't excuse bullying behaviour. in your situation, i would talk to my manager when he gets back and just make sure that he knows how you feel about what happened and the options you were considering (for eg, getting signed off). you sound as though you really are going the extra mile to keep the service going in difficult circumstances, and they should be immensely grateful that you are there at all and haven't already got yourself signed off. don't blame yourself!!
good luck
x

[jac34]

Having thought it through,and read some of the info., you wonerful people on MN have given me links to, I think the worst thing I could do would be to get signed off by the doctor!!

I love my work,I did 8 years training for it and have 16 years experience.I think the best course of action would be to go back on Tuesday, and inform my manager of all the options available.I was copeing perfectly well until,some demanding cow decided to have a tantrum !!!I'm just going to have to toughen up and be less sensative about it, if I want to carry on in my chosen profession.

[Eaney]

A bit of both. I used to work in HR and I personally had to use Access to Work after a slipped disc. I got a special chair and good advise. In HR I used to try and get managers to make reasonable adjustments for thir staff.

I also did the odd DSE (work station)assessment.

Just noticed all the typos on last post, sorry.

Good luck on Tues!