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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to consider legal action after dismissal for long-term sickness?

560 replies

KittyCoo · 17/04/2026 19:18

I’ve been dismissed from my job today due to long term sickness since August last year. I have crohns, ASD, and very severe OCD. I have intrusive thoughts and last summer I declared these to my boss who completely misunderstood me and was worried I’d act on these thoughts shock I told her they caused me immense distress.

Last month, I was confident I’d be able to return to work as I’m finally having CBT and on the right medication, now on an SSRI combined with an anti psychotic. My boss was supporting my return. But then a week later she decided to place me on medical suspension without any prior warning because occ health deemed me unfit to work due to my OCD still taking up a lot of my day. I then fed this back to my line manager saying I’ll beat this decision as in prove occ health wrong and that I am indeed fit for work. She arranged a meeting with me to discuss suspension and she knew my union rep was on annual leave but decided to go ahead with it anyway!!!

They dismissed me due to long term sickness and not taking into account what’s working well with my mental health!! I’m looking at finding a solicitor as I believe this is unfair dismissal due to my disabilities under the Equality Act 2010. I’ve contacted a few and had a few quotes back.

AIBU by wanting to take legal action and sue them because my OCD is deliberating and because of my ASD I have different communication styles that they’ve completely misunderstood. Do you think this is unfair dismissal ?

im so traumatised by it all and im worried ill be made homeless and have my property repossessed as I’ll have no money and won’t be able to find a future job

OP posts:
IdentityCris · 17/04/2026 22:15

Have you got thousands of pounds to spend on this, bearing in mind that you can't get costs back through the tribunal? I agree with others, please go though your union first.

Isittimeformynapyet · 17/04/2026 22:15

40ClockRock · 17/04/2026 20:41

Research suggests it actually is less likely though. People with harm OCD tend to be highly conscientious and have a very strict sense of moral code. That’s why even the thought of harming someone else distresses them to the degree they become mentally ill worrying about the thought. How many times have we thought we want to “kill or boss/kids/partner.” We don’t mean it of course it’s a passing thought. But the OCD person is so appalled by the thought they beat themselves up about it over and over.

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OP said it gets "..so real that’s why I get so distressed cos I get urges to act!!!"

I accept your explanation above, but the actual urge to act seems outside of it. There's thoughts, and there's urges, which seem different to me.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:14

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 22:11

Sorry, too busy polishing my 18 Ferraris and cupboard full of diamonds to engage further. Funny what you can earn when you’re apparently “irreplaceable” and also not off sick all the time???

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Did I say I was irreplaceable or that I was very good at my job and hadn’t been replaced any time that I have been off sick

MrsBrendaFarfetched · 17/04/2026 22:14

It depends. Did the oc health report say when a return would be possible? Or was it that they dont think you would be fit for the foreseeable. This is important. You would have received a copy of this report also.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:13

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:10

Thought you might be.

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ive been in hospital recently too so I’m hardly swinging the lead.

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 22:11

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:07

Which part are you doubting?

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Sorry, too busy polishing my 18 Ferraris and cupboard full of diamonds to engage further. Funny what you can earn when you’re apparently “irreplaceable” and also not off sick all the time???

Ryah76 · 17/04/2026 22:10

KittyCoo · 17/04/2026 19:35

@TheRealMagic @Velumental but someone with ocd is very unlikely to act on their intrusive thoughts but the illness makes it feel so real that’s why I get so distressed cos I get urges to act!!!

You mentioned a knife- I think they had no choice but to dismiss you

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:10

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:09

Yes.

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Thought you might be.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:09

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:08

Are you by any chance off sick at the moment?

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Yes.

BauhausOfEliott · 17/04/2026 22:09

KittyCoo · 17/04/2026 19:35

@TheRealMagic @Velumental but someone with ocd is very unlikely to act on their intrusive thoughts but the illness makes it feel so real that’s why I get so distressed cos I get urges to act!!!

OP, they haven’t only dismissed you because you have intrusive thoughts.

Your OCD is the deliberating kind and ‘takes up a lot of your day’ and it sounds as if your communication style might be quite inappropriate.

You’re on anti-psychotics, which are not something that’s prescribed lightly. You’re obviously very unwell and it really doesn’t sound like you’re really able to do your job at your full capacity.

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:08

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:06

what can I say, my 50% productivity is better than most people’s 100%.

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Are you by any chance off sick at the moment?

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:07

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 22:04

Having been at board level for several multinational before I set up my own business, I know you are…..full of it. But, carry on, please 🤣🤣

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Which part are you doubting?

Dontbeatwat · 17/04/2026 22:06

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:02

It’s a good company benefit to attract top professionals, the same as company cars, private medical insurance, bonuses etc
I wouldn’t describe myself as lucky though to be so ill to need all that time off sick.

Edited
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It's not. Bonuses are based on performance - companies aren't paying bonuses to people who take months of sick leave. Same with car, health insurance etc - yes they come at a cost to the company, but not the same cost as paying someone potentially months (or years) of salary for no work in return.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:06

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:04

@MrsMigginsBrunch to be fair, while you claim to be irreplaceable, you also say that you struggle to keep going at work in between long periods of crisis.It seems unlikely to be both.

what can I say, my 50% productivity is better than most people’s 100%.

PeopleWatching17 · 17/04/2026 22:06

Itsmetheflamingo · 17/04/2026 20:06

Can you really not see the difference between sacking someone because you have evidence they can’t perform their job through disability vs sacking someone because you’ve made a discriminatory assumption about their disability?!

the law doesn’t find it difficult to differentiate

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Didn’t the OP tell her employer that she had thoughts about stabbing someone?

Noodledog · 17/04/2026 22:04

@MrsMigginsBrunch to be fair, while you claim to be irreplaceable, you also say that you struggle to keep going at work in between long periods of crisis.It seems unlikely to be both.

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 22:04

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:01

You don’t own any of the multinationals that I have worked at.

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Having been at board level for several multinational before I set up my own business, I know you are…..full of it. But, carry on, please 🤣🤣

Walker1178 · 17/04/2026 22:03

I mean this in the gentlest way OP but I don’t think you’re capable of work, you’ve said you are very unwell and see no end in sight. It sounds like they were right to block your return, if they need to fill your role they have no option but to let you go. It might not feel like it now but they’ve probably done you a favour. Focus on your health and wellbeing and look for work if/when you’ve recovered

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:02

Dontbeatwat · 17/04/2026 22:01

@MrsMigginsBrunch your workplace has an income protection scheme. However, very few workplaces offer this as a perk and there's a reason for it, it is far too financially onerous for them. You've been lucky but you can't honestly expect this to be standard treatment. We hear more and more every day of how challenging the job market is and how companies aren't hiring - then you read something like this and people wonder why?!

It’s a good company benefit to attract top professionals, the same as company cars, private medical insurance, bonuses etc
I wouldn’t describe myself as lucky though to be so ill to need all that time off sick.

Namingbaba · 17/04/2026 22:01

Mentally ill or not we all have thoughts that are best not shared. I think you’re asking to much of people to share such thoughts with them and not expect for them to be uncomfortable. I agree with advice given from a few other people that just saying you have OCD and struggle with intrusive thoughts should be enough.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 22:01

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 21:59

I own a business. It isn’t.

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You don’t own any of the multinationals that I have worked at.

Dontbeatwat · 17/04/2026 22:01

@MrsMigginsBrunch your workplace has an income protection scheme. However, very few workplaces offer this as a perk and there's a reason for it, it is far too financially onerous for them. You've been lucky but you can't honestly expect this to be standard treatment. We hear more and more every day of how challenging the job market is and how companies aren't hiring - then you read something like this and people wonder why?!

whatradiatorstopick · 17/04/2026 21:59

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 21:47

I think it is because I am so good at my job that I have been kept on for years when I’ve been off sick.

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I own a business. It isn’t.

ladyamy · 17/04/2026 21:56

Itsmetheflamingo · 17/04/2026 19:53

That’s not the case though is it?

you’re suggesting they’ve labelled OP as dangerous to other colleagues just because she has OCd. That’s discrimination.

you can sack someone with a disability because can’t perform the job, and evidence shows they won’t be able to in a reasonable time frame.

you can’t sack someone with a disability because you have made discriminatory assumptions about their disability, and decided on that basis they can’t work for you

the poster I was responding to suggested the latter was why she had been sacked.

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OP had obtrusive thoughts of harming others. You’ll find it upthread.

MrsMigginsBrunch · 17/04/2026 21:55

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 17/04/2026 21:53

I'm just telling you the truth which is that people are replaceable and expendable this is common knowledge

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All your posts on this thread have been unnecessarily vitriolic.
I have never been replaced so far. “All pigs are equal but some are more equal than others”