I'm disabled; quite affected but it's an invisible disability.
The disability I have affects my whole life and I have to spend all my energy managing it . Sometimes it works , sometimes it doesn't and I can end up quite poorly.
I have 3 children ; one of which has SN and needs quite a lot of input.
My DH works but he is on a low income ; he's unable to take on additional work as he needs to care for our children and I .
I work part time but I've been absent due to my disability for 4 months .
Before this instance, I've had odd days of sickness in the past year .
However before that , I had another occasion of long term absence lasting a year .
I managed to return to work for over a year with odd days absence before I became poorly at the end of August this year and have been signed off by my consultant since.
My fit note expires today and work are expecting me back tomorrow .
It was hinted at my last absence meeting that if I was signed off further , then I would be expected to attend a disciplinary meeting .
I'm not well enough to go back and my consultant agrees and I know she will sign me off again tomorrow.
I expect I will be called to a meeting and issued with some sort of secondary warning (I've had none so far but my manager has told me this will happen).
I know my manager is (understandably) becoming frustrated with my absences. I unfortunately have no influence over my disability and I can't help it.
I do have the feeling she may be looking to terminate my contract albeit in due process and "fairly".
My employer has provided me with all the reasonable adjustments they can.
With the right treatment from my consultant I could return to work in the near future but it will not prevent future relapse and I will likely be absent again . Most likely eventually resulting in dismissal.
To throw a spanner in the works: I've also been advised I need to have life saving surgery within the next 12 months . Without this surgery there is a 90% chance I will die - not immediately but eventually.
It's also guaranteed that this surgery will worsen my current disability and I'll need extended recovery time.
This will therefore result in further absence from work and most likely further action from my employer.
What do I do ?
I can't afford to lose my job and I'm terrified of universal credit.
I had to fight for my PIP and it is due to renew. If I lose that we will really suffer .
We have no savings . It's unlikely I'll find another job , especially as I'm limited in the work I can do due to my disability.
Do I delay my surgery and take the risk in order to keep my job?
Do I stay on long term sick whilst I await surgery ? Which will then result in dismissal anyway ?
Do I go back to work and then take more time off for the surgery? Again , resulting in more action being taken against me and likely dismissal anyway?
WWYD?
Thank you if you got to the end.