To think my colleagues are been a bit nasty

[user625162733]

I'm not sure if I am been oversensitive (hormonal at the moment). I went back to work recently after been off sick for 18 months, obviously a lot changed at work in that time with the pandemic and also a lot of staff have left.
Due to treatment I received I get tired easily in the afternoon so I have requested to work half days (mornings). All the other staff work full days, so because of me only doing half days I don't work weekends at the moment.
One member of staff has a problem with me not working weekends and keeps saying things like I'm happy to do my share of weekends, all staff should be doing weekends are working till the end of shifts.
Last week a colleague asked me to do a job and I explained I couldn't due to damage in my arm after my operation and that i find doing repetitive work with that arm painful. She looked at me in a shocked way, as if I shouldn't have said that I couldn't do it and just get on with it.
I feel so unhappy at the moment and so useless 😩

[rachelstriffle]

@tornadosequins

But that's not her problem, she is now part-time. Up to management to recruit a cover.

Which they have.

This is unlawful discrimination. I'm sorry you're facing such unnecessary and shitty behaviour on top of your illness. Please stop blaming yourself.

Do they?

If you read the OP, it sounds like They did get cover when I was off sick but it was after 9 months so there's no cover anymore, the OP is no longer off sick.

That might be the issue.

[Tistheseason17]

It's none of their business.
Had this in one my teams. Everyone moaned about a morning worker who could not do late shifts. I got them together and told them to pack it in and if they didn't like it they had choices. Explained that if they were in same position we'd do same for them and to mind their own business or disciplinary for bullying.

[me4real]

Some people just don't understand disability and don't try to.

Hugs OP.

[Throckmorton]

@rachelstriffle

And you know what, nice people who have to work extra due to a colleague being off sick are worried about that colleague's health, not angry at them.

don't push it. People cover for a week or 2, but have no interest in putting their own life on hold and working extra.

Decent businesses employ covers and replacement - same way as they employ a maternity cover. It's not a shocking concept.

Colleagues should complain about their workload with their managers, or apply for a similar part-time role. It's not up to the OP's to recruit her cover.

Why are you having a go about this? I'm not saying the other people should work extra, and in the part of my post you didn't quote, I specifically said that people should go to management with any issues they had, NOT make the OP suffer for it.

[MustardRose]

@GreyhoundG1rl

You've returned on a four mornings per week contract? Who fills the rest of your shift?

That's a matter for the employer, not the OP.

[rachelstriffle]

Throckmorton

I am not having a go, I just think it's a step too far to pretend that "nice people" would happily pick up the workload.

[Throckmorton]

@rachelstriffle

Throckmorton

I am not having a go, I just think it's a step too far to pretend that "nice people" would happily pick up the workload.

I didn't say that though. I said they would be worried about their sick colleague, not angry at said sick colleague. I made no comment on whether they would/should be annoyed at management if management didn't hire enough cover.

[Amammi]

It will get better - I had to have surgery a few years ago. It was very unexpected and I was off work at very short notice and only returned to work on reduced hours after 3 months off sick. I was exhausted just doing day on / day off but after 3 months I was much stronger.

Tune the grumps out OP - they have no clue what they are talking about. If they have a problem they need to speak to the managers not you. For now put every drop of energy into getting yourself back into the swing of things. Ignore ignore ignore.
Don’t even think of leaving - the company kept this job open for you for 18 months and are accommodating half time hours. They want you!
It’s hard to get a job when you need accommodations for health reason - not impossible but it is harder than for fully fit people. Stick in there like a limpet and don’t let those colleagues put you out. Take back the power - it should be your decision not a reaction to their shiftiness. Promise yourself that for now you will take it one day at a time and power through this rough patch. Shields up and reassess again in 4-6 months time.

[Brefugee]

PP are making a good point though. If the colleagues are getting more hours, and more weekends than before, it is natural that their first reaction is that it has been caused by OP - it has because she's working less.

BUT it's not OPs problem to solve.

[CarnationCat]

As a pp said, it's nothing to do with your colleagues. You have this amended working pattern due to your personal circumstances that are none of their business.

I would ignore these comments for now. If they carry on, I would raise it with your manager.

[Therebythedoor]

@Librariesmakeshhhhappen

Being. Being off sick. Not been.

I think we all got the gist of the thread title and autocorrect's an often unhelpful 'friend' - it just added an 's' to 'friends' for me and paid no heed to the punctuation at the beginning of the typed word.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

So they really need to find another part time afternoon person who will do half a day at weekend

[Notaroadrunner]

@Blondeshavemorefun

So they really need to find another part time afternoon person who will do half a day at weekend

Why? Op doesn't work weekends. They have other staff to work weekends.

[Tohaveandtohold]

Yanbu, you now work part time and get paid less. There’s no way you can have the same work load as them.
It’s up to the management to recruit another part time staff to cover your other half of the shift.
The colleagues may feel resentment but this should be directed at the management for not recruiting a cover

[CirqueDeMorgue]

IME most people are really crap about illness and disability

Yup, some on this thread even. They will whine about having to work full time without bothering to consider the actual reason OP is not. Would they rather be in her shoes, unwell to the extent that full time work isn't possible, I wonder?

[proopher]

@GreyhoundG1rl

Yeah there is resentment about the workload whilst I was off. They did get cover when I was off sick but it was after 9 months and by then staff had started to think about leaving due to been short staffed during the pandemic.
And then you come back on four mornings per week. It's hardly surprising they're sick of it.

Hmm and I'm sure you'll be busting your arse to get back full time after illness/disability leave! Be sure to make a thread and brag to us all about how fabulous you are

[Lucifersladylove]

@gottakeeponmovin

It would piss me off and I would be resentful. Can your manager help you find a job share so that you can do some weekends

OP has no obligation to find a job share. They have a disability. They work less hours they get paid less money. The other staff are being unfair, the OP didn’t decide the non-weekends thing, management did.
Ableism is alive and well in these comments.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

As it’s fair. If all staff have to work say I in 3/4 weekends then op should as well

[user00002]

@Blondeshavemorefun

As it’s fair. If all staff have to work say I in 3/4 weekends then op should as well

OP offered, management said no as it requires a full day to be worked. presuming they work somewhere that is busy over the weekends.

chronic illness isnt fair either but there you go.

[Ownerofmultiplechimps]

@Blondeshavemorefun maybe try reading the full thread first, you’ll see the op has already addressed this

[GoWalkabout]

Toughen up, smile sweetly, they will never understand your difficulties, but you do have to work within your own capacities. I have had colleagues with chronic health problems and honestly I really feel for them, it such a pita because no one gets it. But equally as a colleague if their work is not properly covered it can be frustrating. But in no way their fault. Its not your responsibility to respond to the comments or problems.

[LateAtTate]

So you get paid less as you work part time.
Your cover works weekends so that none of your colleagues have to do the extra work.
How is their life affected exactly?
No reason to be nasty
They may have had to take some of your work on temporarily/be short staffed but that's a management problem and besides it's over now

[me4real]

As it’s fair. If all staff have to work say I in 3/4 weekends then op should as well

@Blondeshavemorefun Those people who can walk have to walk, so people in wheelchairs should as well, rite? Otherwise they're just being slack.

[CorianderBee]

@shivawn

YANBU but I see your coworkers point of view too, it must be frustrating to have one person who can't do certain jobs or shifts.

But that's how it's always been... peoples jobs are their own and contracted hours negotiated with management.

[3rdcircle]

It's a game of competitive misery, OP.

You're still recovering, and dealing with the limitations that weren't there before, which is hard.

Your colleagues are dealing with their normal workloads, and still picking up some of yours. They're overworked and tired.

None of you are unreasonable to feel angry, sad and/or frustrated at the cards you've been dealt. The problem is, management need to recognise the situation that has arisen and to deal with it.

After 18 months off, your colleagues probably know something's happened to you, so working out that you need reasonable adjustments shouldn't be difficult, even if you haven't shared any details. However, after 18 months of covering for you, they might be past the point of caring. Yes, they had cover for some of that time, but not all of that time, and you don't know how good or bad that person was.

I think all you can do is speak to management to explain that you're coping with the phased return, but do not anticipate returning to full-time hours for a long time, so you wondered if there were any plans to recruit given you can see how busy your colleagues are.