Can I be fired/laid off after surgery?

[Smine]

Hi
In August I had a pneumothorax and after a traumatic week in my local hospital, they sent me to London for surgery. I have now returned to work but still having a few problems. So my doctor has referred me to the local hospital. Work pulled me to one side and complained that I was very slow. I got the impression that they are looking at laying me off. Can they do this, knowing that my full recovery could take a year or I could be like this permanently?

well if you aren't doing the job they have to follow protocol and give you warnings etc. but if you are still ill, should you be at work or should you be signed off?

A disability is something that affects your ability to carry out normal everyday tasks for 12 months or more, so for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act you are a disabled person and your employer should make 'reasonable adjustments' to assist your continuing employment. I'm no expert but I do work for a local authority so I've been on a day-long course about this.

I'd make sure that your employer is aware that they need to treat you as disabled.

Thanks for that. I'd trawled the net but wasn't sure if I'd be classed as disabled. Its great to have it confirmed, thank you.