Fired without notice - I have terminal cancer - what to do?

[Mothrasstillmoshing]

Sorry this is going to be a long post I will try to explain as best as I can but I need some advice please.
I have terminal S4 cancer but I'm managing fairly well and until December I was working my usual job with some adjustments and I'd had no complaints about my work etc.
I was first diagnosed in 2022, had surgery & chemo etc and was off sick for 6 months. I returned to normal duties after a phased return and was given the all clear in early 2023. All was fine until early 2024 when I was diagnosed with the exact same cancer, in the exact same place but more advanced than before. I will add that I received awful treatment in 2022/23 from oncology and was left with CPTSD/depression etc and it was obvious that nothing's different this time (both hospitals involved are awful, very dismissive and rude) which led me to deciding not to have any treatment this time and let nature take it's course. Two years down the line I am gradually getting towards the end but I'm still living normally with medication/pain relief/support etc.

I work 14 hours per week (NMW rate) for a very large medical type charity in their retail arm since late 2021 - so I'm a retail assistant in a shop which is a popular busy one. The adjustments that I have had (since about late 2024) are things like no consecutive shift days, extra breaks (rarely needed), no lifting of heavy donations/items, no operation of equipment like vacuums or steamers etc so not much really compared to the rest of my duties. I will also say now that I am diagnosed with ADHD and autism which I declared to my employer from the beginning and it's never been an issue. Neither has there ever been any issues with my work raised and any small issues have been sorted between myself and my manager. I've always enjoyed my job.

I was signed off sick in December 2025 because I tired, felt ill and my manager had been treating me differently and poorly so I was excessively stressed/depressed. I had an occupational health assessment last month which said I was fully capable to return to duties with the addition of no lone working, set work days and to follow the same adjustments as before but mentioned tiredness/exhaustion/tumour pain.
I had an interview last Thursday with my area manager (my manager's boss) and he went through the OH report, asked if I'd consider redeployment/WFH transferring to other duties/job (yes I would), discussed my physical health and medication (low dose slow release morphine). He gave the impression that it was doable and we had a refreshment break. When he returned to the meeting he said that he was terminating my employment immediately from that minute. He said HR will email the decision later that day and that I could appeal. That was it.

I am still waiting for this documentation to come through from HR and I've been told to wait for how ever long it takes. The company's own sickness guidance states that you must appeal within 7 days of being told of the dismissal.
I have put in a SAR to the companies data officer today because I have a very bad feeling over the whole thing - not only have I lost my income/job but I've lost my death in service insurance.

So what can I do? What are my options now seeing as my employer is already being obstructive?

I know that I have a Protected Characteristic under disability law. I have already suffered discrimination from my employer because they have refused to carry over my unused holiday entitlement in 2024 & 2025 and I had to lodge a complaint at the end of last year and in February they agreed to 'award' me my correct entitlement but I had to fight for it. My store manager is very poor and has a history (which is ongoing) of denying staff their correct breaks, being difficult when wanting holiday, restricting access to our own work records online etc. It was a disagreement over my holiday entitlement, plus she told me some outrageous lies, that caused me to go off sick in December.

Sorry this so long but I'm hoping that someone can give advice as to how to proceed.
Thanks for any advice xx

That’s a lovely apology and one that I believe is heartfelt.

Wow. That’s about the bitchiest comment I’ve ever read on here. Shame on you.

Perhaps you could keep up with the thread.

Ask to have your comments bloody deleted then. Unbelievable.

The thread title says that OP's cancer is terminal. You ask if OP cares - she obviously does. Apart from anything else, her death in service benefit is gone.

OP I'm so sorry. It's despicable treatment by your employer. Please do appeal in writing to the verbal dismissal. You do need legal advice as you need prompt resolution. Are you in a union? You can talk to ACAS.

A word of advice on the SAR - the law has changed recently to confirm the requirement of "reasonable and proportionate" searches for personal data. It will be to your advantage to be specific about the dates and subjects of the information you're looking for. They will try to justify it taking a long time if you are vague/broad in your requests.

And on the charity angle, I would write directly to the charity's CEO, cc'ing in the Chair of Trustees, asking for their intervention in this matter.

Hi OP. Firstly I am really sorry to hear about your cancer, it’s truly awful. I hope you’re managing with the palliative care you’re given and I wish you all the very best for whatever the future brings.

I do have to go against the grain a little in this thread, because as awful and emotive sacking someone with terminal cancer sounds, it may not be unlawful. Having a disability alone does not protect you from dismissal.

From maybe your 2nd or 3rd update it sounds like you’ve maybe had an incapacity to work meeting which is a disciplinary type meeting to address either your (under)performance or high levels of absence. From some updates down the line you did mention how there are several parts of your job you can no longer do, certain aspects of training you can’t complete. Sadly although your circumstances cannot be changed, the employer has deemed you either incapable of fulfilling your role (yes it sounds like you can do some of it, but unfortunately if you add up all the things you can’t it’s probably a fair chunk of the role), or they find you medically unfit to continue (someone mentioned the morphine) - there is lots to read here on ACAS https://www.acas.org.uk/supporting-disabled-people/capability-and-performance-when-someone-is-disabled

The employer over a span of several years has made lots of reasonable adjustments for you and looking at this objectively I don’t think a tribunal would say they didn’t. You’ve not been dismissed after a couple of months, they have been supporting you with sickness related time off as well as adjustments to your role until it just ran its course.

I think the only way you could appeal this would be if the incapacity process was not followed correctly.

Hi @Mothrasstillmoshing

I'm so sorry to hear of your terminal illness and this horrible boss.

Are you very sure your death in service won't pay out now following your terminal diagnosis? Because my policy pays out if death is expected within 12 months, I thought this was quite a normal part of these policies as someone with a terminal diagnosis is understandably likely to not be working up until the day they pass away.

I'm absolutely horrified at this OP. It's shocking.

I've had a read through, and I'm so pleased that you are going to be contacting a solicitor (I think that that's what you mean). It is definitely the right way forwards. Did you contact Citizens Advice too? I had to contact them recently and they were brilliant.

I hope that this situation is sorted out quickly for you. It sounds as though the stress that you were being put under by your manager was unbelievable.

I also hope that you can find some peace enjoyment away from this toxic workplace.

Edited - typo

My manager already had my replacement lined up in December and loudly told them that I was dying and not to worry you'll have Mothra's job soon enough (as overheard by several colleagues).

That alone should have you pursuing wrongful termination... had you walked at that point, constructive dismissal also would have been something to pursue.

Absolute horrendous treatment. I hope you get a good solicitor and take them to the cleaners.

I’ve reported your posts.

OP, this is so disgusting, I have no useful contribution legally, but sending you strength to fight this. Good luck.💕

I think that’s unusual. I am terminally ill and I have to still be actually employed at the time of death for my employer’s “death in service” benefit to pay out. I checked quite recently.

Jesus how utterly, utterly heartbreaking, this made me want to cry for you OP. Sounds like they're taking advantage of your limited time plus how long a tribunal takes. XX

I feel really ashamed, I am deeply sorry

I am so very sorry to read what you have been through OP. Just wanted to wish you well. X

This situation is shocking. So sorry you find yourself in this situation.

I’d take the very good advice above, appeal, and cross your fingers for a settlement you’re happy with.

This exactly
waiting for the paperwork
contact a solicitor
I’m so sorry to read tho it’s just awful

It's ok @Shessweetbutapsycho and thank you for your lovely, sincere apology. I know how my choices look to those who don't know me and people do jump to conclusions. Please don't worry about it any more and I'm sorry that you have been given a hard time on here after you've already apologised.

So sorry you are going through this. Charities are absolutely dreadful for allowing this behaviour to go on. Worse than any other sector! And the waste of resource and inefficiency is terruble too. Having worked with various larger charities a few years back i vowed I would never donate/support large charity orgs ever again. Your story is cementing that view. I hope you get some good legal advice and get it sorted.

Fair play to you. Hopefully OP has seen this 😊

That is awful, I'm so sorry. I didn't realise how fortunate I was with the policy my work offered. Expecting someone with terminal illness to work up until their last days is inhumane.

Thank you so much lovely people!
You have given me lots to think about and process.
I'm quite exhausted now (don't tell my area manager) and will start again tomorrow with fresh eyes.

Do you work for Barbados? Family member was a manager with them and whilst she really enjoyed the first few years by the end it had become very toxic and the culture was not good at all - this is to do with area & regional managers and that having an impact on the shops.