Occupational health plus money issues

[BG2015]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. I had surgery during the six week school holidays and am having chemo and radiotherapy which is likely to last for the next 6 months.

I teach full time. I've been at my school for 20 years (& teaching for 24) so it's been very hard acknowledging that I can't teach for some time.

My head has referred me to occupational health which I know is standard but I've never done this before (having had very little illness during my teaching career, I've been told that this is very early to contact OH.

Is there anything I should be aware of before I speak to them.

My pay will go to half in February which I know is in line with school policy but still feels like a kick in the teeth after 20 years of loyalty.

I can appeal to the Governors and ask to have my full pay extended. I'm hoping to return to school after Easter ( but that obviously depends on my treatment) so I would possibly only need 2 extra months of full pay.

I'm at a loss now I would word this without sounding grabby and desperate. It's made me feel very low.

You should be able to claim some benefits such as ESA/DLA/tax credits.
The last thing you need, when you are going through all this worry, is to be worrying about the bills.

breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/living-beyond-breast-cancer/life-after-breast-cancer-treatment/financial-support-when-you-have-breast-cancer

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support/benefits-and-your-rights

I know you used to automatically qualify for an nhs exemption card too so you could get free prescriptions and help towards the cost of glasses.

Wishing you well with your treatment

Do you have a critical illness policy as part of your mortgage cover? Have a look a that.. see if anything you can claim. It’s shitty OP isn’t it and the last thing you want to have to worry about when fighting an illness, wishing you well xx

Yes have got free prescriptions but no critical illness sadly just life insurance.

In reality at 6 months the sick note changes from cancer to stress. Attempt a phased return over feb half term that will fail and back on full pay

If you have a mechanism by which you are able to appeal for increased time at full pay that’s great, and I think it’s more likely to be approved for a finite additional short period than an undefined extension would be.

But although I know it doesn’t help financially, I think you should try if possible not to see it as a kick in the teeth to go to half pay after six months. Teachers’ sick pay is incredibly generous and I don’t think it’s probably particularly helpful for your mental health to be resentful if it doesn’t end up being even more generous than it already is.

Speak to your union for advice

No specifics but are you in touch with your union?

Hi. - I work in HR so have lots of experience of referring staff to Occ Health.

What your manager will be wanting to know is 1) what is the likely timescale for a return to work (eg so they can organise appropriate cover and know roughly when to expect you back) and 2) whether any reasonable adjustments could be made to support you in returning to work. If you're not fit to work in any capacity at the mo it might be too early for the dr to suggest any RAs so you'll probably be referred back to them when you're ready to start thinking about a return to work.

It's really nothing to worry about, just focus on yourself and your treatment, wishing you all the best x

Thank you all for your advice.

I'm extremely grateful to work in a reasonably well paid profession and I'm aware that my half pay is actually someone's yearly pay. But I have taken very little time off sick over the past 24 years. I have been loyal and dedicated in my profession, even when I was a single parent to 2 small boys.

I know that means nothing but I can't believe how upset it has made me. I know it's a very emotional time and my stress levels are high.

To make matters worse another colleague at work has also found out she has breast cancer.

Yes I'm in contact with my union but only to clarify long term sickness allowances so far.

I've been off long term sick in the past - it was quite early I was referred to oh (even though they knew I wasn't returning anytime soon).
Definitely as previous poster said contact your union so they have a paper trail (it was invaluable to me further down the line).
Re money - benefits (uc, esa, pip) may be worth applying for. Pip is not means tested.
Cancer charities may be able to help with this also try entitled to website. I also got referred by my union to their charity and got a lump sump specifically for bills. Also you'll find that it doesn't quite drop by half because pension contributions and tax etc will be reduced too.
Hope all goes well with treatment, make sure you take the time you need, look at phased returns and as previous poster said you can always go back off sick.

In my experience occupation health looked at specialty pieces to assist with return to work, with the potential for arm weakness; ergonomic chairs and desks, different keyboards, laser pointers, exemptions to dress code etc.

You are of course perfectly within your rights to feel upset, with everything you’re going through. But OH is there to identify support you might need, there’s no reason to be upset at the referral. It’s a good thing. And similarly, there’s no reason to be upset about your sick pay reducing in a few months’ time. Yes obviously it’s hard not to be earning at your usual levels because you can’t work, but you’ve got six months at full pay, and seemingly the possibility of requesting even more, which is fantastic really, and you’ve also got plenty of time before it might decrease to save what you can and look into anything else you can do to ease the burden financially.