Working full time with long-term health issues

[Donkeysocks]

I'm a mum and I have rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy and neurological issues.

Part time jobs are so unbelievably rare and I really miss working. I have been unemployed for a year (redundancy). I've applied for Full Time and requested Part Time and it's always been denied. (Only from 37.5 to 30 hours) and also remote working / hybrid doesn't really work in my industry. It's generally refused (and doesn't work anyway)

So with all that in mind, my only options are working full time or not at all. I'm bored, lonely and isolated without a job. I miss having colleagues.

Has anyone got any tips for managing health issues, full time work and children? (Primary school age)

Thanks, :)

I can't help with adding the children (mine are long since flown the nest - unless you include my service dog!) but I have serious disabilities and work full time. That said, it's hard to advise because it depends on what you do, what kind of work, with what kind of employer. If you could help with a bit more detail I may be able to suggest several strategies - including how to get part-time hours! But it does depend a lot of what you are looking for.

As you have recognised disabilities you can apply for reasonable adjustments in the workplace, such as a specialised chair to help your arthritis, flexible start and finish times, regular breaks, working from home days where needed. It is literally discrimination if a company doesn’t provide you with some support for you to be able to do your job whilst having a disability. What industry do you work in?

If you aren’t civil service then look at Access to Work online, they will help. If you are Civil Service then they have to put things in place for you.

What do you want to do for a job? I've been working as nhs admin for 30hrs for nearly 10yrs. This is my 3rd job at 30hrs. All have been advertised at 30hrs.

It is literally discrimination if a company doesn’t provide you with some support for you to be able to do your job whilst having a disability.

It literally isn't. Employers only have to make reasonable adjustments and that is specific to the employee, the employer, and the role. If the adjustment isn't deemed reasonable they don't have to provide that support. It is technically possible for an employer to provide no support at all and still be within the law. I would love to be an astronaut, but I am pretty positive that won't be happening and it isn't discrimination that they can't make adjustments to support my disability.

Depending on your needs, Access to Work might be able to fund certain adjustments or support - eg transport costs if you can't drive due to disability.

I've rhematoid arthritis and not worked since diagnosis (about a year and a half) I'm pretty stable ish on biologics touch wood I've just got a part time job with the civil service; Its hybrid so some time in office and some at home, will be computer based.

I'm quite apprehensive about working with having RA but I need to work so hoping for the best. I'm just going through occupational health assessments now so think I will be given a special chair etc to help.

Theyve been really flexible about hours and days worked so hoping it works out

I’m in civil service and there are lots of part time jobs and many are hybrid working (40% in office). If you have a disability they’ll need to consider reasonable adjustments advised by occupational health.
what kind of roles are you looking for?