mouse_chalk
Well-Known Member
Mean?
Its the nicest word I can think of I can use on this forum to describe them...... :?
Basically, I think some of you read the post I made a while ago saying that I may be made redundant? It's definately happening, on the 8th September I think. I've been told what my pay out will be, etc etc....
Bit of background- I've worked in Customer Services as a trainer/coach for a big mobile phone network for 4 years now, but due to health reasons I've been unable to work for the past year. My employers have been less than supportive throughout- before I went off sick, I would be throwing up, nearly falling over, having 'spinning' episodes, etc, all at work during the day. Whenever I spoke to my manager about it, she would just say 'well, as long as you can complete your targets for this week, that's all that matters'
Eventually, I just became so stressed and sick that I couldn't get out of bed without falling over, was constantly vomiting, and just couldn't physically go into work.
They never, EVER believed me. Every time I spoke to my manager, or to Occupational Health (who were supposed to be independant and on MY side), they'd say things like 'well, if at age 23, you can't work in a call centre, maybe you need to find somewhere you can work!' etc etc... My manager once said to me, in a meeting, most sarcastically, 'oh, wouldn't it be terrible, if you didn't get better and had to claim disability living allowance and all that?'. They made me see an 'independant' doctor, who just basically told me that he didn't believe there was anything wrong with me, and reminded me that if I didn't go back to work, I'd be sacked, and what would I do then? All along, I keep getting reminded that I could be sacked at any time...
Well, one year on, I AM claiming Disability Living Allowance. I've been awarded the higher level Mobility Component, due to the fact that I generally can't leave the house on my own due to the risk of falling, and being unable to walk very far at all, and the middle Care Component, due to the fact that I am at risk of falling and injuring myself at home etc. It's good news in that I'm getting financial support, but at the same time, at 24, it's not really where I saw myself being!
Anyway, my work have had this insurance claim going, for income protection, and the claim started back in December I think. I had someone come out to my house a couple of times and ask me a million questions about my illness, how it affects my ability to do my job, how it affects my daily job, etc etc. I've heard nothing for months from them now.
But, the other day, I get a letter, special delivery, from work. It includes the insurance company's decision- they aren't liable! They say, and I qoute: 'Miss XXX is, in our opinion, able to carry out the substantial duties of her job and doesn't appear to live a restricted lifestyle'. Therefore, my employers wanted to invite me for a 'formal meeting under the company's long-term abscence policy'. This is the meeting where they can sack me if I 'refuse to return to work'.... :?
Luckily, there's an option to appeal to the insurance company, if you feel that the decision is unfair in any way, or that there is further evidence to consider. I've told my employers that I will be appealing, citing my DLA (Disability Living Allowance) assessment as further evidence. They used letters from my doctor and a medical report to make their decision, same as the insurance company, so how can the 2 be so different in outcomes? Luckily, that's managed to postpone the meeting (which was due to be next Tuesday) until the result of the appeal, which hopefully coould take weeks.
I also found out though, that legally they aren't allowed to sack me, unless for reasons of gross misconduct, now that they've already announced and confirmed my redundancy. So I'm all ready to go and see an employment law solicitor should they try to do so- it looks like to me and everyone else I've told that they want to try and screw me out of my redundancy package....
It's just sooooo stressful. I've had nothing but..... *rubbish* from this company for the past year, and it's just getting me down beyond all reason now. I am seriously counting down the days until I can be free of them and not have to endure their horrible spiteful, sarcastic phonecalls, and their invites to a meeting, into the building where none of my colleagues and previous friends will even look me in the eye, because they've all been told, and believe that there's nothing wrong with me and I'm making it all up.... :in tears::in tears::in tears:
Also, I just want to add, that I'm not just trying to screw them out of the money. In fact, the money is second to the fact that I will be free of them, but I can't pretend it doesn't matter, when it does. After I'm made redundant I don't know when I'll be able to work again and will be surviving purely on benefits, so I have to protect my interests....
I just want it all to be over- NOW!!!!
Sorry this was so long- thanks for letting me rant, anyone who has managed to read all this!!! :shock:
Its the nicest word I can think of I can use on this forum to describe them...... :?
Basically, I think some of you read the post I made a while ago saying that I may be made redundant? It's definately happening, on the 8th September I think. I've been told what my pay out will be, etc etc....
Bit of background- I've worked in Customer Services as a trainer/coach for a big mobile phone network for 4 years now, but due to health reasons I've been unable to work for the past year. My employers have been less than supportive throughout- before I went off sick, I would be throwing up, nearly falling over, having 'spinning' episodes, etc, all at work during the day. Whenever I spoke to my manager about it, she would just say 'well, as long as you can complete your targets for this week, that's all that matters'
Eventually, I just became so stressed and sick that I couldn't get out of bed without falling over, was constantly vomiting, and just couldn't physically go into work. They never, EVER believed me. Every time I spoke to my manager, or to Occupational Health (who were supposed to be independant and on MY side), they'd say things like 'well, if at age 23, you can't work in a call centre, maybe you need to find somewhere you can work!' etc etc... My manager once said to me, in a meeting, most sarcastically, 'oh, wouldn't it be terrible, if you didn't get better and had to claim disability living allowance and all that?'. They made me see an 'independant' doctor, who just basically told me that he didn't believe there was anything wrong with me, and reminded me that if I didn't go back to work, I'd be sacked, and what would I do then? All along, I keep getting reminded that I could be sacked at any time...
Well, one year on, I AM claiming Disability Living Allowance. I've been awarded the higher level Mobility Component, due to the fact that I generally can't leave the house on my own due to the risk of falling, and being unable to walk very far at all, and the middle Care Component, due to the fact that I am at risk of falling and injuring myself at home etc. It's good news in that I'm getting financial support, but at the same time, at 24, it's not really where I saw myself being!
Anyway, my work have had this insurance claim going, for income protection, and the claim started back in December I think. I had someone come out to my house a couple of times and ask me a million questions about my illness, how it affects my ability to do my job, how it affects my daily job, etc etc. I've heard nothing for months from them now.
But, the other day, I get a letter, special delivery, from work. It includes the insurance company's decision- they aren't liable! They say, and I qoute: 'Miss XXX is, in our opinion, able to carry out the substantial duties of her job and doesn't appear to live a restricted lifestyle'. Therefore, my employers wanted to invite me for a 'formal meeting under the company's long-term abscence policy'. This is the meeting where they can sack me if I 'refuse to return to work'.... :?
Luckily, there's an option to appeal to the insurance company, if you feel that the decision is unfair in any way, or that there is further evidence to consider. I've told my employers that I will be appealing, citing my DLA (Disability Living Allowance) assessment as further evidence. They used letters from my doctor and a medical report to make their decision, same as the insurance company, so how can the 2 be so different in outcomes? Luckily, that's managed to postpone the meeting (which was due to be next Tuesday) until the result of the appeal, which hopefully coould take weeks.
I also found out though, that legally they aren't allowed to sack me, unless for reasons of gross misconduct, now that they've already announced and confirmed my redundancy. So I'm all ready to go and see an employment law solicitor should they try to do so- it looks like to me and everyone else I've told that they want to try and screw me out of my redundancy package....
It's just sooooo stressful. I've had nothing but..... *rubbish* from this company for the past year, and it's just getting me down beyond all reason now. I am seriously counting down the days until I can be free of them and not have to endure their horrible spiteful, sarcastic phonecalls, and their invites to a meeting, into the building where none of my colleagues and previous friends will even look me in the eye, because they've all been told, and believe that there's nothing wrong with me and I'm making it all up.... :in tears::in tears::in tears:
Also, I just want to add, that I'm not just trying to screw them out of the money. In fact, the money is second to the fact that I will be free of them, but I can't pretend it doesn't matter, when it does. After I'm made redundant I don't know when I'll be able to work again and will be surviving purely on benefits, so I have to protect my interests....
I just want it all to be over- NOW!!!!
Sorry this was so long- thanks for letting me rant, anyone who has managed to read all this!!! :shock:
