How can I protect my job during bad flares -Im 27 | Arthritis Information

 

I do not want disability nor do I feel like I need to be on it. But here is my situation - I work for an airline doing reservations so I type A LOT and talk. In the last 3 months I have had 1 MAJOR (3+ week sinus infection that required two rounds of different antibiotics that left me sick and bedridden), one bad staph infection in my nose RIGHT after my sinus infection that required hospitalization and 2 trips the the ER and last week I got another sinus infection.

I have exhausted all FMLA leave, sick leave, and dropped from full time to part time to protect my job but my company doesnt want me working if I cant give them 100% and this last week I was off Enbrel for a week to see what the sinus infection did and I had probably the worst arthritis flare that I have had in 6 months happen. I had to take narcotics to even move and couldnt type as my joints were so bad, numb, painful, swollen you name it. From my shoulders to my pinky tips -- BAD.

I am afraid that just because I have a day or two every other month that my company is going to can my a$$ to put it mildy. They have an EXTREMELY EXTREMELY strict absence policy and once your Family Medical Leave time is gone they could care less about writing you up even if you are immobilized.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to protect my job???? I need this job for at least two more years while my husband finishes school. I have worked for this company nearly 9 years and started just after high school. I never had problems like this until the last two years.

When I am having a flare I cant do much but sit there but if the pain medicine is required then I sometimes just have to lay down to ride out the pain and nausea.

Any ideas? I am fine like 95% of the time its just those few days every other month but my company is about to put me into steps of discipline.

:(
Just be honest Abby, its the best policy, maybe make an appt to see someone in Human resources, do you belong to a union, try every avenue, you might be pleasantly surprised, once they know its a real issue, I think they may admire your stoicism and bravery, best of luck, Janie.  Any chance of flexitime? I have no words to help...... just sending best wishes....  and that I hope you find a solution.

So sorry you just cannot catch a break. What about the Americans With Disabilities Act? Is there anything in that which would protect you? I really don't know. Maybe you could google it.[QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]So sorry you just cannot catch a break. What about the Americans With Disabilities Act? Is there anything in that which would protect you? I really don't know. Maybe you could google it.[/QUOTE] Hi,  I'm sorry to hear about this and the stress cannot be helping your situation.  RA is covered under the ADA and I think it may offer some protection, but I think you need to ask for a reasonable accomodation from your employer.  That is where it gets tricky because the accomodation (whatever that may end up being) is not designed to be a hardship on the employer.  It's a very confusing law and I may be not understanding it well myself.  Perhaps you could see a good labor attorney for guidance.  I think I would if go to an attorney for help with this.  Good luck and I hope it all works out soon...HGI am so sorry you have been bombarded with illness like you have and then have the stress of job security/lack of security on top of all that.

My best wishes for a speedy resolution and a return to good health. Shug

I wonder if a letter from your RD would do anything to secure your job.  The only bad thing is...if they want to get rid of you bad enough, they will find a reason.  Good luck.

Phats

Just a thought if i can explain this correctly. If you have used all of your FMLA. Seems like all of you previous misses were do to an infection. Sometimes having them lumped as one on going illness can buy you a few days. That is if you have point system. Once in the past they were giving me a point along with each FMLA. It turned out by lumping them as one ongoing illness I had about five extra days. Not alot of help but something.I am not sure just how much help I can offer you but I do know that RA is covered under the ADA Iamnot sure just what protection it offers you.  I do know that your employer must accomadate you to a certain extent so that you can perform the duties of your job. Went through this myself not to far back and I ended up sitting down with the head  HR admin and my supervisor to work out an accomadations plan that worked for me. It was not easy or pleasant and I ended up on the bad side of my supervisor to some extent but I was ablet o have the accomadations needed to do my job.
I wish you  all the best as I know how hard it can be.  Please keep us posted as to how it goes.
This is a real bummer. It is too bad that your employer is not more sympathetic to your situation. Is there anyone in HR that you can talk to? Seems to me if they understand what is going on, they will support you. Is there another job that you could work within the company that may be easier on you? I feel bad and wish you luck. So sorry to  hear of your problems with your employer. I went through a  similar issue a few months back with my employer. I can tell you from experience that RA is covered under the ADA. Your employer must make reasonable accommodations for you so that you can perform your duties at work. You might have a talk with your HR admin. It is what I  did and we sat down with  my immediate supervisor and hammered out an accommodation  plan that worked for me. I wasn't in the good graces of my supervisor after that but it accomplished what it  needed to get done so I could perform my job.
 I wish you the best of luck in your situation. Don't give up and please let us know how things are going for you.

Had to  come back and fix all those typos :(
mom2threeinaz2009-08-21 21:58:07
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