Hi Michelle,

In a previous life I was a local government manager who undertook a number of investigations into grievances, disciplinaries and sickness procedures leading in some cases to dismissal, one of the reasons I packed it in, couldn't face doing nasty things to people whether they deserved it or not!

It sounds to me like a case of the managment and HR being particularly rubbish in their procedures and record keeping which have to be done meticulously. Failure in procedure is one of the main reasons for cases being dismissed and your union rep (another role I've done!) should be picking big fat holes in this. If the managment are not bending over backwards to do everything they should be to support you in your job, or they are failing to comply with their own procedures you are in a strong position. The only problem is it may not feel like it to you and it takes a lot of energy to go through what seems like never ending meetings and complicated processes.

Hope you've got yourself an experienced rep or full time union official to support and represent you through this, it makes a lot of difference. Best of luck Michelle, rooting for you, stay strong.

Sara

Well this might sound nevtive but i was really knocked for 6 on my first flare leading up too it .i guessd i had R.A .carried on working .
knowing if i was on my feet all day i would be finding it hard .So was asking for very funny jobs to do knowing i could sit and do them they must had thought i was a nut case .As knowing break time and then doing the ( dinners and feeding ) i could get though the shift in the nurseing home .
Stupid really .Thinking i really needed to work as my son had started uni .
Then it hit me as i had done too much and had fevers with swelled joints and could hardley dress my self .So thinking as soon as i get the hospital app i can get a pill
( i knew about MTX ) and back to work i go .But it did not work like that .I was well over a year before i could walk any disance do housework etc .

So after 14 weeks with the O.T who was wonderful had to get me sorted .I spoke about going back to work to her as i worked for 37 yrs and came to the distioson
that i would not go back as for the sickness .I know if i pushed it i would be off sick and plus employers are not so kind as profets meant working enough for 2 people
and low wages there where other jobs like sitting with people but then i would get asked the impossable .As even off sick they asked me to work doing driving .
( carers work is 24/7 never stops )I knew what and where they would ask me to do as been in the trade donkeys years .So i just went on incapatisty benfit and did have Dla short while .
With carefull planing my husband kinds of keeps me and the house .And i now enjoy my remission from R.A and also finding out i had overlaps its silly to work .
So now on incapatisy you are allowed to earn .I do odd jobs and look after my friends perants in 90s .You can earn up to something like £80 on top of incapasty .

i would rather do this then go out to work with a boss in charge telling me what to do .As i do every thing at my own pace now which fagique i work round it .
and if i don,t feel the ticket i can catch up .And working my socks of making sickness just round corner .As for my son well he has just done his masters he lived on a loan and managed his money very well for a then 19 yr old boy and got a job to help which helped matters this last year as Masters theres is no loan but he saved some back and eant some and we had a bit saved for him .Thats done he now starting a PHD which is paid he is on the dole and houseing benfit at the moment .So life works round .

As for the r.a i have overlaps as well so if i flare every thing flares .So i think working is compleatley out for me even now i feel quite good .

i will get the state penson in 5 yrs

done my bit

Christine ....