health at work

[pedro1888]

i have type 2 diabetes,and on insulin.i am coming up for 50 and work as hard as i can.my supervisor says my production should be higher.i dont no if i can improve as already feel at my max.threatened with warning in future.where would i stand legally is illness taken into account.thanks anyone.

[buildersmate]

Pedro. Sorry to learn of your difficulties. The short answer is that I'm afraid your employer could eventually decide to dismiss you on grounds of capability. Whether this happens depends on your employer, its policies and in particular its approach to granting early retirement. There is an ACAS Code of Practice in relation to managing these situations (primarily aimed at employers) so it would be a good idea to get hold of a copy (from CAB).
Suggest also you read the attached link - go down the page to paragraph 8 where it covers "Development of a condition which affects performance in a particular post but which does not, necessarily, affect attendance at work".
This is just one organisation's approach to managing such situations - but it clearly follows the ACAS Code.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/humanresources/c apabilityprocedure.htm

[buildersmate]

Well the link worked when I set it up, but they've changed it. Its now here.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/humanresources/p oliciesandprocedures/a-g/capabilityprocedures/ #d.en.33396

[EverClean]

It's one of these grey areas with regards employment. Did you have diabetes when you started there? Did you disclose it to your employer? Does the diabetes affect your production levels? Are your levels markedly lower than those of your fellow workers? Have your production levels got worse recently? What have they done to help you improve your levels?

A decent company would work with you and your illness. Just a statement that you are not at the required level and no more isn't sufficient. Remember that they went down the road of recruiting, selecting and training you for the required job role and they have a large degree of responsibility with regards ensuring that you are able to fulfil their requirements. If they went down the road of dismissing you for this wouldn't want to be in the local paper as "Company sacks man becasue he has diabetes."

Try agreeing a meeting with your supervisor and coming up with an action plan of how you are able to increase your production level. The supervisor needs to have a degree of input as to what he and the company are going to do to help you increase your production levels.

[EverClean]

Also try posting in Jobs & Education and/or Law for more answers from AB'ers.

[factor-fiction]

I suggest you read up on Disability Discrimination Act. I'm no expert but I'm sure employers have to make reasonable allowances for disabilties including diabetes.

[factor-fiction]

Might be worth asking about Disability Disc Act on Law page of AnswerBank as the lawyers read that