Some advice, please
- By Furry
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Fri 4 Jul 2008 22:32
Hello out there
This is my first post, so please be gentle. I have a little problem at work and I really don't know what to do or where to turn to.
My wife has post natal depression, which has been going on for 2.5 years (since the birth of our first child). Although she has been pretty bad, things were ok over the last year. However, the last few weeks she has deteriorated to the point where I have needed to come home from work quite regularly. (I worked 2 complete weeks out of the last 11).
Now my employer has give me three options:
1) Find someone else to care for my wife
2) Transfer to a part time job within the company (they are a national company so this could be anywhere)
3) Force them to terminate my contract.I want to know if this approach by them is legal and what I can do about it.
Any help and advice much appreciated.
Thanks guys
Jeff.
Replies
- By fenlander
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Re: Some advice, please
Sat 5 Jul 2008 01:04Gosh -you must be overwhelmed.
Firstly you are 100% right to put your wife first.
I can see both points of view because it is obviously seriously affecting your ability to do the job and whatever the legalities some agreement or compromise will have to be reached.
Why not talk to Citizens Advice - they should be able to advise you on the legalities.
Has something triggered your wife's relapse in the past weeks?
Would a short period of leave enable you to sort something out?
- By moonstar
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Re: Some advice, please
Sat 5 Jul 2008 01:42Sorry to hear that things are so difficult at the moment. Im sure that your situation at work isnt helping things either.
Is your wife on medication for her post-natal depression? If she is, it would be worth getting it reviewed - I take anti-depressants myself and my GP regularly reviews and even changes them if they dont seem to be working.
It might also be worth having a word with the Health Visitor - she needs to be aware of the situation, and she may be able to offer some assistance with getting some sort of help for your wife.
Do you have Sure-Start in your area (I live in Northern Ireland and we have it, but dont know if it is everywhere). They offer assistance to families with children under 5 - can be befriending services, help in the house, and sometimes mums and toddlers groups. It may be something to look into - the Health Visitor should know if any services like this are available in your area.
I think you should speak to someone at Citizens Advice - take a copy of your employment contract if you have it, and ask them to advise you on the legality of what your employer is suggesting.
I hope some of these suggestions help.
Please take care of yourself as well as your wife - your family need you to be in good health mentally and physically.
Come into the chat room sometime - Im sure that you will get lots of good advice - and you will definitely get a lot of support from everyone.
All the best.
- By Hippyp
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Re: Some advice, please
Sun 6 Jul 2008 19:04Are you in a union. If so ask their advice. If not join 1. When I was having problems with the company I worked for I found their help invaluable. I was havinf to take time off for my son who sectioned under the mental health act 3 years ago. Then again when he came home. Again cos of caring for my son & their treatment of me, which was not very sympathetic to say the least. My own mental health started to suffer cos of their treatment.
Without help from the union the company's behaviour would have been worse.
Try help from the union.
Also try to remember No job is worth sressing over. I have learnt that lesson.Good luck.
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