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Advice Needed

Posted , 7 users are following.

alison_44707
alison_44707

Hi

I'm after some advice please. I am finally throwing in the towel after being the victim of bullying in the workplace which has gone on for 6 months. I fought back for as long as I could but no longer can as its really affecting my health. My fibro has become really bad due to this. I'm currently signed off sick and am going to see my solicitor tomorrow to see whether I can do a settlement agreement or whether I have to leave on the basis of being bullied which I would then I guess take them to a tribunal. Whatever way it goes I'm going to be unemployed and have never been in my entire life before. I know if I can't find a job straightaway I could get job seekers allowance and also help with my rent but is there any other financial help I can get as my fibro has never been so bad. I'm relieved I'm no longer going to be working for such vile people anymore as it has affected me quite bad. Although it's only become a horrible place to work since it was sold to new owners. I've become so stressed, so emotional, i started to doubt I was capable of doing the job I worked so hard at for 6 years. I am rather worried about my financial situation though which is why I'm wanting some advice.

Any help would be greatly appreciated x

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • sandra28555
    sandra28555 alison_44707

    Posted

    I am not sure where you live but in the USA we are able to file for disability if your job has that much of am impact on you. There is no guarantee you will get it but it is an option. There is no way I could work at this time in my life. My pain is so intense I can hardly stand it. 
  • victoria_59764
    victoria_59764 alison_44707

    Posted

    I'm so so saddened to read your story. Some people have no idea of the impact their foul actions can have on someone. I think you've made the right decision 100%. Take the company for as much as you can.

    I'm not much help at all but I would definately contact citizens advice. They will direct you to all the right places and give you relevant contact details.

    Sorry I'm not much more help, but I wish you all the very best and hope justice prevails.

    I'm also suffering with dreadful symptoms at the moment and I've been advised it could be fibro. It's just so so painful and frustrating so feel for you!

    Take care

    Best wishes

    Vicky xxxx

    • alison_44707
      alison_44707 victoria_59764

      Posted

      Hi Vicky

      Thanks for your message. No people don't realise the impact their foul actions can have on a person. 

      Hope you you feel better x

  • pollmadoll64
    pollmadoll64 alison_44707

    Posted

    Have you had an official diagnosis. If you have you could apply for ESA or PIPS. You will need a lot of documentary evidence. Well done for taking the big decision to leave and not have to put up with it anymore. I walked  out on a verbally abusive bullying marriage,  20 weeks pregnant and had a three year old as well. It has been very tough but it was the best decision I ever made twelve years ago. I have had Fibromyalgia for over 9 years now. 
    • alison_44707
      alison_44707 pollmadoll64

      Posted

      Hi Pollmadoll64

      yep I have had an official diagnosis. I only got diagnosed in January 2016 but was determined I was going to carry on as normal and not let this pain beat me but due to their vile treatment it has for the meantime. Looks like you also made the right decision. We can only take so much of people's disgusting behavior. Thank you very much for your advice and I will look into it x

  • Boqer
    Boqer alison_44707

    Posted

    Hi Alison 

    I'm very sorry to hear about your experiences at work, there are no words for people's behaviour sometimes!

    You can apply for ESA and PIP, they both work on a points based system (supposedly) and it depends on what problems you have as to how many points you are awarded. If you have sufficient points then you get the relevant benefit. For example, if you can't do up back fastening clothes so only wear front fastening things you get some points. All this will be explained to you with your forms, but the citizens advice will be able to help you.

    If you ever go back to work you won't be entitled to any ESA, but you are still entitled to PIP.

    It is a reasonably long and sometimes stressful procedure getting these benefits as you need to go for an assessment for each, this will be with a nurse, and if they refuse you the benefit but you feel you are entitled to it and should have been awarded sufficient points, then you can appeal and go to a tribunal.

    I hope this helps

    hugs

  • kaz_40
    kaz_40 alison_44707

    Posted

    Hi alison44707 Im so sorry to hear what has been happening to you, they shouldnt be allowed to get away with it disgusting treatment of you. shocking terrible behaviour by your employers. citizens advice bureau can help where benefits are concerned and help with form filling so contact your local office. You can claim pip and esa.take care
  • alison_44707
    alison_44707

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    Thank you all for your replies. This will be easier for me to ask as a question in whole to you all rather than each individual person. 

    Have any any of you had any experience with a company called fight back 4 justice? They are a non profit community interest group offering expert welfare benefit advice & help with advocacy / forms for PIP / ESA / DLA.

    I stumbled across these on the Internet and just wondering if anyone has had any dealings with them. Apparently they are better than CAB for the form filling

    thanks

    Alison x

  • charlotte1824
    charlotte1824 alison_44707

    Posted

    Hi Alison, firstly im so sorry your going through this, having an illness is bad enough without added stress and upset from being bullied.

    Im pretty certain that emplyoment law takes it very seriously if you have a diagnosed illness and are purposely being pushed out and treated unfairly so I would definitely contact a solicitor, the CAB and anyone that you think could offer some legal help.

    Perhaps you should write down now if you havent already as much as you can remember including dates etc of thier behaviour along with any times you have been off work due to the illness/drs appointments etc as i imagine you will need this information. Also I would write down how your illness if at all has affected your work, if you have still manged to do your job as well as you were doing it before then they have absolutely no defence.

    • alison_44707
      alison_44707 charlotte1824

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte

      Thanks for your reply. Yep I have a log of every incident that has happened and my solicitor has everything too as she has been advising me what to do every step of the way when they hand me stupid disciplinary letters for the most ridiculous things. They are really clutching at straws with me as they are even now making false allegations which they are very silly as I have even given the proof to my solicitor and the HR lady gave it to me 🙈 I've even got proof on paper to show they had been planning on getting me out since last year which they don't know I have as my solicitor has always advised to keep it under my hat for now.

      just see what my solicitor comes up with today as I have made her aware I don't want to no longer work there. I'm hoping they will go into a settlement agreement with me and I want to see if I can use the proof they were planning on getting rid of me as a kinda black mail to get the money I deserve but if not then I am left with no option but to take them to a tribunal and my solicitor has already said I have a very strong case.

      thank you for your advice as really appreciated

      thanks Alison x

    • charlotte1824
      charlotte1824 alison_44707

      Posted

      Oh good, im so glad you have a good solicitor and alot of information backing you. It sounds like you have a strong case and hopefully you will get a large enough settlement to allow you some recouperation time and not have to worry. Its very unfair that they have treated you so badly and im pleased that your not going to have to deal with them for much longer as I can imagine the stress is really aggrivating your fibro. 

      Good luck x

  • Maggers
    Maggers alison_44707

    Posted

    bullying in the workplace will be covered under the grievance procedure. You could bring a case if the bullying forces you out of work.  Good that your doctor signed you off for a while and great to take further advice from your solicitor.  I had similar experiences with a new member of staff.  The bosses never dealt with it and I ended up having to deal with it myself - it could have gone either way but fortunately the person concerned once confronted agreed she had serious problems with anger and how she related to both work colleagues and family but all this had serious implications on my health and wellbeing - the bosses just thought if it was ignored it would go away and apparently it was my fault because she was younger than me -  quite what difference that made I am not sure!  I ended up sourcing therapy for her - relationship with her can still be rocky but credit to her she has attended therapy so there may be improvements to come.  Worth trying to claim PIP, if you are unsure get help in completing the forms. All I would say is document absolutely everything however trivial it may seem. I have a diary of incidents and responses from managment. Vital in case it goes further.

    Good luck.

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