Hi,
i'm new here and really haven't got a clue what to actually do but i really needed someone to help/talk to. So basically my issue is that i have been working with a store for almost 2 years now and they are unaware of my arthritis. I kept it off my CV because whenever i would involve it i wouldn't hear anything back. And with doing that i actually ended up getting this job.. Now i really enjoy this job and i really feel part of the family.. but i feel like im not who i say i am and that im a liar just because i kept my arthritis a secret. I really dont know what to do and whether telling them now would end up on me getting fired or not.. I really dont know what to do.. Does anyone have any experience in working in retail with arthritis that they can help me out with??
Thanks a lot
May
Hi not really sure why you feel the need to tell them, you have been there two years without it being a problem and its not illegal to not declare you have it and its not communicable so why do you feel the need, I worked for numerous companies including lorry driving and never told anyone I had RA or UC, do you need to know if your co workers suffer with health issues, not really so don't worry, its not a lie its just something that we live with.
Surely it depends what country you are in? In the UK at least there are laws governing disability discrimination and employers earn brownie points for employing people to contribute to having apercentage of such employees. And they have responsibilities too - providing assistance where needed so you can continue working or not counting any sick leave due to the condition in a sick leave record. It does work two ways. You have proved it makes no difference to your work record generally - but having such protection may be useful in the future. If you are in the UK, does your employer have an Occupational Health department or contract with a company providing such a service? HR should provide that sort of support.
Hi I have worked in retail all my life and have had ra since. 1989 when I was a store manager. I tried to continue on as normal, but ended up leaving my job and going to work in a factory where I would be sitting down all day. Most of the pain at that time was in my feet. However the problems soon involved my fingers and I felt trapped. Seemed there was no job I could do where ra would not affect me in some way. I eventually returned to my manager job and continued to work full time for as long as possible, but eventually I had to cut my working hours to part time. I found like you, that if I mentioned my condition I didn’t even get so far as an interview, at one particular supermarket when applying for a checkout operator position, I was told I wasn’t suitable. ( I had been in retail management for 15 years at that time ) . If you have been in your job for a while I don’t think you can lose that job on the grounds that you did not mention it. Did your application form ask if you had any disabilities? Employers are very aware these days not to discriminate against people with disabilities, and I think that as long as you are performing your job to the best of your ability you should be ok .
Hello I don't see you as a liar. I started a new job last year that is physically demanding. After the first week I coukd barely walk because my hands and feet were blown up although it took 3 mintgs to find out I had RA I never told anyone at work because it's none of their business. I performed on the job and cried on my way home each because of all the pain I had