Employment Questions

Yup. I was laid off from my job almost 6 months after my diagnosis. I had missed less than a week total through surgery and treatment and worked from home on those days. It was a complete shock to me and my co-workers.

I was the first person to ever have been laid off at the small (50 employee) company in the multisport industry and definitely believe that their uneasiness with my diagnosis was a consideration. I did consult an attorney but decided that the stress of legal action would do me more harm than good.

I am now working part-time and coaching a few athletes. Way less stressful and probably better for me in the long run.

Thanks for starting this thread. I was also let go because of cancer and subsequent problems. When dx'd, i took a year off, unpaid except for what pto (about 10 months worth) I had accumulated. My boss was very understanding (another survivor), but then she accepted another position in another state. As my year leave was approaching to a close, I was released to return to work with some limitations. I was told they could not accommodate the restrictions (fewer hours, less lifting) for a short time, and was terminated. Completely blindsided me. I did speak to a lawyer and said that I did have a case, but to also  file with EEOC. Did hear from EEOC and they are will pursue a disability discrimination suit against them. Had been a 12 year employee with this healthcare company and had been considered a  very good employee. We'll see where it goes.

My position was moved to another state effective March 1. During the two week transition period that I was asked to stay for, annual bonus was awarded and the final swing was the lowest performance rating possible. My diagnosis was 8/2011 and I worked all through chemo, did not miss any days other than treatment days. I had a tough time in Radiation and was off 4 weeks. In the interim, they doubled my workload and I was symptomatic of new issues from before I started Rads. Drs kept looking for stage IV, but finally we confirmed it was gallbladder 10 months later. Many positions from my company have moved to Dallas and I was ready for that and thankful to have hair and a return to better health. I was shocked that they could backhand with performance stuff without ever having a conversation.

It's never too late. It may be an uphill battle documenting that you can't work but it costs nothing to try. What about unemployment while you figure out what to do?

I'm so nervous at my job. I took 6 weeks STD after my mastectomy. I had planned on coming back in 3 weeks but had problems with recovery. I was paid 100% STD.. I get 24 weeks a year in Short Term Disability.... 12 weeks at 100% pay and the other 14 weeks at 60%.  great right??!  I'm scare because they are supportive but I'm starting to feel like they are plotting. 

I'm now doing chemo and I still have sick time and PTO time. I've been here over 16 yrs and have a lot of leave. So I planned my chemo treatments on Thursday mornings, come in and take Fridays off using my leave. My boss went into HR and asked about me going on on STD until my chemo is over. I have 6 months CMF treatments and they are every 3 weeks. My side effects have so far been doable.. I never asked her to go into HR for me.. Why???  it just seems like a setup

My accounts were left for me, not really touched, so when I got back to work in Jan it was madness. I worked late and is 85% made up but of course my boss questions why it's not up to my November numbers??!!! I'm shocked?? I'm the supervisor of the dept and I am now hearing "Well your numbers are the worse.. don't look good"  I have the biggest accounts to work on and although I get the "Please don't wear yourself out, you're work is here" I asked to work from home like before and that's not available anymore. I think they want to lay me off.. The last time I had chemo I was at work and the first day I feel nothing.. But my boss came over to me and insisted that I go home..She didin't want me being sick at work.. I was dumbfounded. I told her I was fine and that I was taking the next day (Friday) off.. She insist i leave early.. I ended up staying until 4:40... I left 20 mnutes early... I thought it was out of concern but the fact that she went to HR saying I was sick, leaves me to believe elsewise.. I get over a month and a half PTO plus sick time.. I have about 5 left to use before our fiscal year ends later this month.. I don't understand why she is overreacting

Next month I'm back to my 32 days.. and with me using 1 every 3 weeks until the end of July I'll stil have a bunch left.. I'm sooo scared..  

Capriness,

OMG your last boss sounds like what my boss is setting me up for. I can't believe that guy said "HE CAN'T GO THROUGH IT"...wow!!!!!    Well my boss is ultra supportive, sad eyes when she looks at me... She comes over often and ask if I'm okay. There's nothing wrong with me!!!. The last time I had chemo was 2/14 & it's doable. I'm nauseous a few days, take the anti nausea pills and I'm ok.. That's the worse side effect and I stay on top of it..  Why is she making me out to be so sick??  I spoke with HR and told them I'm fine, but she's making it sound as if I'm trying to be brave and I'm really suffering. So now everyone is walking on eggshells around me...I am glad I made sure to tell HR my side of this and when I go back to the Onco I will get something from the office explaining CMF  chemo..It's considered CHEMO light... 

Mr. Pelkey!  First of all, how are you feeling?  Second, really you had the energy to pursue a law degree during treatment ... you're my hero.  Such a story I have to tell you.  I am a nearly 20 year employee with my company and a 30 year veteran of the banking business.  In August of this year I will turn 58.  My bc diagnosis and treatment information is listed in my signature below.  This is my first post to any thread on this site, but what a worthwhile subject.

So many of us older survivors are suffering the effects of the downturn in the economy, company cutbacks and the inability to secure decent employment at 55+.  Since diagnosis, I have received the worst annual evaluation of my career, been threatened with pay reductions and am a constant victim of a thinly-veiled hostile work environment.  Though I am somewhat nearsighted - I am having no trouble reading the writing on the wall with regard to my employer's intentions for my future with our company.

To date, I have contacted an attorney who I guess thought I was small potatoes - charged me $400. for an hour consult - then said banks are notoriously bad employers in these cases.  No offer of guidance or opinion on the nature of complaint.  I have since filed an EEOC Intake Form and have asked for a conference before investigation or filing of charges.

I live in a small town in Colorado and there is not a single plaintiff's attorney in town.  Will have to go to Denver for any representation.  I'm sad that a 20-year career is going to end this way, and scared that at 58 no one would trade experience and treachery for youth and enthusiam...LOL.  I worked all the way through chemo and radiation and some days came to work when I should have stayed in bed.  So much for company loyalty and a commitment to service.

What is going to be your focus in the practice?  Employment Law?  Any suggestions for me?  Thanks so much for starting this thread!

I was let go from my job of 14 years yesterday.  It was part of a bigger company reorganization which including offering early retirement to those that were elgible.  I do get severance and my insurance will be covered over that time frame.  I knew that it was going to be me.  Most of my work had been taken away from me.  I am actually very glad it happened.  The stress was unbelievable.  I finished radiation at the end of January.  I am starting the Livestrong program at the Y on Friday.  I am going to use this time to get my life back. 

I too am very lucky in my work.  I have a ton of accrued sick time, (months) and needed to use only a little of it.  I took a couple of days for my LX and was able to work through radiation.  My schedule is flexible so I can arrange time off when I need it for appointments.  I was fortunate not to need chemo.  I've also been able to arrange things so that my LE related lifting restrictions are not a problem.

On the other hand, I have a co-worker who was dx'd 9 months after me who may well end up losing her job.  She (in spite of being here for many more years than I) had only a few weeks of leave when she got sick.  She's been on FMLA and just about has it exhaused. The administration will most likely not extend it.  They think, with some justice, that she has abused the system. And I'm afraid the compare her unfavorably to me and a couple others in our organization who were able to keep things together. I feel very sorry for her, I understand how hard it is to come back to work when you are feeling battered by the big C, (and most of her problems are "coping" rather than physical issues) I've been advocating for her where I can, but...

Never had a problem, instead I started a new career after my diagnosis, there is no reason to disclose ones health issues when looking for a job.

Even that I work in a cancer center, very few know I am a survivor, my personal life and professional are very separated from each other.

 For more information one can go on line to Cancer and Careers. Excellent  site.

I really need some advice on this. Last year i was out of work approximately 5 weeks for my bi-lateral mastectomy. Thankfully i did not need any rad or chemo. I returned to work and resumed my responsibilities. Just recently i met with my boss to ask for a raise as I had assumed additional responsibilities and workload. She gave me a number of reasons why not, but ended with "you were out a lot last year i couldnt possibly ask for a raise for you because of that" I couldnt believe she had said that. Some background..this is a huge healthcare company, i have always gotten stellar reviews, including my recent one and someone else in my area who was out on maternity 3x as long as me was promoted and given a big raise. I am in a quandry of what to do. I wrote her a letter and expressed how i felt and she responded with "she didnt intend to say that etc. But im still reeling from this. Any ideas?

Great thread! Even though it has only been 2 1/2 years, it still stings when I think about how I was treated at my job.



I worked at a small pediatric outpatient clinic as a speech therapist. They had a total of 12 employees in the therapy division and 110 in the adult/home behavioral unit ( patient load was primarily children/adults with autism). They were technically seperate companies. I had been there 9 months when I was diagnosed. I was upfront with them from the beginning.. My fellow therapists were amazing and helped me in every way. The managers....not so much. I minimized time off in the beginning for tests by scheduling them before work hours. I took only 3 days off after surgery. When I returned a had a doctors note explaining light duty. I spoke with them about taking some of the more active kiddos off my caseload for a few weeks. I had a tough caseload, many of my patients had severe behaviors like hitting. They didn't do it. I got punched in the chest on day two. I went to them again and had a more specific doctors note. They informed me that there was no such thing as light duty in the clinic and since they had under 15 employees they were exempt from many of the ADA rules. My jaw dropped. They looked that up? I knew I was in deep trouble after that point. I needed a job, I was in the middle of a divorce. I sucked it up and went back to work. Two weeks later my final pathology was ready and chemo was definitely happening. I went to them again and tried to work out a work schedule around chemo. They said, " we are worried we will lose clients when you start to look sick". I tried to keep it professional and held back the tears while I said that I would do my very best to not let my illness interfere. The hand writing was on the wall and in the next few weeks their behavior got worse. I realized they were setting me up to fire me, but to make it look like it was because of my work not illness. After speaking with the cancer center social worker about my rights, I gave my 2 weeks notice. She informed me that yes I could fight it, but at this point in my illness i needed to save my energy. I hated that they could do this to me when I was to sick to even fight for myself. I sent my résumé out and landed a job at another facility. I interviewed for 2 positions. I was honest at both. I didn't want to lie to them or get myself into the same situation. The company that hired me had 2 other therapists that went through BC so they did not even blink. I worked 35 hours a week most of the time and shortened my schedule to 27 during chemo weeks. Everyone knew I had cancer and the kids loved touching my head and watching my hair grow back. Work was my escape, and it kept me sane during that time.



The place that forced me out? 3 of the other therapists left within 3 months of me leaving ( they were disgusted with how I was treated). Many of the families I worked with left as well ( ha about them leaving because I was sick), because they were upset I was not there. The clinic closed it's doors one year after I left. I say it was KARMA.

I think it was here, that someone mentioned CancerandCareers. GREAT web site for all things employment Thanks. I added it to my thread for newbies Just diagnosed -get prepared. Also, found another web site today, that I have included the link for, it is evrything you would like to know about saving money on drugs. The question and answer below the links are in regard on how to make the system work for you re: meds received in a cancer center.

Edit:6/6/13 Found two new web sites that are a must to review. One is on saving money on drugs. Start with 'home" page , then the really helpful page is the "About Us" Pg. Link is to home pge.

www.needymeds.org/index.htm 

This next link is dedicated to most of the need to know info regarding work and cancer. BCO has much information on the main borad, but this link is much more expansive

www.cancerandcareers.org/en 

HAVE A CALL OUT TO MY RESOURCE PERSON:If you bring in the coupon taken from the web site to the cancer center, will/can  it be utilized to help pay copay ANSWER to question NO.

Per my resource: This is how to make the website work or other resources work for you while receiving cancer meds in a cancer center, SPEAK UP and let them know you need financial help, best to do when you have initial contact with CC. What they then do, if they are connected like mine, they go through their resources the same we would, but would be contacting as a a provider. Grant money or assistance can be available under all kinds of circumstances. Do not assume you make too much money or b/c you have insurance, money is not available. If say you get turned down initially, recheckin should circumstances change.