My ME began about three and a half years ago, a year and a half housebound, often in bed, and a year and half up and down but gradually recovering. I now feel that I am ready to try a part-time job. I am quite apprehensive as I still do get bad periods where I think I would find it hard to work but if I don't try I won't know. However, do I mention the ME to any prosepctive employer. I think that if I do I will never here anything. I did give my details to an agency, having mentioned that I had been ill, and have heard nothing from them. I am not that fussy what I do, in fact something not too challenging at first is what I am going for - admin I think. I would like to hear about anybody else's experiences when finding a job and whether they mentioned ME and if so, at what stage.
| Posted to: |
COMMENTS
Re: Going back to work - do I mention the ME?
I don't think you have to mention ME if you don't want to when
applying for a job. However, as ME/CFS is considered a disability then
there is no reason for you to feel you should have to hide it from a
prospective employer. I agree that it is very difficult to predict how
employers will react?
You may want to check out the Access to Work website, who help employers
(both financially and give advice) to make reasonable adjustments where
necessarily. I'd also advise that you check out the Disability Rights
Commission website for general advice on employment, ie. what reasonable
adjustments an employer could make when employing you (flexible hours for
when you become fatigued, a rest area). All employers have a duty to treat
everyone fairly and this includes opportunities to work.
Probably your best bet is to apply for a couple of 'test' jobs where you
mention it and see what reaction you get? I've had CFS since 2004, but this
was only diagnosed earlier this year following hospital tests. My employers
have had to make reasonable adjustments to allow me to remain in my job, not
without problems as per my own posting on this network. Try to find out as
much information as you can, that's my advice.
Good luck!
applying for a job. However, as ME/CFS is considered a disability then
there is no reason for you to feel you should have to hide it from a
prospective employer. I agree that it is very difficult to predict how
employers will react?
You may want to check out the Access to Work website, who help employers
(both financially and give advice) to make reasonable adjustments where
necessarily. I'd also advise that you check out the Disability Rights
Commission website for general advice on employment, ie. what reasonable
adjustments an employer could make when employing you (flexible hours for
when you become fatigued, a rest area). All employers have a duty to treat
everyone fairly and this includes opportunities to work.
Probably your best bet is to apply for a couple of 'test' jobs where you
mention it and see what reaction you get? I've had CFS since 2004, but this
was only diagnosed earlier this year following hospital tests. My employers
have had to make reasonable adjustments to allow me to remain in my job, not
without problems as per my own posting on this network. Try to find out as
much information as you can, that's my advice.
Good luck!
Re: Going back to work - do I mention the ME?
From my experience I can give the following feedback and advice, hopefully not too long winded for you but I believe all relevant.
Get support from a job broker, offered to people on Incapacity Benefit and
part of the New Deal scheme, it's worth registering. I received regular calls
over a long period of time, giving me guidance eg writing your job criteria
and return to work plan. Doing this makes you be honest with yourself and face the realities of your limits and restrictions. I found what came out on paper was quite different from the thoughts in my head.
They will also tell you about permitted paid work still allowing you to receive
benefits and encouragement to start off volunteering. The latter doesn?t
commit you too much if you have a bad day when you can?t do anything and
is a confidence builder. I was surprised at how much had disappeared over
a short space of time.
Over the last 3.5 years, in between relapses, I did quite a few voluntary
jobs, basically to find out what suited me, pre ME I had a full blown career
as a Business Analyst, but knew I wouldn?t be able or want to return to that
environment The most suitable was with my local library, nice quiet environment
and they always need people and there can be a choice. I ended up typing
into a database on births, deaths and marriages dating back to late 1800s
for people tracing their family tree. Also they set me up to use my computer
at home, so you never know where things lead to and the support you get.
Libraries are very open to disability.
The other advantage about volunteering, it looks good on your CV, it shows
the efforts you make in spite of illness and debilitation and helps explain
the gaps.
During all this time I was applying for jobs and a useful thing to do is
keep a log of all what you apply for. I would cut out the actual ads and
keep with comments and dates. I have to say there were a lot of applications
but I kept going and tried to keep an open mind.
As to mentioning ME, overall I didn't. By law I believe at interview stage
you cannot be asked what your illness has been, of course if you get the
job and have a medical it?s then a predicament. It took me along time to
accept I was disabled although deep down I knew I was. For a lot of applications
made I had few interviews and what I learnt is important is what you write
in the covering letter to make yourself attractive for interview. I was advised
later on to use the phrase ?return to the labour market? and that seemed
to work better. I remember one interview with the NHS where I felt comfortable
to mention ME and I could see facial expressions changing but they thought
they were hiding.
Regarding agencies, I have never rated them highly in getting jobs even when
well. But saying that I did find one who did try for me, however they mainly
had full-time positions.
The other thing to realise is that part-time jobs these days are non too
plenty and when they occur there are many people applying, so don?t let despondency
set in, keep the bigger picture in mind.
One job I got was working for a woman at her home, supporting her language
translation business. I didn't mention the ME. What prevailed was that I
was exploited, I have an impressive CV and the rate of pay was £6 per hour
which didn't match the responsibility I was expected to take on. Only after
a few weeks she went away on holiday and I was left to cope. I panicked and
it all went pear-shaped. When she returned we talked and when she said how
disappointed she was with me, the tears flowed and I revealed about ME. Her
response was initially annoyance and if she?d known I would not have been
employed. By the end of the conversation her compassion shone through and
she wished me well for the future.
June of this year, I got a job more suited to me. It's local, only 7 minutes
in the car, on a village High Street (handy to have shops around), the hours
are 12 per week, Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30am-1.30pm except at monthend where I work
an extra day of 4 hours. It?s a small private company, husband and wife ownership.
I got offered the job at the end of the interview, nearly fell off the chair
and again when the rate of pay was higher. I said I had been unwell and ?life
had thrown it's challenges at me? (good phrase to use), it's true though,
my Dad and my boss died and I was hit in the back of my car by a drunk driver
who drove off.
It?s not been easy for me, every day a struggle but like you said it's about
doing it, otherwise how would we know our real state of progress and the
type of struggles change. Confidence does come back. The other week my boss
did actually ask me what my illness had been, I was on the spot, but I told
him. His response was 'that's really rough', so perhaps he knows someone
with ME.
I hope this helps you and I wish you well, so long as one takes action
there can only be results.
Get support from a job broker, offered to people on Incapacity Benefit and
part of the New Deal scheme, it's worth registering. I received regular calls
over a long period of time, giving me guidance eg writing your job criteria
and return to work plan. Doing this makes you be honest with yourself and face the realities of your limits and restrictions. I found what came out on paper was quite different from the thoughts in my head.
They will also tell you about permitted paid work still allowing you to receive
benefits and encouragement to start off volunteering. The latter doesn?t
commit you too much if you have a bad day when you can?t do anything and
is a confidence builder. I was surprised at how much had disappeared over
a short space of time.
Over the last 3.5 years, in between relapses, I did quite a few voluntary
jobs, basically to find out what suited me, pre ME I had a full blown career
as a Business Analyst, but knew I wouldn?t be able or want to return to that
environment The most suitable was with my local library, nice quiet environment
and they always need people and there can be a choice. I ended up typing
into a database on births, deaths and marriages dating back to late 1800s
for people tracing their family tree. Also they set me up to use my computer
at home, so you never know where things lead to and the support you get.
Libraries are very open to disability.
The other advantage about volunteering, it looks good on your CV, it shows
the efforts you make in spite of illness and debilitation and helps explain
the gaps.
During all this time I was applying for jobs and a useful thing to do is
keep a log of all what you apply for. I would cut out the actual ads and
keep with comments and dates. I have to say there were a lot of applications
but I kept going and tried to keep an open mind.
As to mentioning ME, overall I didn't. By law I believe at interview stage
you cannot be asked what your illness has been, of course if you get the
job and have a medical it?s then a predicament. It took me along time to
accept I was disabled although deep down I knew I was. For a lot of applications
made I had few interviews and what I learnt is important is what you write
in the covering letter to make yourself attractive for interview. I was advised
later on to use the phrase ?return to the labour market? and that seemed
to work better. I remember one interview with the NHS where I felt comfortable
to mention ME and I could see facial expressions changing but they thought
they were hiding.
Regarding agencies, I have never rated them highly in getting jobs even when
well. But saying that I did find one who did try for me, however they mainly
had full-time positions.
The other thing to realise is that part-time jobs these days are non too
plenty and when they occur there are many people applying, so don?t let despondency
set in, keep the bigger picture in mind.
One job I got was working for a woman at her home, supporting her language
translation business. I didn't mention the ME. What prevailed was that I
was exploited, I have an impressive CV and the rate of pay was £6 per hour
which didn't match the responsibility I was expected to take on. Only after
a few weeks she went away on holiday and I was left to cope. I panicked and
it all went pear-shaped. When she returned we talked and when she said how
disappointed she was with me, the tears flowed and I revealed about ME. Her
response was initially annoyance and if she?d known I would not have been
employed. By the end of the conversation her compassion shone through and
she wished me well for the future.
June of this year, I got a job more suited to me. It's local, only 7 minutes
in the car, on a village High Street (handy to have shops around), the hours
are 12 per week, Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30am-1.30pm except at monthend where I work
an extra day of 4 hours. It?s a small private company, husband and wife ownership.
I got offered the job at the end of the interview, nearly fell off the chair
and again when the rate of pay was higher. I said I had been unwell and ?life
had thrown it's challenges at me? (good phrase to use), it's true though,
my Dad and my boss died and I was hit in the back of my car by a drunk driver
who drove off.
It?s not been easy for me, every day a struggle but like you said it's about
doing it, otherwise how would we know our real state of progress and the
type of struggles change. Confidence does come back. The other week my boss
did actually ask me what my illness had been, I was on the spot, but I told
him. His response was 'that's really rough', so perhaps he knows someone
with ME.
I hope this helps you and I wish you well, so long as one takes action
there can only be results.
Re: Going back to work - do I mention the ME?
Hi - my advice, as someone in a similar situation is - tell employers on a
need-to-know basis. Approach it as you would any other disability - not a
big issue, but needs to be taken into account. You need to decide for
yourself exactly where your boundaries are first, i.e. when you need to rest
in the day, what kind of activities to avoid. Then you are clear what you
are looking for, and it may be that the only difference between you and
someone with no M.E. is that you work less hours so that you can go home
early. If that is the case, further down the process it would be wise to
tell them, a) because they might be kind and supportive! b) the legal
reasons they are obliged to treat you fairly, and make reasonable
adjustments, which they can't do if they don't know. But for the start,
drip the information in gently - don't walk in with a label that nobody
understands! (not even us!)
It does sound as though you aren't firing on as many cylinders as you would
like, so I'd start on as few hours as possible, if this is what you really
want to do. Don't forget to keep energy in reserve and NEVER push yourself.
Nothing is worth a relapse.
I personally wouldn't tell a commercial agency you have M.E, just tell them
exactly what you are looking for (location, hours) and stick to it. You
don't owe an agency anything, they'll get their money's worth. Try a
university or Council Temping scheme, they're usually more understanding and
generally better disability employers. This may even count in your favour.
Keep it up-beat, be confident about your skills and experience. Don't
forget at all times your health comes first!
need-to-know basis. Approach it as you would any other disability - not a
big issue, but needs to be taken into account. You need to decide for
yourself exactly where your boundaries are first, i.e. when you need to rest
in the day, what kind of activities to avoid. Then you are clear what you
are looking for, and it may be that the only difference between you and
someone with no M.E. is that you work less hours so that you can go home
early. If that is the case, further down the process it would be wise to
tell them, a) because they might be kind and supportive! b) the legal
reasons they are obliged to treat you fairly, and make reasonable
adjustments, which they can't do if they don't know. But for the start,
drip the information in gently - don't walk in with a label that nobody
understands! (not even us!)
It does sound as though you aren't firing on as many cylinders as you would
like, so I'd start on as few hours as possible, if this is what you really
want to do. Don't forget to keep energy in reserve and NEVER push yourself.
Nothing is worth a relapse.
I personally wouldn't tell a commercial agency you have M.E, just tell them
exactly what you are looking for (location, hours) and stick to it. You
don't owe an agency anything, they'll get their money's worth. Try a
university or Council Temping scheme, they're usually more understanding and
generally better disability employers. This may even count in your favour.
Keep it up-beat, be confident about your skills and experience. Don't
forget at all times your health comes first!
Re: Going back to work - do I mention the ME?
Sorry about the rather belated response to your
posting. I just read it now and was struck by how
similar your illness was to mine in terms of length of
time and "blips" in recovery.
I started to feel a little better towards the end of
last year, and, despite having some really bad days,
decided to take the plunge and apply for work. I got
an interview at a local chemists for a part time post
(16 hours a week). On the day of the interview I was
so ill my mum had to collect me, practically drag me
out of bed and get me home again! This was one of the
times when the invisibility of ME worked in my favour
(along with a good bit of makeup!) and I got the job.
In response to your query, I did tell the interviewer
I had been ill, and that I only wanted to work half
days. I don't actually work in the same shop as her,
so have had to explain my situation as best I can to
my colleagues. They have been ok, but I'm not sure
they fully understand.
Starting the job in January was a bit of a leap of
faith, since, like you I was having some good days,
but some really bad days too. There have been days
when I have had to drag myself through in a complete
daze, but for the most part returning to work has been
just what i needed on the path to recovery. I have
found having a structure to my life once more to be
really helpful. I have had to be quite assertive, and
when (on many occasions) I have been asked to work a
full day, I have explained that I can do a few extra
hours, but not necessarily the full day.
Sorry, this email turns out to have been quite a
waffley one. But, what I wanted to say was go for it.
You won't know until you've tried, and you may find it
helps you in your recovery.
posting. I just read it now and was struck by how
similar your illness was to mine in terms of length of
time and "blips" in recovery.
I started to feel a little better towards the end of
last year, and, despite having some really bad days,
decided to take the plunge and apply for work. I got
an interview at a local chemists for a part time post
(16 hours a week). On the day of the interview I was
so ill my mum had to collect me, practically drag me
out of bed and get me home again! This was one of the
times when the invisibility of ME worked in my favour
(along with a good bit of makeup!) and I got the job.
In response to your query, I did tell the interviewer
I had been ill, and that I only wanted to work half
days. I don't actually work in the same shop as her,
so have had to explain my situation as best I can to
my colleagues. They have been ok, but I'm not sure
they fully understand.
Starting the job in January was a bit of a leap of
faith, since, like you I was having some good days,
but some really bad days too. There have been days
when I have had to drag myself through in a complete
daze, but for the most part returning to work has been
just what i needed on the path to recovery. I have
found having a structure to my life once more to be
really helpful. I have had to be quite assertive, and
when (on many occasions) I have been asked to work a
full day, I have explained that I can do a few extra
hours, but not necessarily the full day.
Sorry, this email turns out to have been quite a
waffley one. But, what I wanted to say was go for it.
You won't know until you've tried, and you may find it
helps you in your recovery.
Re: Going back to work - do I mention the ME?
I was just wondering if you had considered doing some voluntary work initially, voluntary organisations are usually a bit more open minded, and it will allow you to check your energy levels. Also if you can show a prospective employer that you have been doing part time activity ok I'm sure this would be in your favour.
