Telling employers and colleagues
If you are in employment when you are diagnosed with kidney failure, telling your employers and those you work with is likely to cause you anxiety.
"My employers have always been very good about it (being on HD). I take half a day off twice a week but make up the hours." -Colin Billington
It may be helpful to consider the following:
- Before telling your employer, talk to your GP, Renal Social Worker or other members of your renal team about what it is realistic to aim for in terms of employment. Should you be looking towards continuing to work full-time or exploring possibilities to reduce to part-time or possibly to take early retirement if this is an option for you?
- However well you trust your colleagues, it is probably not sensible to tell them about your condition before telling your employer. Most employers will appreciate hearing this type of information first hand and respond better for it!
- If you work for a large company, there may be a company policy regarding long-term sickness - check your company handbook and contract before meeting with your employer so you know the facts.
- If you work for a large company with a personnel or human resources department, you may want to ask a representative from that department to be present when you meet with your supervisor to tell him/her of your condition.
- Check with your medical team if there is someone you can refer your employer to - someone willing to talk to your employer (by phone) about your condition. This could be the Renal Social Worker, your GP or another member of the renal team. They will be able to discuss the likely impact your condition will have on your ability to do your job, how much time you are likely to require for appointments and sick leave, and answer other practical questions your employer may have. They will also be able to explain how many patients with kidney failure successfully carry on working full-time and how some forms of treatment are particularly well suited to those in employment.
- You may want to refer your employer and work colleagues to this web site and other sources of information, so that they can find out more about kidney failure and its treatment.
- Your employer may wish to send you for a medical assessment by a company doctor or doctor selected by the company. This is a reasonable request and there is usually no reason to decline. Any costs should be borne by the company.
May 1, 2006
