poppycom's Journal, 03 Jul 17

DA form. Work requires a disabilities act form to have 2-piece headset instead of 1-piece. They're so snotty about it too, even one immature coworker who's surprisingly 28 or 29 just talking trash. HR is often stupid following the letter of the law not the spirit in order to prevent getting accused of nepotism. It sucks. 

Well done on the drop Poppy. I shall be thinking of you today and sending positive thoughts for a good outcome with your meeting. Take care x 

I hope all goes well today. Have you considered contacting your MP about it? It might be worth a try ... unless of course you live in Maidenhead or South West Surrey in which case my suspicion is your MP wouldn't give two hoots (** other callous MPs are available). Take care 🤗 

Thanks moon, phooka and Doobrie.. we'll see what happens today first . Just feel my boss is determined to get rid of me.. I'm deadwood , so I've been told unofficially. I have to double check everything I do so I don't give them any ammunition to say I'm not capable of doing my job 

Thinking of you today Poppy - hope it's better than expected. 

Thanks minitata 

I am hoping for the best for you as well. 

Got my fingers crossed for you Poppy🙆🏻 

Good luck with the meeting hope all goes well Poppy x 

Wishing you well poppy. Keep calm, stay strong. Don't let the bastards grind you down. xxx 

Thanks all Really nervous and trying not to cry Will let you know how I get on 

I'm going to light a candle for you - done it - it's a red one. Red for fiery energy to keep your energy levels up, your head focused and to fight your corner lucidly - and successfully. Go for it. 

Hang tough, Poppy! This is worth fighting for, so don't give up and stand down too soon. You have such wonderful friends here. Hugs! 

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 thanks all for your good wishes, support and candle. The meeting went better than I'd ever hoped 😁😁 I went in prepared, looking calm and determined and smiling ( but shaking underneath) My daughter and best friend helped me to prepare over the weekend ❤️❤️ I listed all the times since I returned that I've been late because of my disabilities, or had to leave early. Then I listed all the times I had to start early or finish Late for the benefit of my employer.. attending and giving training, covering for colleagues etc ( I made sure there were more of the latter). Then I explained how my disability affects me, giving examples e.g. How I fell over at work cos I HADN'T come in late after putting an ice pack on my ankle when I sprained it in the morning and it gave way later that day... showed them my burns from when I was cooking dinner and dropped a tray of roast potatoes .. .. explained how shaving my legs made my fragile skin tear and I've had 3 lots of antibiotics for cellulitis since Feb and came into work wearing trousers to cover the dressings, on time! ... how I got sent to a meeting to cover for a colleague that was accessed by stairs and walking the extra length of the site to get to a lift and back resulted in severe hand pain and tremor from holding walking sticks so I was unable to cook dinner ( lol.. I still managed lo carb tho) ... how I represent myself and others on the disability and equality forum and work and have helped to found a disability support network in the trust and got signage and disabled access improved fir patients who access our hospital... How I was a witness in court in May, although I had to sit in the witness box as I couldn't stand up ( they didn't know anything about that) I asked how, therefore they determined that fixing my hours would "keep me safe"... and the justification that "nobody else does flexible hours" didn't wash with me, as nobody else was registered disabled like me. So, from now on,if I need to come in late for health reasons e.g. I can't dress myself properly or have to crawl to the bathroom as I can't standup ( my bathroom is downstairs), or gave had to take morphine for my pain and can't drive til later, if I will be more than 15mins late I can call ahead and let my team know. If I'm in pain or fatigued and need to go home early, I just need to let my boss know( and when I will make up the time) If I have a hospital appt, as long as I supply a letter or appt card I can work from home, as the hospitals are 30-60 miles round trip from my office. My union rep didn't have to intercede at all. He just commented that he thought I was doing an impressive job of negotiating the challenges thrown up by my health and recommended me to go on a national disability rep course ☺️☺️☺️ SO THANKS TO ALL OF MY FS FRIENDS WHO SUPPORTED ME WHEN I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MYSELF YOU ROCK ❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘 Ps 20 hour fast still achieved.. I kicked the butt of my stress eating habit 😁 

Wow wow wow, Poppy - I couldn't be more pleased or proud of you. Super well done and what an excellent result. I was so happy I actually got a little choked up there! Congratulations on both this and kicking the stress eating 🤗 

You rock - well done - and fasting too. It is said that your brain is keener when you're fasting I think you showed that today. 

I have goosebumps reading this! You. Are. A. Rock. Star!!!!!! WELL DONE!!! 

That's such fantastic news! Well done, Poppy. You've kept at it and approached it in exactly the right way - listing the details and not letting them intimidate you. I'm so pleased for you 

Aww thanks minitata, Doobrie, mom and Phooka. I was determined that they could see how hard I'm trying.. even booking the dentist on Fridays so that if I don't stop bleeding and have to go to hospital (as my blood doesn't clot properly) it's not on a working day ! Oh and I also mentioned that despite 2 really bad falls while trying to walk as the physio and occ health told me to, I've lost 20lbs since returning to work, with the help of my supportive friends xx 

*round of applause, standing ovation* 💐💐💐💐💐 SO proud of you.