To mark the release of the IBD in Young People: The Impact on Education and Employment. We've collated some of the responses from the 2011 IBD and Employment survey. This is what real people say about work. It's the good, the bad and the ugly, but these are all situations that you could encounter in the world of work. How would you handle the awkward or difficult moments that are mentioned?
“I think they need to understand the
unpredictability of it as well. I was
asked a lot of questions at interview
like, how often do you flare-up?
How long do they last? How does it
affect you? I just have to say I can’t
tell you because I don’t know…”
“I feel that as a result of my illness
I work harder and generally take
fewer sick days than those around
me who are of average or good
health.”
“I think it is important to explain to
your employer about your condition.
Being open and up- front has helped
in my case, and if they are good
employers they will understand.”
“I always feel I have more to prove
and therefore push myself too hard,
leaving me exhausted when I get
home. All energy goes to
completing a full day and then I
crash when I get home.”
“Employers do not realise how
embarrassing IBD can be. Often,
going to the loo may be very noisy. I
worry that work colleagues may laugh
behind my back”.
“I now work in a shop where
everybody knows I have IBD and
they go out of their way to make it
easy for me if I need to leave
suddenly to go to the toilet.”
“I am lucky in that I can plan the
day the way I want to plan it. I’m
supposed to start at 8am, but it’s
rare that I do - but I always make it
up at the end of the day. They are
quite flexible with that. I can also
move stuff to the middle of the day
if I don’t feel up to it in the
morning.”
“My employer has been good as I
work extra hours sometimes to
have at least two to three days of
‘in lieu’ time in case I need to be
off, so they have been reasonably
flexible.”
“Working from home is a god-send
and I can manage to work through
some flare-ups by taking this
option. I am lucky because my
hours are very flexible anyway.”
"I work in a hospital with lots of toilet
facilities. However, it is the getting to
and from work, particularly in the
mornings, which proves most
difficult."
"Travelling to and from work would be
impossible without the use of a car. I
wouldn’t feel confident enough on
public transport, or having to walk
long distances, as I am constantly
aware that I have to be close to a
toilet.”
“My employer is very supportive and
gave me full pay when I returned to
work, and asked me to return on a
phased basis for the good of my
health e.g. two hours a day first week
back, three hours a day the second
week etc., until back up to seven
hours a day.”
“Employer information from Crohn's
and Colitis UK helped me to keep a
toilet close to the area I work in and
helped my employer understand
about my condition.”
“I feel that there is a lack of
awareness around IBD, and it’s
challenging talking about the issues
which would be private for most
people without the condition”
A little while ago we brought you a news story about a lady who'd been refused use of a toilet in a Job Centre. Now we have yet another case of shopkeepers refusing people in need. A gentleman from Dewsbury was turned away from a Wilkinson's store when he asked to use the toilet. He was told they were for staff only. Luckily a nearby butchers was able to help before disaster struck.
