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R is sick again, with the same old stomach problems he had earlier in the year. The same stuff that kept him out of work on leave for weeks, that caused hospital visits, and that caused R to go on medication to help manage the condition. We've found an herbal tea that also helps, but unfortunately we're running low on it and will have to try to make things stretch until Friday, when I can get some more.
This condition is taking its toll on both of us. R's mood hangs by a thread most days now, and it's hardly surprising, considering the constant pain he's in. He told me the other day, when he was acting perfectly normal and even happy again, that the pain was less at that moment. Less, but still there. Just not at the crippling level again yet. And he's become so accustomed to living in pain again that even just being in less pain than normal made it so that he was able to function again on a normal level. The fact that the pain was still there but that nobody could tell was scary.
The biggest problem comes from R's job. R works shifts, which means sometimes he works mornings, sometimes evenings. He has a doctor's note saying that a regular schedule will help control the symptoms of his condition and lessen the pain, because he can eat and take bathroom breaks at a predictable time. Of course, work refuses to give him this schedule. They say they'll try, and then just do nothing. Business as usual. That's what set this all up, really. While the store was remodeling, R had a regular schedule and was coping very well. Little to no pain for weeks on end. Then it became irregular and everything started to go to hell again.
R's finally fed up with it and has contacted the local Labour Board. According to the Human Rights Act for employment, what R has counts as disabling, thus a disability. Thus his job legally ought to make accommodations for him. It isn't as though they haven't been told what they can do in order to help prevent an employee from being in so much pain that they have to call in sick so often, after all. We're hoping for a favourable response from the Labour Board. Perhaps even an investigation, if they don't get their act together.
R isn't asking for much. He's not asking, for example, to go on LTD for years and for the store to pay for everything for him. He's asking for what he needs in order to keep working.
The worst part for me is that there's little I can do. I can make R's tea, I can be there for him when and where I can, but I can't take away the pain, I can't make his bosses pay attention to the facts, and I can't take away a painful condition. We both have it, but R's case is more severe than mine, so I can relate, somewhat, to what he's going through. But it never feels like enough.
It doesn't help that I have to go to work today and can't stay home to help out in the little ways that I can.
Keep your fingers crossed for a response from the Labour Board that's in R's favour, won't you?
This condition is taking its toll on both of us. R's mood hangs by a thread most days now, and it's hardly surprising, considering the constant pain he's in. He told me the other day, when he was acting perfectly normal and even happy again, that the pain was less at that moment. Less, but still there. Just not at the crippling level again yet. And he's become so accustomed to living in pain again that even just being in less pain than normal made it so that he was able to function again on a normal level. The fact that the pain was still there but that nobody could tell was scary.
The biggest problem comes from R's job. R works shifts, which means sometimes he works mornings, sometimes evenings. He has a doctor's note saying that a regular schedule will help control the symptoms of his condition and lessen the pain, because he can eat and take bathroom breaks at a predictable time. Of course, work refuses to give him this schedule. They say they'll try, and then just do nothing. Business as usual. That's what set this all up, really. While the store was remodeling, R had a regular schedule and was coping very well. Little to no pain for weeks on end. Then it became irregular and everything started to go to hell again.
R's finally fed up with it and has contacted the local Labour Board. According to the Human Rights Act for employment, what R has counts as disabling, thus a disability. Thus his job legally ought to make accommodations for him. It isn't as though they haven't been told what they can do in order to help prevent an employee from being in so much pain that they have to call in sick so often, after all. We're hoping for a favourable response from the Labour Board. Perhaps even an investigation, if they don't get their act together.
R isn't asking for much. He's not asking, for example, to go on LTD for years and for the store to pay for everything for him. He's asking for what he needs in order to keep working.
The worst part for me is that there's little I can do. I can make R's tea, I can be there for him when and where I can, but I can't take away the pain, I can't make his bosses pay attention to the facts, and I can't take away a painful condition. We both have it, but R's case is more severe than mine, so I can relate, somewhat, to what he's going through. But it never feels like enough.
It doesn't help that I have to go to work today and can't stay home to help out in the little ways that I can.
Keep your fingers crossed for a response from the Labour Board that's in R's favour, won't you?
