After burrowing around in the murky depths of disability and work legislation, I have now been assigned a Disability Employment Advisor and on Monday I went to visit her at the local Job Centre. To cut a very long, sorry saga short, I have been bullied quite badly at work ever since my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was confirmed and I need to find a new job. Pronto. Can you believe this is still happening in 2012?
Anyway, I’m told to bring my CV and turn up at 11.20 sharp. I arrive early and am met by two doormen. Bouncers? Honestly, they stand there in dark suits, look me up and down with raised eyebrows and I’m half expecting them to say ‘sorry love, you can’t come in here looking like that’. I’m on the list though, so I’m in.
I’m directed into a vast, bland, utterly depressing room with splashes of green logo and dotted with a bewildering array of prams, shopping bags and people slumped on the sofas. Other people are hunched over large ‘job generating machines’, pressing and clicking buttons like they’re playing one-armed bandits in a pub. I pick my way through the crowd, perch on the edge of a dingy sofa and wait. And wait. The staff call people up to desks, looking bored out their skulls (well, they already have jobs) and still I wait, my CV wilting in my sweaty hand.
Finally, I’m called. We run through the ways MS can get in the way of working, my skills, my career aspirations and which hours I can work. My advisor then turns the computer screen round so I can see it. Two possible jobs. Cleaning and daytime pizza delivery. Huh?
She tells me I am over-qualified for most of the jobs they have, but due to my reduced working hours, childcare issues and disability, that’s all they have. I thank her, walk unsteadily to the door with as much dignity as I can and leave it all behind. On second thoughts, I go back, slip past the bouncers and yank a ‘How Did We Do?’ form from the front desk.
On it I write Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here, shove it in the box and go.
Very very unfortunate that this is still happening in 2012. I call bullshit! Have you considered fighting your current job? People are always telling me we are covered under this that and the other. Ironically, I haven’t had the courage to tell my job yet. Sad this is what we have to deal with. *hugs*
Sure, we’re covered by reams of legislation, but doesn’t mean much in normal life, lol. And there was me thinking I was doing the right thing by telling them!