2nd Long-Term Absence

[hermes]

In July 2009 I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer and was out of the picture for 11 months. Despite all the machinations of Royal Mail and Atos I have been back at work since June 2010 but recently the cancer has returned. However, I have now been offered a bone marrow transplant from a donor that has just been found to be a near-perfect match (not a cure, unfortunately, but a possible long-term remission), so it looks like I am going to have to take at least 4-6 months off once again. Will Royal Mail tolerate this? Do they have provisions for a second long-term absence and if so what are they? I am aware that ever since my diagnosis I have come under the category of "disabled" but that has not prevented me from doing my work to a standard identical to that of my colleagues. In fact it has afforded me protections that would not have been available to others without the tag of "disability". I am a resilient little bugger and I want to get back to work as soon as possible. Having cancer does not have to mean that your physical resources are any different to anybody else's, once you are out of the treatment/recovery process.

Secondly, would the provisions that currently apply to Royal Mail also be binding on any successor? A difficult question, I know, but can anyone at least hazard a guess?

[Yan Panik]

Sorry I'm not qualified to answer your question as to whether they will tolerate it but the most important thing is your health and in your situation its hard to believe that you could be penalised or thought badly of in any way what so ever.
I hope it works out well for you my friend. Try not to worry about work and concentrate on getting better.

[dazzlin72]

With long term sickness, i think it is on your record for 4yrs, & they aggregate time off record for period while back at work for future absences, but not sure how much extra time you would be allowed with full sick pay.

[bogstandard]

the equality act afaik comes into force for you, in that cancer as you say is or can be regarded as a disability. i believe that the term to look for is what would your attendance be like if you didn't have this cancer.
At some point it may become a concern, however as lino's are famous for doing bugger all i'm sure you do not have a letter from RM stating that future absences MAY be counted.
I know its nothing concrete but for your peace of mind check out the new attendance procedure and the equality act.

Good luck on the bone marrow transplant

[hermes]

Thanks a lot for everyone's responses so far, they're very supportive and helpful. Would you happen to know, though, dazzlin72 (or anyone, for that matter), whether it's 4 years from the start or the finish of the last long absence?