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Impossible to keep a job

Impossible to keep a job

I am in a real stuck position right now. I was let go from my last job because I had too many sick days due to my chronic illness and am really struggling to find another due to said illness.

My illnesses don't make me unable to work a full time job, and I have a full work from home set up so I can continue to work during the days when I am sick, however EVERY job I have applied/worked for REFUSES to allow people to work from home until they have worked through their probation period.

This backfires on me because during that probation period any flare up I have ends up being marked down as a sick day - and I end up unable to keep the job because clearly many absences isnt a good look.

I have had so many discussions with 'compassionate' employers who ask what they can do to support me but in the end they don't do anything. My last employer just extended my probation period instead and then fired me once that was over.

Why is it so hard to allow someone to occasionally work from home? I am an incredibly driven worker and have all of the experience, skills and resources required to be a great member of a team but because they won't let me work from home once every two weeks I'm now too disabled to be able to maintain my job but not disabled enough to warrant any support.

Now I cannot even land a job despite over 8 years experience and frankly being quite good at what I do, simply because I require a job with flexibility. And no one is flexible in the first six months.

I have no idea what to do - considering going back to school just so I can find something that can be done 100% from home.

Anyone in a similar situation? How did/ are you handling it?

7 replies

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In response to: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Maybe try agencies to get flexibility and maintain income ?

with your experiance you will find a position that will hold you giving you the chance to become valuable once trained in thier operations and procedures so when ythey aproach you about going on thier own payroll you have barhaining power @SunflowerSaved

In response to: Re: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

@SunflowerSaved ,

I hear how hard it is for you. I can see that it can be so frustrating.

If you don't mind me asking, what field do you work in? I'm thinking that in some fields, it may be harder to work from home than others.

Is it doable to make a reasonable adjustments plan as part of a job and be able to work from home?

What about your own business or something?

In response to: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Hi @SunflowerSaved ,

I can empathise with the need to work from home sometimes. I work part-time because I cannot sustain fulltime work even if all from home.

My experience has been that *some* governments are better with flexible working arrangements due to health. If you are able to secure a government job, my tip is to request "Reasonable Workplace Adjustments" of needing to work from home more / when feeling unable to coming into the office.

As Tyme said, knowing your field of work may help us give some extra ideas or tips. I am an IT/computer-based worker and I know generally my industry can work from home if the organisation is open to it (a few exceptions are highly secure environments of course!).

When I worked as a receptionist though, there was no chance back then - although now days there are companies that offer remote-receptionists to handle bookings, payments and even emails I think.

Would part-time work reduce the frequency of your sickness at all?

The reason I am asking is because if it does, then that could be a good way to get past probation period, prove your ability and make yourself very desirable as an employee, and then ask/negotiate for more hours / until a fulltime position in the organisation is offered.

I did this in-reverse with being part-time! 😅 did fulltime work for 5 months contract and then reduced to part-time if they wanted to keep me. 😊

In response to: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Hi @SunflowerSaved,

I really relate to your experience. It’s tough when you have the skills and passion but still struggle to hold onto a job due to needing more sick leave or having to work from home.

I’ve faced similar challenges — I’ve been in my industry for around 9 years and genuinely love my work, but all three of my previous jobs ended at least partly due to similar circumstances.

Most of my employers weren’t very supportive when it came to WFH or time off. Even when I had a kind and understanding employer, working remotely still made it harder to build trust and stay visible. One hostile coworker — who was always in the office and constantly working overtime — used the situation not only to quietly undermine my role and performance, but also to throw me under the bus on shared projects.

Still, it’s encouraging to know there are warmhearted people out there, and I do believe the work culture is slowly getting better generally.

I’ve also been thinking about switching to roles that are remote from the start. May I ask what careers you’ve been considering for a change? Given how much time and money retraining can take, I hope you’ll still find something you can feel passionate about.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for sharing this. I hope something more workable comes your way soon.

@tyme @AlwaysMyself — thank you both for your responses. They were thoughtful and encouraging. Honestly, reading your replies made me feel a little less hopeless in all of this, and more hopeful that there are still ways forward.

In response to: Re: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Hey @Jst1ce ,

Thanks so much for your post, and welcome to the forums. It's great to be able to hear that your experiences are similar to @SunflowerSaved .

I can see the challenges. It's like employers are not willing to 'taking the risk' when hiring someone with a known 'condition'. It's sad, but the reality. I can see why it pushes people to not tell the truth at the onset.

I don't have an answer, but I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences with this.

In response to: Re: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Hi @SunflowerSaved @Jst1ce @AlwaysMyself @REDLINEZ750

How are you all going?

In response to: Re: Impossible to keep a job

Re: Impossible to keep a job

Hi @tyme ,

I’m doing okay, thanks.

I’ve been trying to wrap up an online course — still a few assignments left, but hoping to finish soon and see what new doors it opens.

How have you been?

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