Returning to work

Hi @belmckenna, you are incredibly gracious in your attitude towards your previous employer.
you deserve nothing but the best this time around. Jane xx

No need to take action.  Some times in life it is easier to walk on and just take it on the chin.  Ultimately, they did the best they could for their first time of dealing with a staff member going through Cancer treatment, and returning one year later.  I also had only been there for 5 months before it happened.  The Pharmacy Guild were well aware of the controversial situation and they spoke up for me at the time.  If I were hell bent to push the issue further, it was a battle I had no extra energy for.  I have also to admit that some things aren't meant to be !  If it was my dream goal to have achieved that, I would have pushed it.  At the end of the day, I really didn't have a burning desire for it I feel.  May be that is more the point.  Thank you for the great input though and I appreciate where the advice would be helpful in some situations.  They were good people and I have moved on....well and truly.  At the end of the day....there are no friends in business, its always about money, profit and the best person for the job, at the time!  All good.

@belmckenna you should take action against your previous employer for the discrimination & bullying you experienced..

DISABILITY ACT.  Correct !  I was stunned and amazed when I presented all my ideas to a "Career Counselor" here in Sydney at TAFE, that she then turn around and say "Don't worry, you are classed as Disabled and the Government will pick up the Bill !"  I asked her "So how much will this course cost?", and said "We are Renters, who just get through, here in Sydney!"  Due to the psychological trauma, the post stress experience, then the return to work, where I have experience "Bullying", and  been bypassed  for any opportunities hell yeh, there is an emotional side to this.  I  monitor its return and there is no clear slate ! Well  no wonder ya can kinda say at times, mentally - it messes with ya head!  But as we are "strong" women, who regain their composure, slowly bring back hope and determination to still be able to earn above the poverty line income, in Sydney. You have to advance financially in your career.  There is not the happy choice for me of have Cancer, and then don't go back to work, I have to work until I drop, or retire in a tent!  So for those who didn't have that awesome Career, with the great financial flexibility - I had to get my head together and return to - what the hell is next for me without having been to Uni!  I feel like I have survived Cancer and just gone back to where I was but, Career wise, stayed in one spot.  So with this door opener, I have a chance to progress now.  Ultimately, with my Coffee and Chat Group, it is my lead up to what I have in mind down the track as my passion to help people cope with Cancer and to learn how to deal with stress.  First I will just be doing "Office Administration" first.   Well done to any one else who realized that for some of us, the Cancer Survivors, need to change - to start again, and need to start fresh some where new and hell I am 50 but I am not dead yet !  Communication and people are my two life long skills !  I don't want to feel stuck in retail any more !

Hahahaha OMG Cate...I barely walk let alone run!! though change in eating and have dropped 1.5kg yay!! and counting...slowly but surely xx

@melcarity come with me & run it off at the Gold Coast Marathon....

So, I remember reading recently in a news article that cancer falls under the Disability Act if you feel you are being discriminated against or treated unfairly etc. Employers need to tread carefully dealing with cancer effected employees & most of them don't realise it.. Was an interesting read though I cannot, for the life of me, remember where I read it. 

Go for it @belmckenna . I lost my job just before my recurrence in late 2016. Thankfully I'd already enrolled in a degree thru Fed Uni (I probably wouldn't have done it if I knew everything was going to turn to shit) so while I've been getting sliced, diced, poisoned and irradiated I've managed to knock over 14 subjects. I got an exemption for the first year--prior learning--and only have one assignment to finish and I have a brand new Ad Dip to wave at potential employers. I'll fast track the last year if I can so will have the degree by 2018. I'm not even going to think about what it will cost me as an unsubsidised student. I don't care, I had to change careers as  my last one is slowly dying.

I got head hunted yesterday by a company looking for a new graduate and will go back to work in July. Connsidering I'm 53, sick and bald I'd call that a win. If I hadn't studied I'd probably be trying to get a job at Bunnings or waiting tables. I doubt I'd be physically up to it but there is bugger all else here at the moment apart from some niche stuff. Like what I'm going to do.

People get intimidated by the time it takes to complete a qual but the time passes anyway. As for cost, people borrow $600k to buy a crappy house; going into debt so I can keep working and get a well paid job makes perfect sense compared to that.

Marg 

Yes I have recently had a meeting with them. I also was upfront about the computing course. I have new ideas in mind for the future. But it won't be a quick change. All is going well at job. Perhaps after 10 years it's good to make changes and rethink. You're aware I am in Retail I guess. Changes are good some times and things are different 10 years down the road

Ps  I'm back to full time. But need daily nanna naps.