Okay, so some of you may remember I was having trouble with my blood pressure, because it was too low and I was fainting a fair bit. Well on Sunday, it was really really hot, and even though I wanted airconditioning all the way to work, I made mum drop me off at the corner so I could get my blood pressure up enough so that I wouldn't have a fainting spell. I was very well hydrated, I had a 1.25ltr bottle of water with me which I was drinking from regularly. When I got to work, I made sure I was moving around a lot so my blood pressure stayed up, and we had a rush of people ordering, so I was standing in the one spot for over an hour, making pizzas and passing them over to be put in the oven. I started feeling really sick and dizzy and I had a fainting spell, so I got sent home for the night. Then Last night at work I got told that unless I could find a way to "fix" my blood pressure then I would be fired, because they could not afford having someone faint every time it gets hot. To me, this is very unfair. I work really hard, and I have offered numerous times to stay late if I am needed. I am on call every day of the week, so that means I have to keep my nights open for work. I guess it's kind of reasonable from their point of veiw, because I can see the validity of not being able to afford a sick person, but it still stings a bit because I'm fine working most of the time. I dunno, Maybe I should find a second job in case I do get fired.
I'm sorry to hear that you fainted again. I hope that can be fixed soon for you. As for the job issue, you might just want to quit before they fire you. It looks good on your resumes and interviews if they see you quit instead of being fired. I think being fired is one of the worst things employers can think of. Good luck with that!
Is there medication you can take? My dad has high blood pressure, and takes a tablet every day, and seems to be fine. Although that resulted from Kidney Disease, not sure if thats what your issue is. Unfortunately for you, your work is well within their rights to fire you for such things, although it is the wrong thing to do. I can sympathize, as i was fired from a 3+ year job, due to an injury at another job (only just started the 2nd job, and the injury was just a cut finger, but damaged the tendon). The only way around your problem, is if you stipulated your medical condition when you started work, and they agreed to hire you with it. I would assume this is not the case tho. Not sure how much choice you have for employment being out in semi country area, but have you tried finding another job in a different environment (i work in a cold room, 2 degrees all year round), maybe a job like that would prevent your medical problems from hindering your work.
Fuck that. Your pizza place can deal with losing one cook for one night, based on a medical condition, have they no heart? Not to mention that cook is very loyal and determined to work for them. I work with only two other people and when one of them doesn't show up we have to work harder yes, but we deal. And we don't get angry at the person who couldn't make it, because ya know what, we can handle anything. To threaten you with firing shows that your company is weak. It cannot handle anything. Imagine being by yourself in a hookah bar with 40+ customers and dealing. Yeah its hard work but its possible as I've done it. Your weak company chooses the easy way out, instead of the ethical way forward, much like I would think a company like wal-mart would think. Perhaps you should find another job anyways, I sure as hell wouldn't want to work for them after hearing a story like that. Also medication, in my personal opinion, should be a last resort. I see my grandma take loads of pills daily, and it sickens me how those little capsules are putting her in debt. Medicare only covers half of her drug costs, so in 3 months she will have to pay full price for name brand prescriptions. Thats $600 a month thats coming from her savings and retirement. I say you figure a way around this without taking medication.
The Australian Medicare system is probably different to the American one, so i doubt the medication would cost much at all. But if it keeps her in a job, thats a good thing right? Of course your grandma is in a different situation, being retired already.
They can't fire you for that, go to the union and they will sort it out. And if your not in the union then you bloody well better get in there now because you'll need them.
A union wont be able to do much. She can't perform her work to an acceptable standard in the eyes of her employer, although, we all already know that Pizza shops expect more than what they pay for, from their employee's.
It's not a chain shop, and I don't have a tax File number. I'm being paid cash in hand. It's an extremely small shop. And you're right SAGUY, a union won't be able to help me much, because I can't keep myself upright for long enough on a hot day to make my point. My pizza shop job is actually pretty good. I get 10 bucks an hour and free food and drink every night I work. It's just in jeopardy at the moment because I really cannot stop the fainting from happening. So I'm going to go job hunting soon. I think I'll try to find a book shop job or one where I can move around a bit. It just kind of sucks cos it stresses me out which makes me more prone to them.
(*hug*) (*hug*) (*hug*) Yet another of the things in life that is not fair but that we just have to put up with! Your boss is not being very kind or very sympathetic. Could you not have a fan blowing on you and agree with your boss that every 15 minutes you get to walk around the restaurant a bit, maybe clearing tables or serving customers and then go back to your post. In small companies like this most people are polyvalant, don't tell me you are the only one who can do your job. Someone can surely spell you for 5 minutes while you move around. Have you tried talking to your boss, maybe with your mum there, and make him several propositions which could be workable for you and for him. I know as an employer good workers are not that easy to come by so if he values you maybe he will be willing to make some concessions in order to keep you and to help you stop fainting. If you really like your job don't give in too easily but don't let it ruin your health either.
So theres no medication that can help with the fainting? Theres pills that give great grand parents sex lives, so i'm sure theres something for your condition.
Well they'd have to give me the opposite of something which lowers heart rate, and since Low Heart Pressure isn't a disease in itself, but rather just a manifestation of having poor circulation, they cant really give me anything. Unless they were giving me like.... a generalised Viagra (something that makes your blood pressure higher everywhere, not just. you know) I don't think there's anything I can do. And I have tried talking to my boss about getting jobs to do, but the thing is, usually, its just me and her out the front, making the pizzas. If one of us goes out the back or does something else, and we get swamped with orders, then we are screwed. I think I'm just better off trying to find a job where I can either walk around a lot or sit down a lot. I can't be a check out chick. I would not last an hour. So I think I'll just look around. It's probably time to move on now any way, I've had a good 6 or 7 months working in the pizza shop.
Yikes, I don't know what to say except that it sucks that you may lose your job because of this. I'm not lawyer but where I live, this might be considered a disability and thus illegal for your boss to fire you or treat you differently than the rest of the employees. I guess I'm fortunate to work in a place where it's pretty cool, even in the summer. Anyone who visits the workplace always wishes they brought a sweater.
Have you even spoken to your doctor about it? The answer may be simple (although cost you money) Its not against any law to fire someone who cannot perform their job. I'm sure they couldn't just fire you if you passed out once, but if its a regular thing, your no use to them. Since its not a chain shop, and your being paid cash in hand, they don't really have any obligations as far as keeping you employed. They basically, can tall you, don't bother coming in anymore, and theres nothing you can do about it. On the flip side, being her own business, she is more likely to actually care about her employees. Maybe you need to sit down with your boss and explain the full situation, and see if she is willing to make a compromise.
I have been to the doctors about it. Apparently low blood pressure is very common in young girls, but mine is sufficiently low enough that I'm not allowed to give blood or stand up for a long period of time. I cannot physically keep myself upright if I am standing for a long period of time. I have blacked out at work four times in two months, so I can see where my boss is coming from.
Well if theres nothing they can give you, a job change is your only option. Make sure your honest with your boss. A good Reference is usually the key point in getting another job.
Oh its a small pizza shop I thought it was at somewhere like Pizza Hut, wouldn't get that at Pizza Hut. Still they can't treat their workers like that, instead of firing you they SHOULD give you the option to quit because you can't continue working.
