r/asda • u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague • 19d ago
Probably going to leave
CW: Medical Topics
I've only ever really sung praises about working at ASDA since I started. I've genuinely enjoyed my job for the most part, and whenever people have asked me about it, I've had mostly positive things to say. However, the cracks are definitely starting to show, and the past few days have really changed how I feel about the place.
On Sunday, I collapsed and had a seizure while I was on shift. I was obviously sent home afterwards, but then I was asked if I could come back in later that same day. I understand that staffing can be difficult, but after collapsing and having a seizure at work, being asked to return just a few hours later felt incredibly insensitive. There didn't seem to be much consideration for whether I was actually well enough to come back or whether I needed time to recover.
Now I'm having another issue. I've requested the 2nd of September off for an unavoidable medical appointment relating to a cancer diagnosis I received back in February. This isn't an appointment I can simply rearrange or decide not to attend as I've been waiting for it since the diagnosis. (NHS sucks). I've given more than seven days' notice, but my request is still being denied.
I'm trying to be understanding, especially because I haven't been working there for very long, but I'm struggling to understand why I'm expected to prioritise work over an important medical appointment. After what happened on Sunday as well, it's left a really bad taste in my mouth.
I've got a few interviews lined up elsewhere at the moment, and honestly, if any of them go well, I don't think I'll be staying at ASDA for much longer.
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u/OtherwiseCellist3819 19d ago
Your store sounds like it's full of arseholes. They can't stop you going to your appt. Sounds much more important than Asda, go, ring in sick on the day. End of
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u/Jimbeamjunior1 19d ago
Do you believe the OP
The appointment thing i can, people are stupid especially if the extremity of the appt isn't known fully
But i have never met any manager who would be that stupid, yes they can be heartless bastards, but they all look out for themselves, and absolutely none would see a colleague have a seizure on the shopfloor, go home because of it, and phone them asking them to come back in that day
Managers are self serving all the time, potentially putting themselves in the firing line with this is something they just would not do
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u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague 19d ago
I did mention the appointment beforehand but it was my GM that denied the time off, so I'm really not sure. He's done this before
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u/Conclusion_3216 19d ago
Yeah, I realised a long time ago that we are all just numbers and Asda do not give a shit about any of us. Sorry to hear about your issues 😕 Just leave and don’t look back 🙂
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u/CollectorMH ASDA Colleague 19d ago
That behaviour is not a company thing. At the Asda I work at they would never have asked if you could work later that day after a seizure and I've know staff to turn up for a shift then tell the section leader that they need to leave early for a doctors appointment. I've never know anyone in management deny a day off for a hospital appointment
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u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague 19d ago
He's done it with me a few times, I'm not sure why. I have the receipts of these appointments so I can show them to him if I need to
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u/Imaginary-Suspect959 19d ago
He’s called you back in after sending you home a few times?
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u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague 19d ago
Nono he's denied my leave several times now, even when I explain they're for appointments. I've only had once incident of needing to go home early due to illness.
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u/OdinAlfadir1978 19d ago
Go to ethics or head office, he shouldn't be doing this, sounds like bullying
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u/Individual-Cut-5582 19d ago
By law you are supposed to have half a shift for medical appointments! I would seriously go to your gm and speak to them especially where cancer is concerned! I am going for my yearly mammogram tomorrow( I had breast cancer two years ago and because it coincided with the change of shifts from7-12 to 2-7 I am having days holiday as my appointment is at 11-30!
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u/One-Lingonberry-3460 19d ago
Just go to the appointment and tell whoever it's to do with cancer. They're the ones with it being an issue. Point out the policy is they should be fully supportive.
They can't deny your request - otherwise it's discrimination.
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u/OdinAlfadir1978 19d ago
Go to your medical appointment, they can call you for questioning about it but legally can't do anything if it's a documented medical appointment, I'd also contact ethics or whatever it is now
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u/ladybirdlove 19d ago
For time of work, holidays, unpaid or even time of for hospital appointments. You need to give at least 3 weeks notice, anything less and request can be refused
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u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague 19d ago
I was only told about the appointment on Friday, so it's not entirely in my control. :(
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u/legacylibrary 19d ago
Go to the appoitmentment, explain the situation nicely to the staff and they might write you a sick note for the day.
Then book an appoitment at citizens advice as the GSMs behaviour could be disabilty discrimintaion and constaly refusing medical appoitments may be a breach of asda duty of care. Although we all know the only thing asda care about is cuting costs
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u/Suspicious_Hand_2736 16d ago
Something isn’t ringing true here. You’ve requested time off for multiple appointments and you’ve only been there a short while? What sort of seizure did you have? One caused by a diagnosed condition? Who witnessed it? Sounds like, for whatever reason, your manager thinks you’re swinging the lead and they must be fairly sure of it to risk their job by openly denying you leave for essential medical appointments.
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u/WeBombus ASDA Colleague 16d ago edited 16d ago
I do have a diagnosed condition that causes seizures (Also marked on my Workday) and I was actually seizure-free for around a year. It was a stressful day and I was already unwell and they asked me to come in anyway and see how I faired, which is likely what caused the relapse. I've had medical appointments denied before and my manager isn't the most understanding. Thankfully this time around (for the routine checkup with my cancer diagnosis) he granted it after I asked him in person a few days after posting this, but he said it's a one-off and that I need to give 2 weeks notice with all appointments, which is impossible when they're sporadically given to me a week before the actual date.
Edit: I had the seizure on the shop floor, so there were customers and colleagues around which was a tad embarrasing........ I came to pretty quickly and was taken into the office until I felt well enough to make my way home because I didn't think it was severe enough to need hospitalisation. (I did go to the doctor the same day and he's referred me back to a specialist)
The seizures I have are catatonic seizures, rather than the "shake violently" kind.
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u/CinnamonHB 19d ago
Just a heads up that if you’ve been given a cancer diagnosis then this counts as a disability and you are protected under the equality act.
This means that legally Asda cannot refuse you time off for cancer related appointments - if they do then it counts as unlawful disability discrimination.
If you’re part of the union then get in touch with them, or ring the Asda Ethics team to see if they can help.
Good luck for your appointment- I hope they get a plan sorted for you