New job

[Mrsbroomm]

My niece has started a new job after a year of applying. It's a medical receptionist traineeeship. She lives with her grandparents and they need her to work. She tells me she doesn't want to be a receptionist but I try to explain it's not her forever job but she needs training and experience so this is a good job to have.

Yesterday was her 4th shift and was her longest. It came about she was feeling sick and got upset when they asked her what was wrong. They ended up sending her in to see a doc who diagnosed her with anxiety and gave her a mental health plan, they also called in the psychologist. They discussed how she feels that when she talks people are judging her.

her Nanna is furious that she has told her employer she has anxiety. She thinks my niece will lose her job and she is so negative about the whole thing.

Has she done the wrong thing letting her employer know there is something wrong. Will she lose her job? They seem pretty good to me, they told her she was employed over 250 other people and lots were more confident and that she is not going anywhere. How can I convince my mum that everything will be ok and she won't lose her job. She is on 6 month probation. She doesn't have another shift until Monday and I can't help but worry what will happen.

[Kazzl]

Hello Mrsbroomm, welcome to the forum. Your niece is fortunate to have such a caring aunty.

My personal view is that your niece has done the right thing by disclosing her anxiety - better to be open about it and get help then to try to put on a facade and keep it secret when it is hurting her. By getting treatment now at an early stage she is better placed to learn how to manage it and recover, rather than let it become worse and possibly develop into a serious condition over time.

I'm pleased to hear her workplace is supportive - what you would expect from a medical practice where seeing people experiencing anxiety would be nothing new at all to the doctors! And they have a duty of care to her as an employee.

It might help your mother to know that people cannot be sacked for having a mental health problem - your nieces' rights are protected by legislation, specifically anti-discrimination legislation and the Mental Health Act. It might also help her to learn more about anxiety so she can be supportive - there are good resources on our main website that you could encourage her to read. Perhaps explain too that your niece needs support, not criticism, if she is get well as soon as possible, and that it is just an illness and should be treated with the same care and concern as a physical ailment. Your niece would not be fearing dismissal if she had suddenly come down with flu or broken a leg, and her grandmother could try to see it that way.

I hope this helps

Best wishes to you and your family

Kaz