My mom works in a factory, using machines to weld parts. She has had a back surgery a few years ago. Over the course of the last 6 months the pain is worse than ever. The drs. ordered her off work for a month and a half for rehab. She has went back, with no limitations although her back is KILLING her. She's getting ready to go back to a doctor for possible surgery. In the meantime, the people she works for has made work a living hell. At first they switched her to a more difficult machine because she "wasn't putting out enough parts"(even though she was doing more than most people in the plant). So, she calls me today in tears. She said they took her off all machines and she has to sweep the floors. They make her move to areas where she can be watched at all times. She's not allowed to take breaks when everyone else does, she has to run a machine during that time and take a break when everyone returns. The same for lunch. She has to wait an extra half hour until everyone gets back before she takes hers. She told me her hands are bleeding from sweeping so much. I am LIVID!! She said she went to a Human Rights place but they told her the place where she works is out of their district, but advised her to get a lawyer. I don't know if I'm seeking advise now...I just needed to vent. I feel so bad for her, but there's nothing I can do right now.

By Mrse on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 12:45 pm:

If it were my mom, I would be telling her to go to her doctor, and explain the situation, the back pain, and how she is being treated, and get him, to put her on stress leave. We have labour relations here, and if you have a problem at work, then you have to go to them, and follow thier steps to get things resolved. Would she be able to get a lawyer? also is she in the age bracket to get her pension early? I say stress leave,lawyer, early retirement ( if possible).let us know how things are going, how sad to be treated like that at work

By Mommyathome on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 01:01 pm:

That is terrible. Sweeping is horrible for a bad back anyway. I hope she finds the help she needs to get things taken care of. They shoudln't be treating her like that.
(((hugs)))

By Trisa on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 01:29 pm:

That is awful. No advice but I am very sorry.

By Kolbysmom on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 01:40 pm:

She has an appointment on Tuesday. I don't know the medical name for this but they're going to put little needles into her back to pinpoint the pain, then look into surgery options. She went to her regular doctor the other day and she's breaking out in hives and her blood pressure is up. He said it was due to stress. She's 46 and I don't know if early retirement is an option. She's only worked at this place for 5 or 6 yrs. Up until then she was a stay at home mom until her and my got a divorce. I think they're just trying to get her to quit, but she's not the type to give up easily. She did she's going to call her lawyer and see what he can do.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 04:46 pm:

She needs a lawyer who specializes in Workers Compensation and employment discrimination issues, especially disability issues.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 04:47 pm:

The reason they are trying to get her to quit is if she quits they are off the hook. If they fire her, given her age and physical problems, she could try to claim age and/or disability discrimination. She really, really needs a lawyer to advise her.