I have a very severe case of Carpal Tunnel in both my hands. I cannot lift nothing, the pain is very bad. I have my family doctor and a neurologist excuse. I work for Timken, in Ohio. Can I be fired?

Do you want to be fired ?

Are you working in a union contract?

Do you have an employment contract?

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Originally Posted by dhobbs

Can I be fired?

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Hello d:

Maybe.

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that says:

"Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:

* for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;

* for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;

* to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or

* to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition."

To secure your rights under this law, if you have any, visit an employment attorney.

excon

To be eligible for FMLA benefits, an employee must:
• work for a covered employer;
• have worked for the employer for a total of 12 months;
• have worked at least 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months; and
• work at a location in the United States or in any territory or possession of the United States where at least 50 employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles.

The FMLA entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons.

Please go to www.dol.gov.

And is this illness related to your job, have you filed it on workers comp.

Next as noted what is your company leave of absence policy, are you covered by the federal law for leave ?

Please give more info, for example, what is your plans, are you going to have surgery for it and go back to work after recovery ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dhobbs

I have a very severe case of Carpal Tunnel in both my hands. I cannot lift nothing, the pain is very bad. I have my family doctor and a neurologist excuse. I work for Timken, in Ohio. Can I be fired?

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others have addressed your particular question. I would like to address the medical side of carpal tunnel, a most dibilitating condition for sure and if your particular case is severe then I know what you are going through. As others of said, no you can't be fired, you have a documented medical condition brought on by your repetitive work conditions, and this has to be addressed in some way by your employers if you are a valued employee. Ergonomic working conditions should be provided for you, if not by them, by you, if you value your job.

Has your neurologist suggested surgery to correct this condition, although correction of carpal tunnel is uncertain and recovery is not promised. Splints are a recommendation by some doctors and this does allow you to work without a tremendous amount of pain.

What type of job do you perform at Timken? I usually connect carpal tunnel with repetitive desk work on a keyboard, or other repetitive work involved wrist and hand movement?

ms tickle

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Originally Posted by tickle

Do you want to be fired ?

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As for poster Preadie's disagree, well, I imagine some people would want to get fired, because here in Ontario, benefits are a lot better and quicker if they are fired. *Yes I know he is in Ohio* So although my comment wasn't helpful, it was my opinion nonethe less. I have followed this up with my own comments on the medical side of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Tick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dhobbs

I have a very severe case of Carpal Tunnel in both my hands. I cannot lift nothing, the pain is very bad. I have my family doctor and a neurologist excuse. I work for Timken, in Ohio. Can I be fired?

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If you cannot perform your regular job at Timken then I suggest that you look into filing for Disability. I know several people who used to work for Timken that ended up being on permanent disability due to what sort of job they did at this company. Even if you are fired you can still start a disability claim and probably win. Although it will take years before you do win your disabiilty so don't despair. Carpal tunnel in both wrists means you can't do many jobs realistically. See your doctor to have him determine what percentage your disability is and then start the disability process. I had carpal tunnel in both wrists from doing too much typing. My dr told me to quit my job and don't use my hands to type anything for 2 years! I did what he said and my wrists got better to the point where I can at least type an hour or so each day now and not have pain. I don't recommend that you take a 2 year hiatus but this worked for me. The total nonuse of your hands is critical otherwise you won't be able to have the use of your hands period for anything.