u/Havishamesque

(Apologies in advance for this novel of a post)
Hello! I was recommended to post here as some wonderful person might be able to help.

I’ve been in breast cancer treatment since January 2025. Finished active treatment last summer, but have ongoing meetings with Oncology. I recently started a new job - 18 months with no salary or benefits (and cancer) has kicked my ass.

I was honest from day one that this was the situation, and assured them I’d minimize time out as much as I can. And I did. I always arrived at 7:25-30, half hour lunch, if I took one, and always left 5:15-5:30. So I put in my hours. I had to have three appts, one of which I made for after hours and left around 4:15. Two more I had to travel from Georgetown to Newmarket for appts so that took half a day.

When I told my new boss, her face was ….disappointed. I also told HR. I needed them to know that I’d occasionally have to go to appts, and I had to let them know in case any medical issue arose at work. They all spoke of being supportive and ‘whatever you need’. My boss assured me that I worked more than enough hours and she wasn’t worried about the time. That began to wane as time went on. I did my best and I am definitely still over in hours, despite the two appts.

I should also say, I asked my boss how I was doing at the 6-7 week time. She said that I knew all the ‘tasks’ perfectly, and was a great fit. But I didn’t seem to understand the ‘processes’. She then acknowledged that they’d taught me the tasks, but not the process so that was on them. One of the people from whom I took responsibility taught me three whole tasks on day one. Day. One. Was then openly aggressive and hostile when I had questions. (I had other women come and ask if I had the same issues with him - he’s known as an asshole, which he loves, and he stomps around, walking in to meetings and yelling at people if he heard anything he didn’t like….anyway, hostile, aggressive asshole - and my boss always tried to run interference when he’d been especially offensive). Said asshole had sent a nasty gram about 8 weeks in ‘yelling’ that I needed to work on some admin stuff, and he wanted it done now. Ironically, I finished that long job on Monday and was about to let them know on Tuesday, before they fired me. I definitely was not set up for success, but I left them totally up to date, and ready for the incoming jobs.

I know I’m probably shit out of luck because it’s probation. However, if I can even get it looked at to possibly get EI, or something, I’ll take it. Any suggestions?

Hello lovely ladies of the boob board! I’m hoping someone can offer some non cancer advice.

I was just let go, right at the end of my probation period in a new job. My boss had previously said that they’d taught me all the tasks but not the processes so I was on the back foot from day one. (And the other ‘trainer’ was borderline abusive….and not to just me, apparently). They’ve been clearly not nuts about the medical situation. I tried to keep the appts down but some I couldn’t avoid. I was always in early, and left late. Often skipped lunch. And I was finally on top of all the tasks, even the abusive stuff. But I couldn’t miss the appointments. And my bone density test last week shows ‘significant loss of bone density in the lumbar spine’ which I’d told my boss about (she’s a survivor (skin cancer) and seemed supportive). It shows low risk of fracture, but it’s a bit of a blow.

I’m in probation so I could be screwed. But I really feel like this was impacted by my cancer. I was open from day one, and the facial expressions were less than warm and fuzzy. I’ve been very open….maybe too open.

18 mos of cancer and no salary or benefits has kicked my ass in the finances. Honestly, I didn’t like the job, but I feel like this was unfair, and prejudicial around the cancer. Anyone have any tips or suggestions? Be gentle - if it’s just ‘yeah, you’re screwed’ be nice about it. I’m a little tender. 😬