Long Term Sickness

[honeybabe]

I have been working in the same part time job for 6 years but have been off sick for a year with M.E.It is likely that I will still be off for some time.My employers are in regular contact and seem to be subtley putting me under pressure to return to work or resign .As I am part of a team it has been pointed out that they cant fill my place as I am still officially "employed".I have tried to get from them what terms they would offer me in light of my illness with regards to hours etcif/when I did return but cant seem to get anywhere.
Are they permitted to basically hassle me out of my job or should they keep my job open.. and if so for how long? I havent paid into any pension fund so they have already told me i am not eligible to be pensioned off due to illness.

[Gertie73]

My situation is just the same as honeybabe's except that in addition to my being off since March 12 with suspected ME I was off work 9 months last year due to open heart surgery. My return to work after the op failed as I ended up completely exhausted and I still have a carer in everyday to help look after me and my little girl. They've asked me to consider how long I expect them to keep my job open for me " as there's nothing in it for me after I'm on nil pay and it's not in the interest of the business". I was gobsmacked. Can I get good legal advice on legal aid for this? I get free medical insurance, life insurance and most of all hope that one day I will be well enough to return to work, even if I don't know when that will be.