Workplace discrimination for ADHD- has anyone successfully claimed against their employer?

[Pizza4life]

Hi, I'm new here (I live in England).I was diagnosed with ADHD six months ago, but I had voiced my concerns of struggling at work in the months prior. Before and after my diagnosis my employer has refused my hybrid working request without discussion. I work in a very busy, noisy environment and my performance and mental health were suffering as a result. After waiting 10 weeks, and following me lodging a grievance, I was provided with a 'partition screen' which is actually a paper hospital curtain! The purpose of it is to minimise interruption and disturbance, but it does neither of these things and instead attracts unwanted banter.

This week I was told that my department are being made redundant, as we are not making enough sales. I should point out that my department is myself and my jobshare colleague, who has been largely absent for months due to chemotherapy.

I feel so angry that this situation has been allowed to happen. I believe that they had intended this redundancy for a long time, and that's why no real support was provided. I want to fight this, but there's no way that I have the strength (and concentration!) needed to represent myself. Does anyone have real life experience of legally challenging their employer? Or any real advice?

Thanks.

[Throbbing]

No experience of this, but my advice...

-join a union of you aren't already in one

-request an Access to Work assessment ASAP via gov.uk/access-to-work

-speak to HR if they aren't already involved regarding the refusal and get copies of any relevant policies from them

They are supposed to help you. I had similar issues at my place of work but they were making a third of us redundant around the time I was diagnosed so took the money and left and had the Access to Work assessment too.

[Pizza4life in reply to Throbbing]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately unions won't provide representation for matters that arose before you join. I took your advice and have applied for an Access to Work assessment. I stupidly thought that this was something that the employer applied for. Hopefully I can get this before I leave!

I work for a small organisation that uses an external HR company. They were pretty useless during my grievance. But I do have copies of all the relevant policies. I'm seeking legal advice, but it's all so complicated and very expensive.

[aew83]

Hello!

I have researched accommodations and discussed it very briefly with my supervisor at work but was able to work a slightly earlier schedule without seeking any official accommodation for now but I know I will have to in order to stay much longer but putting it off like everything else. One of the best resources that I have found and use is askjan.org.

—You can check out the page with ADHD specifics here:

askjan.org/disabilities/Att...

—You can also view the ADA guidelines here:

eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enfo...

You may already be aware of both of those but I hope you find the information and support you need as you navigate this process.

All the best,

April

[Pizza4life in reply to aew83]

Thanks April. I live and work in the UK, but a lot of the guidance is very similar. One of the top recommendations for ADHD employees is working from home, its a no brainer.Thanks for your well wishes.

[Quincie]

Honestly it sounds like you & the job weren't a good fit. The work environment (noise/distractions) sounds awful. Move on & look for something better.

[Mamamichl]

can you go to your boss’ boss with your concern, or maybe HR? In the United States, we have ADA, and basically makes an iep for our work conditions. Although it helped a bit, I still have a toxic boss too.

[Pizza4life in reply to Mamamichl]

It's an external HR company, and they're only interested in protecting their 'client'. I've jumped through a lot of hoops already, and keep getting fobbed off.

[Mamamichl in reply to Pizza4life]

That sucks hard… try calling the ada hotline?