Reasonable Work Adjustments - does anybody have experience of or recommendations regarding reasonable adjustments at work to request of my employer? I am currently on sick leave but hoping to return on a phased return soon. I am due to be seen by their Occupational Health nurse with a view to understanding what adjustments I need to return full time in due course.
I suffer with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety and severe dry eyes. I am chronically fatigued and have poor quality sleep waking feeling unrefreshed even after 11 hours (disturbed) sleep each night. My GP is supporting me with medication and CBT counselling. Both help but are limited. . I want to make a successful return without having to go on sick leave again but am not sure what constitute “reasonable adjustments”.
I work in sales leading a team of people in a high stress environment. I am home-based and at the moment that means staring at screens in meetings or doing admin all day long. Pre-COVID it would involve attending meetings two hours from home and travel nationally to see customers and team. Hours can be long and travelling onerous. Early starts and late finishes commonplace. Air on in cars and office buildings also affected my eyes considerably.
I am currently recovering from elbow surgery due to arthritis but am under pressure to return to work by my employer. Previously I had been signed off work for 8 weeks with work related stress as I have been subject to workplace bullying and discrimination for which I had to raise a grievance against my manager. Last year I also suffered two bereavements of very close family members.
Thanks for reading this and if you have any suggestions for reasonable adjustments I should request I would be grateful.
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TeddyandGimli
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Ah how long is a piece of string - reasonable adjustments for me consisted:- car parking space by the door so no walking from the main car park. Handrails in the toilets and by the basin. New chair, modified uniform (I have osteoarthritis and various other ailments so cannot lift my arms up to put on anything that doesn't undo all the way down). More breaks if I need but to be honest I find breaks a problem as I seize up so it was agreed no breaks but I would leave early which suits me. I have modified hours in the winter, longer in summer as I cannot drive in the dark.
Remember any adjustments also have to work for the employer and they do not have to carry them out it is advisory. However should they choose not to then they leave themselves open to a claim under the Equality Act 2010. My husband's firm took this route and it cost them a considerable sum. He was also the subject of bullying in the workplace. They made no allowance for his cancer, GCA/PMR and the fact he had two heart attacks. They considered these minor ailments and actually put that in writing.
You are entitled to see any report the occupational health person makes before it is sent to your employer. Wise to insist on this because any inaccuracies can be dealt with before your employer sees it.
Before you see occy health make a list of the things you think would help you stay in work, and don't assume the person compiling the report knows anything about fibro - you will find you have to explain how it is time and time again because the dreaded fibro affects us all differently.
For me, reasonable adjustments included an assessment by Access to Work who provided my chair, ergonomic keyboard, mouse pad and foot stool. I work Mon, Wed, Fri so I have a day off, hours are 10.00-3.30 so I can avoid rush hour traffic. Working mainly from home still, but even before covid I could work from home for a day or two if I wasn't feeling too well.
Hi, I suffer similar ailments. My physical reasonable adjustments were a height adjustable desk so I can frequently stand/sit, ergonomic chair, footrest, soft touch keyboard, roller mouse, footrest, dual monitors on raised, moveable arms rather than at desk level - the latter really helped upper back and neck stiffness. My non-physical ones were increased trigger points for sick absences, increased frequency of breaks, more flexible hours with ability to change working days as required, restricted workload to what I am experienced in rather than take on ‘new’ work or clients I am not experienced in or familiar with.
It all helps mitigate symptoms but I am still struggling to remain in work.
Good luck - don’t assume the OH assessor understands fibro though!
Lots of people have reasonable adjustments made in work but nit one size fits all if you go on gov website you can fill a form in for access to work they will come into your work place and get the correct adjustments made for you I had been given a chair that tge company ordered that they said would help with my condition unfortunately it was totally the incorrect chair for me and made my pain worse once atw had been in they had a chair made for me it was totally different to tge one the company provided as a special chair as they called it. It will not cost you anything for them to come in and tgey will also give a full report tgey pay for taxis for.me to and from work when we where in the office but like yourself I have been working from home which gave me the flexibility to work when I felt able to as some days flares got bad and not been able to carry out my hours but while working from home means I can go online when I can't sleep and work my hours then my productivity has increased while working this way and no longer have to face the issue of travelling to and from work and I am really hoping I can continue this way or may have to end my working life as tge travel is to.mych for me now
Some wise words already here from others. Helpful stuff. I returned to work after 2 years off because of major brain surgery (large brain aneurysm clipped). After meetings with Occupational Health and manager I was phased in for 5 weeks, which was great. Nothing like my actual job though. During the phasing in I was in a nice peaceful office out of the way of distraction and I was mostly reading and catching up on stuff and doing the necessary tests on our intranet, all to do with my work.
After the 5 weeks I was back in my actual role and, sorry to say, the adjustments suggested by my Neuropsychologist, were not put in place properly. Truth is, they just weren't understood by my workplace or colleagues. They looked at me and saw me looking fine and as I'd returned after 2 years they saw me as the person I used to be. I wasn't and I never will be. Suggested breaks were eventually granted, but 15 minutes as and when convenient for work. They didn't tie in with my needs - cognitive function issues - and I had to work extra time to make up for the break. I was supposed to be uninterrupted, not disturbed, left to concentrate on my work. Just not possible. Just not that sort of work. I was multi-tasking and busy full-on from start to finish.
Eleven months after returning I had a stroke at work on a very busy day. Colleagues noticed I wasn't right, but everyone was so busy no-one stopped to ask how I was, no-one suggested I take a break or go home or call an ambulance. My sons did that when they saw the state of me when I arrived home. I was off sick again because of the stroke, which knocked me back and added to the issues I was left with after the surgery. After a year and a bit off I was dismissed from work because of ill-health. Thirty four years in a job I loved and was very good at before the health issues. Relieved to say that after 7 months of zero income I have finally been granted Medical Retirement and I can concentrate on getting on with life.
So do make sure that your issues are explained and fully understood so that suitable adjustments are made. All the very best to you. I hope all goes very well xx
Thankyou for sharing your experience and advice. I am so sorry for what you had to go through. In many ways I am not surprised and in others I am shocked. I am so glad you have your medical retirement now and I hope you enjoy it with the best possible health. Best wishes and thanks.
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