Hybrid Working Advice

[kikimouse17]

hello I’ve been off with a major flare since November and am planning to return to work next week

My GP and OHS have both recommended hybrid working as I live quite far from the office and it’s a long drive in and out. Plus I find the sensory overload in the office can be a major trigger

I had previously worked a number of days at home before my most recent flare

However talking to my head of section today it is possible they won’t allow me to work from home at all

OHS have made it really clear I am covered under the disability discrimination act which is good but am SO STRESSED now following the call today

I had assumed that working from home would just be agreed again and now worried I’ll have to start fighting with them about this

Has anyone any advice on this or anything from their own experience?

Thank you! Xxx

[Ninapod]

Hello KikimouseWhen I returned to work after being off for 5 months the OH team were brilliant in writing a plan for me to return to work. I also spoke to iTalk and their employment specialist helped me with a letter to my employers regarding revised working hours.

It is so stressful returning to work. Can you tell your employer about these anxieties? Do they realise that what they have said about your return has added to your worry and which in turn has an impact on your health?

I understand that you don't want to threaten them the disability discrimination act but I said I would need certain conditions in order to go back to work and not be off sick again. Have they got information about fibromyalgia and how it can affect you?

I know hard it can be - wishing you good luck.

[kikimouse17 in reply to Ninapod]

Hello thank you for your reply. It helps so much to realise you’re not the only person in this situation! I have been off for about 5 months also, after a 5 month period last year when I was first diagnosed

I have been super stressed and also very very sore following my call yesterday and keep catastrophising about the worst case scenarios happening! I’ve been speaking to a counsellor from Inspire which is similar to iTalk and she has been very supportive

I think I’ll need to just be strong and keep emphasising that my GP and OH doctor have both said I need to be allowed hybrid working and just hoping my head of section can get something approved I don’t want be invoking legislation or getting my union involved just yet, but thank you that’s a great suggestion to emphasise that the adjustments are both to help me do my job and also to help prevent me being off again

Thank you again - very much appreciated

[SpikeDinosaur]

Hi kikimouse,I am not an expert, but I do have reasonable adjustments at work and I also make them for people in my team. Employers have to make reasonable adjustments under employment legislation.

The key here is 'reasonable'. There are some sorts of work that could clearly never be done from home, and others where some home working is easily accommodated. In most roles though there are good business reasons to spend some time with your team.

You say that you have an OHS report, which I am assuming you have shared with your manager.

I would ask the manager to respond to the recommendations of the report in writing, setting out what they can or can't do to make the adjustments that have been recommended. Once you have this then you can respond in terms of what might be possible for you. So, it could be that you could go to the office a couple of days a week. It's often a bit of a compromise between what you and they would ideally want. It could be that you need to work shorter days when you are in the office. Or you might find not attending on consecutive days works best.

Ultimately, if they have a business need for you to be in the office and you can't do that, then it could end in you being dismissed. Unfortunately only a court can determine whether the business should have made the adjustments or not. And that depends on all sorts of factors, like the nature of the work, the size of the company, whether you are new to role or you are responsible for leading others and a whole bunch of other things. One thing on your side is that you worked from home previously, so you can point to how well that worked.

It's all a bit complicated, and really depends on the individual circumstances. But if you try and work with your manager whilst getting everything in writing then you will be in the best position, whichever way it turns out. Lots of times with a bit if conversation and compromise you can make it work. So don't give up! If you have a union then talk to the rep. If you have employee assistance then they might be able to help too. Good luck, hope it works out for you.

[kikimouse17 in reply to SpikeDinosaur]

Thank you so much. Yes I worked fully from home for three years during lockdowns, and then have been working two to three days from home since. Prior to this flare I was working partially from home partially in the office and it worked very well for me and my manager was content that everything was being done work wise

Yes my head of section has the OHS report. She is supposed to be responding to my adjustment requests by end of this week. Thank you that’s very good advice re getting everything documented from her.

Am very much hoping I won’t have to get the union involved and something can just be agreed as I’m getting super stressed just working it all out currently

[Fiz16]

hiya wat symptoms did u hv in this flare up as im currently off sick with stiffness & pain & my gp said potentially there could be other symptoms developing ?? your flare up has been long term what symptoms have been worse to manage ?? ty x

[kikimouse17 in reply to Fiz16]

Hello - this flare has been mainly crushing fatigue, low mood, a lot of pain, disrupted sleep, sensory overload. I’ve changed some of my medication and am getting outside to exercise more now which is helping now the evenings are brighter. The main fatigue is the hardest one for me to manage. When I’m feeling ok I tend to overdo things and then suffer for it the next day

I find if I’m doing things like gardening or walking it helps to take my mind off the pain as well but I find it difficult in work when I’m in pain to focus

This is my second five month period of sickness with fibro and I am doing everything I can to get this one under control so I can try to get back to a normal routine again

I hope you’re ok!

[Marie56]

Hi, just to add to the advice you’ve been given, if the OHS have recommended hybrid working, then your organisation has a duty to implement that as a reasonable adjustment you need. In my case Access to work advised me to speak with Acas as they did not understand why the OHS’s recommendations were not being implemented and my employers wanted me back in the office 3days a week which is too much for me.

Please note that you can also seek advice from Acas in light of your disabilities. I am in a similar situation and I have informed Acas who have accepted my case for conciliation with my employers. If this doesn’t work, then I will progress to the employment tribunal. The OHS is a health professional and my employers will have to explain why the advice given is being disregarded. I hope this helps.

[kikimouse17 in reply to Marie56]

Thank you so much that really does help. I am making myself worse the last few days stressing about this! I hope you get something sorted out with this also and thank you so much for your help xx

[jimmyshoes]

I asked to work from home and was told a fim no despite being disabled and had extra suppirt at work. I was so angry when Covid hit and all the workforce, approx 400 people worked from home except a skeleton staff. I had been declared unfit for work and never returned. Didn't hsve energy any longer to challenge a, blatant discrimination. Thankfully I got a very small pension years early but they lost me as no doubt could hsve worked in parttime basis in my own manageable home surroundings where I could be comfortable plus attend numerous hospital apts and treatments.Their loss but strange how others got permission without any health issues for reason to do exactly what I requested.

[kikimouse17 in reply to jimmyshoes]

I am so sorry to hear this. I feel the same about Covid working from home as I did that for three years with no work issues but they have a nebulous ‘business needs’ reason for wanting me full time in the office now. I totally understand about energy needed to fight them on this as well. It’s exhausting. I hope you are well and enjoying your retirement away from work!

[jimmyshoes in reply to kikimouse17]

It is ok now I have accepted it but definitely very hard to process that decisions are made like that.