Struggling in my new role at work.

[eescvc]

I work as a graphic designer, and up until March was in a role that had been created specifically for me as an accomodation for the needs and limitations of my Lupus.

Unfortunately the company made some redundancies at this time and subsequently the department I worked for was dissolved. They moved me to an existing role elsewhere in the company.

This new role is still design based, but is technical based instead of creative. It involves multiple short term projects day to day. I can be working on between 10-20 projects per day (My old role was long term projects, 5-10 per month) and I need to ensure everything is technically correct. The problem is this role is just completely unsuitable for me.

I did bring this up back in March when the role was initially proposed, but I was assured it would be made suitable. I therefore asked for reasonable adjustments of a pre planned workload and written briefs with clear step by step instructions.

These adjustments are not always being met, but most importantly even with them, it's the nature of the role I am struggling with. It is fast paced and technical, and doesn't allow me to pace myself, and I am struggling majorly with my brain fog.

I have told my line manager I am struggling and she's reassured me that they'll try to ensure the adjustments are more frequently met, but I don't know how to tell them that it won't be enough. I'm scared of losing my job.

What would my next steps be?

[DJK99]

Hello. Sorry to read your post and can completely empathise with what you are going through. All the information you need is in the Lupus UK information leaflets on their site - "I want to Work" for you and "When an Employee Has Lupus" for you to give to your line manager and Occupational Health Team. lupusuk.org.uk/working-with... But in a nutshell - have you any kind of Occupational Health team linked to your company? You should be referred to them by your line manager. If not, I would ask your Rheumatologist or whoever is your clinician to write a recommendation to your line manager or whoever that you are able to pace, work from home, have reduced stress role etc due to your condition, listing the symptoms and how you need to manage them. I previously worked in Social Work and was juggling up to 20 high risk/intense cases a day and also being on the front line duty for one week a month on top of that. This was generally extremely difficult for most of the team but for someone dealing with our issues, after a very long haul, it ultimately led to me needing to retire on ill health grounds as I just couldn't manage it, even with Reasonable Adjustments. The next step for you would be to discuss having those adjustments and see if this works for you.. I am possibly a little older than you (nearly 58), not that age is necessarily a factor, but it certainly adds to the difficulties of dealing with a high stress, exhausting roll. I do hope that helps. Good luck, keep safe, D

[Insomniacette in reply to DJK99]

I would also speak to your rheumy and/or GP.

Maybe write out the key points of what you feel needs to change at your work for you to do your job. Talk these through with your doctor, leave him/her with the points and ask if he/she will write a note to your employer outlining this clearly to them if they agree with you. Hang in there!!xx

PS I would also keep records of meetings and anything pertinent to your manager/company asking you to do things contrary to your health. Hopefully you won't need to use them, but worth having them to hand in case! Also maybe join a union too. Again, just in case. And a final thing to think about is income protection insurance (companies will have that for their employees sometimes, hopefully you won't need to use it, but again, it's another safety net)

[miccika1]

How are opportunities outside this company? What happens if you lose this job?

[CecilyParsley]

Hi eescvc are you in a Union? Have you been referred to Occupational Health? The more you try to struggle on the more stressed you will become. I am so very sorry that you have been put in this position. Do you know of another position in your company that might be better suited to your talents? I do hope that you get it sorted out xx

[SurferGuy]

Hey eescvc, first things first... what ever you're doing right now, stop. Then sit for a while and don't think. Close eyes if needed. Then stand up, close your eyes. Take a very deep breath in. Hold for 2 seconds. Then breathe out for 3 seconds

Right, now to business 😀

You've already had some excellent advice on here. And to that I'd also like to add the following. Apologies if I've repeated anything that's been advised already.

I know exactly where you're coming from. Been in a similar position myself a couple of times and it's been horrible.

Let's think of all the positives for now:

You've managed to stay in the job whereas others were made redundant. They like you 👍

They trust you enough to give you technical work, which means they have faith in you 👍

They've made some reasonable adjustments, which means they appreciate and understand your illness 👍

They've said they'll make the adjustments more frequent 👍

Now for the negatives (with positives):

The role isn't totally suitable to you. But, you're new to the role so I appreciate why you feel this way. Over time, you might become totally accustomed to it. It'll just take a little time. Again, I've been in exactly the same position. I was given a role that I'd never done before, and one which should never have been given to me I though on this basis. But when I spoke to my senior senior senior boss, he told me that they saw the potential in me over everyone else and felt I was the only one for the role. After a few very very very hard and stressful months, I got in to the grove of things.

The adjustments which are not being made. This isn't an option for the company. It's a MUST! I can fully appreciate why your manager may not be doing this. She too may be sacred of losing her role. But again, this can't be an excuse! You should sit with her over a cuppa and discuss exactly what adjustments are needed and why. I'm sure you've already done the following, but just in case you haven't, in the most sincere and firstly, slightly informally BUT formally have the chat with her and outline again what adjustments you require and how they will help both you AND the business. . And then have these adjustments formally sent to you.

And if these adjustments are not frequent, the company is in breach of the disability law. A reasonable adjustment cannot be made when it suits the business. It's there to support the individual.

Please keep us updated