Work is not accepting a reasonable adjustment request

ellen18

Hi, I have just joined and i am needing a bit of advice please re my disability and workplace . I hope it’s ok to ask on here. Thankyou

Wibbles

Hello @ellen18 yes of course you can ask anything that you like

Please remember not to include any personal information

Rosie_Scope

Hello @ellen18, welcome to the community. You'd be very welcome to ask anything you need to, we've got lots of helpful members so I'm sure you'll get some good advice.

We have a section for Work, so you can either make a post there, or you can just ask away here if that's easier, it's no problem at all 😊

Bluebell21

Hello @ellen18 Welcome to the Community from me to. You can ask any questions you have.

Take care.

ellen18

Thankyou all for your warm welcome. I requested reasonable adjustments at my work due to a disability i have and my work know about this. I wished to work from home like i did for over 1 year during covid. My work response was to offer me another job at a different location ,so an additional 2 hours driving per day. i feel very anxious and said no to this. Their response was -see you back in the office when you return. my disability prevents me returning to my office just now. My finances are running out as ive been off now for 5 months. been working for 5 years with this conpany. Not sure what I can do ? sorry for the long post . thankyou

Jimm_Scope

Hi @ellen18, did they give a reason at all they couldn't accept you working from home?

Can I also ask if you have had an occupational health review or assessment at all, from a health professional?

Stellar

You're much better off looking for a new job Ellen. Your employer is likely managing you out by using your accommodations as cover. Seeing as you're not in work right now, now's the time to start looking for a new job you can do remotely. They do exist, and you will not need to request a remote working adjustment for a remote first job.

As you've mentioned your finances are depleting. Your financial security is most important. If you do wish to take legal action against your employer, you can do it later on.

Plus you've been working for the same employer for 5 years, you're likely underpaid compared to people who've joined the company since you started.

Wibbles

@ellen18

I need to ask - are you in (or can you join) a trades union

You will get whatever support you need if you are ………..

this sort of thing will be "bread and butter" to a union.

ellen18

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919571#Comment_919571

thankyou for replying to me. occupational health agreed with my own gp that i remained unfit for work and wished to review me ( next week) stating that perhaps an exclusive period of working from home may be beneficial . my work made no reference to the occ health report.

i feel able to do my job but i can’t be in the office , my disability is recognised under the equality act and is not physical.

work stated they wanted to keep an eye on me as i did not tell them how i was feeling so i needed to be in the office. i don’t tell people about my disability.

they did not reply in writing to my request for reasonable adjustments. do i speak with occupational health again next week or write another email re the request for reasonable adjustments again? thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. i am very anxious and low as i got unwell and now i feel it is easier to get rid of me as i’ve been off work for months now

thankyou

ellen18

thankyou wibbles and stellar for replying to my post re reasonable adjustments

i am not in an union but i get free legal support via my home insurance and have a lawyer who could assist me

my absence is related to my disability, my work solution was to move me to another job, different location, new team, more travel, more anxiety. i just got unwell and there is pressure on me to return to my office ( which i am unable to do just now) or quit

i am struggling. i have another telephone meeting with occupational health next week

i will have no wages next month as i have been off for 6 months and my work pay 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay .

i do not know whether i should put in a formal grievance re not being allowed to work from home as there is no reason why i cannot do this

thankyou for listening

Wibbles

See : for more on rights of "Working from home"

https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MakeWorkPay.pdf