New Job. How can I speak to my employer about struggling with stairs?

IndiaRose
IndiaRose Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited February 2022 in Work
Hello. I started a new job yesterday, and while it will be a flexible 0 hours job, for this week and next week it’s a fixed 5hr day schedule in a busy building with lots of stairs. It’s the morning of my second day and I’m really struggling already, I’m so worried I’m going to get an hour in and be unable to do anything. How do I talk to my employer about this? I’m really anxious and I don’t want to mess this up but I’m in so much pain. My disability is invisible so I’ll have to explain that too. I’m just scared and feeling a bit paralysed. 

Comments

  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    Hi there @IndiaRose,
    Thanks so much for reaching out about this, it shows great courage and we will absolutely help you however we can. You can find lots of great tips about approaching these issues with your employer here, which I hope will go some way towards putting your mind at ease. In particular, you might find it useful to mention the Access to Work scheme, which will offer grants to pay for any practical accommodations you might need. Remember that your employer is legally obligated to make reasonable adjustments, so I'm hopeful that you won't have too many issues. Do keep us updated and just shout if we can do anything to support you further <3  
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi and welcome 

    You need to discuss this with your employer before it escalates and so you are not worrying about it.

    It is no good for you or them to be in a job that you can not manage 

    You can discuss the possibility of reasonable adjustments if they will help . However @Danielle_2022 where the employer has an obligation to consider these they are not legally required to put them in place if they are not considered reasonable 

    They have to acknowledge your request and give you a valid reason why they can not accommodate 

    Have a good think about what it is that would make the job easier for you to do and they could assist with and then put in a request for reasonable adjustments 

    Sometimes you will be referred to oh for work place assessment  they can then recommend any adjustments required 

    Please come back if you have any further questions 
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    @janer1967,
    You're right, of course. I had totally forgotten about that part. Thank-you for educating me and sorry for the confusion :)
  • IndiaRose
    IndiaRose Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you so much for your comments! I spoke to my manager and we’ve agreed on some adjustments to help me be able to work. I really appreciate the support, it’s been a sucky morning and this has helped a lot!
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Great I'm glad you have managed to get something sorted and wish you luck in your new job 
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 265 Empowering
    edited February 2022
    I'm so glad that you're in a better place now, @IndiaRose! & well done for communicating that with your manager because it's such a big and scary thing. I'm hopeful that this is the start of good things for you & we can always chat about your morning, too, if you need :)
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing
    Great news, well done @IndiaRose :) 
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Hi @IndiaRose

    Thanks for your post. I always appreciate how much courage it must take to reach out. I would just like to reiterate what our wonderful community has already said. The only thing I would add is please don't forget we are here for you if you stumble across any more questions or concerns!  :)

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