What reasonable accommodations can be requested in what jobs?

Songbearer · February 22

As the title says, I've recently realised that the long covid I got years ago really has, so far at least, really, really irrevocably changed my life, I lost my job for unrelated reasons a few months ago and now looking for a new one, I genuinely have no idea what I can really do physically on what most jobs would consider a "standard" shift which makes it difficult to know if I'm wasting my own and someone else's time applying for some stuff.

So my question is, say if you become fatigued relatively easily, for whatever reason, can you request to be able to sit down more often in a job that otherwise expects you to stay standing or be constantly moving? Can you ask to carry a lighter load in a warehouse job?

The cynical part of me thinks that even asking about these in an interview context or once you have a job will probably result in not getting the job or finding yourself out of a job for "culture fit" reasons or some other excuse unfortunately. Am I wrong there?

I'm kind of new to talking about this so apologies if I've misused any language above, I'm just researching it now since I genuinely don't know what "reasonable" means in a bunch of different contexts and jobs and thought I'd ask.

SheffieldMan1976 · February 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/144196/what-reasonable-accommodations-can-be-requested-in-what-jobs

Reasonable adjustments I'd ask for…

1: Being seated at all times while serving customers due to back problems.

2: Short shifts, preferably not longer than 5 hours a day over a 3 day week.

3: NO Evening or weekend shifts.

4: Call me tight/lazy but even on minimum wage, I would refuse to leave the House for less than £14 an hour.

Emilee · February 23

@Songbearer, what counts as reasonable depends on your own needs AND the job you'd be doing, along with the employer’s size and resources. There's no fixed list as such and it isn't limited to specific jobs, you can request reasonable adjustments in any role.

For myself, I've been able to negotiate working patterns and shift adjustments, additional rest breaks and some specialist equipment, as well as hybrid working (meaning I can work from home when needed). My job is at a desk so although I can sit down whenever I like, I receive additional rest breaks in order to move around.

What sort of jobs are you looking into?

@SheffieldMan1976, wage amounts would not usually fall under reasonable adjustments.

Songbearer · February 23

Right now, anything tbh, the most commonly available work around here is care work, fast food/restaurant work and then warehouses which both require standing, moving heavy objects/people, generally the shifts are pretty fixed (and if it's a night job for example, a shorter shift wouldn't help, finishing at 3 in the morning would be tough).

So I was just wondering what sort of accommodations some of those places could potentially do. It makes sense that there's no one size fits all option of course, just makes it tough to conceptualise what difference it could make in a role for me, especially when they're roles I've not done as well.

I'm looking at admin and things like that as well, ones that sometimes have remote options or are largely sitting at a desk. They're in the minority though.

SheffieldMan1976 · February 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1104068#Comment_1104068

I've looked at remote work in sales, most of it's evenings or weekends though because that's the only time the customers are online, and as mentioned, I can't do it.

Chris75_ · February 23

Might I ask why you couldn't work at weekends from home? I think I understand why not in a shop.

What reasonable accommodations can be requested in what jobs?

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