DDA issues at work

[Rosie]

Hiya

I really would advise you to get in touch with Access to Work as they can provide a full workplace assessment, and will suggest things you, and the people who have assessed you so far, may not have heard of. For example, you can get lower arm supports that can be used instead of leaning on the desk, and these are fully adjustable, which means that you can heave the chair at a height tyhat suits your legs, knees and hips. There is thread about AtW, have a read through.

Rosie

[cracker]

i dint know you could do that. thanks roise. who do i ask about access to work please?

[greenjadedragon]

Hi Cracker,
I saw your post at lunch but I can't post at work, only read. Basically what Rosie said.

I had a 'Health & Safety' deskplace assessment last November and I got a new chair which has a headrest. That alone has helped my neck & back so much! Being able to rest my head against it has released the tension and pain in my neck enough that even my masseur lady noticed within weeks. Make sure you mention the need for arm rests and the leg pain too so you can get set-up properly.

My Co. organised the whole assessment themselves so I don't know how you contact them, sorry.

The one thing I found slightly downing was having to put down everything that hurt or didn't work or where you'd had to make allowances to make things fit.

Hopefully the Access to Work guys will be able to get everything fixed.

GJD

[Rosie]

Hi all

cracker - if you do a search on access to work, maybe an advanced one on titles only, you will find the Access to Work thread. If you read through it there are several links to their information. or go to the direct.gov.uk site and read up on there. you can contact them yourself, rather than through your employer, if you prefer, or your employer can contact them whichever is easier (and quicker) for you.

Rosie

[cracker]

thanks greenjadedragon & rosie.

[bendywendy]

Hi guys

I'm having a crisis of conscience at the moment it's to do with work.

I work a couple of hours a day and can manage my job. When I'm not at work, I don't do a lot-just the basics and all of my physio exercises. I have joint problems and systemic problems, which leaves me with little stamina.
As a result of this, With bad weather we've been having lately, I've been finding it increasingly difficult to get into work. A few months ago, I tried, some of my symptoms got worse. I became unwell and eventually went off sick for a few days. When we had snow again, I phoned in to say that I couldn't get into work because of the snow (over three days.) The policy where I work, is that if you can't get into work because of bad weather, you use annual leave or take unpaid leave. I don't have a problem with that (although most of my annual leave goes on hospital appointments.) I spoke to my manager to make her aware of the situation. She was fine and said that the usual policy applies.

However, we have had snow again recently and I phoned again to say that because of the snow I can't get in. I think it will be for a few days again. I know that if I try, from previous experience, I'll end up off sick and I don't want any more sick days on my record.

I'm pretty sure that most of my (healthy) colleagues will be able to get into work and I feel guilty. (I have also sent an e-mail from home to my colleagues, explaining more about the condition (they know some already) and the fact that there may be occasional times during bad weather, when I am not able to get into work, although they are.)

I feel that I've done all the right things, but still feel bad

bendy

[Laureneb]

Bless ya it definatly seems like a better idea when your feeling bad and wobbly not to tackle the snow and ice, its just no good and makes it worse.
I dont no what to say that can make you feel better but you seem to be doing the right things and us bendies sometimes just cant always do things others can.

Do you have a job where you can do somethings from home, so that you dont have to use your annual leave but can say at home in the bad weather, or would your bosses be up for doing that?

Hope you feel better soon

[PhoenixRising]

It soudns fair enough if it is harder for you to get around, for you to find it harder to get in to work than your colleagues.

[bendywendy]

Thanks guys, it makes me feel better that other people understand

after I had posted on here earlier, my manager phoned me, quite annoyed, saying that it was a problem that I had phoned in again, as they had had difficulty rearranging the work that I was due to do tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't do my job from home. (When I discussed it with a month ago, she didn't come up with any other solutions, except the work policy. I talked to HR as well, he suggested that I keep some annual leave next year for the winter, to be used at short notice if there was snow-however my manager wasn't keen on that idea.) I've now had six days as unpaid leave because of the snow, which I accept. Fortunately (for everyone) I now have some annual leave for about a week so hopefully the snow will be gone by the time I go back to work.

However, she was not happy and said there was another aspect of the job related to paperwork that need to be looked at. She said that we needed to have a meeting, to discuss things and discuss whether I was "fit to do the job". They had previously put some' reasonable adjustments' in place for me, which made a difference and for which I'm grateful.

I've been feeling exhausted-mentally and physically. Over the last two years, most of my annual leave has been used on hospital appointments and investigations (that's our work policy). As a result I don't get much rest time and I think my health is suffering (if there was any decent part of it left ) I put all of my energy into my job but with the best will in the world, I guess that cracks will sometimes show.

I had been looking forward to my week of annual leave (with no hospital appointments ) but now I know I have to prepare for this meeting with my manager which I'm not looking forward to. I know that it will be useful to discuss things, but I find situations like this hard. Also I am worried that if I say I'm finding things difficult, they will say that I'm not "fit to do the job" and find grounds to dismiss me.

Sorry to have a moan. I'm not in a very good place at the moment. I need to keep my job but I need to look after my health as well and that balance seems really hard to find.

Thanks to anyone reading this -knowing that I am not on my own, really does make a difference.

Bendy

[madmum]

Are you in a union? If not could you ask the c.a.b if anyone can come with you?
Hope you can get some rest as this will help you get through the meeting. Good luck.

[bendywendy]

Thanks madmum. I am in the union and left a message for someone there today; hopefully they will get back to me before Easter.

[Shadowlady]

Hiya Bendy,

I thought that when you're disabled, your time off due to your disability should be counted separately to time off sick for non-disability related stuff?

Also using your annual leave for appointments isn't on really, you need your rest tiger, more than many others really! It may be 'policy' but that doesn't make it right.

I think you need some proper advice, but I don't know who the best people are for that? CAB? Some disability organisation? Hopefully the Union folks will know about this stuff.

This sucks!

Think I might be tempted to look for a new job? This reminds me of something I saw the other day "Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you aren't in fact, surrounded by idiots".

Take it easy,
S

[loosebones]

bendywendy - I've had a look through the forum and found a couple of threads that might help you with work -

here
and
here

[bendywendy]

Hi guys

thanks for your time in replying-much appreciated

Where I work, we don't have a disability policy, which means that any disability cannot be considered in its own right, as a reason for time off unfortunately.

I spoke to someone from the union today. She said that she thought my manager had overreacted and the fact that I could not get into work because of the snow did not mean that I was not fit to do the job When my reasonable adjustments were put in place, bad weather in the winter was not an issue and over the last couple of years we have had little or no snow and so it is not a problem that has come up. She recommended that I get referred back to occupational health, as she said that making allowances for me not being able to get into work because of the snow, could be classed as a further reasonable adjustment.

With regard to hospital appointments and having to use annual leave, she said that occupational health could advise me on this as well. She said that it would be reasonable to ask them to let me have unpaid leave for appointments. Apparently, there is nothing in the law, that says that's employers have to give disabled employees paid time off for appointments (even if they do not class it as time off sick).

I felt better after I had spoken to her, although I'm not looking forward to the meeting. I'm on annual leave now for week and want to try to relax, although I know that I need to prepare for having the meeting when I go back.

Thanks again for your replies and hope you have a good Easter

bendy

[madmum]

Sounds positive. Have a great easter and good luck with the meeting.