Disability Discrimination for Jobs?

luxor4t

Sorry to hear that Dori2o.


It took me two and a half years to be given a desk and chair suitable to my disability needs, as stated in the physio's report of assessment that my (public sector) employer required me to undergo. I hope you can reach a satisfactory result soon.

dori2o

luxor4t wrote: »

Sorry to hear that Dori2o.


It took me two and a half years to be given a desk and chair suitable to my disability needs, as stated in the physio's report of assessment that my (public sector) employer required me to undergo. I hope you can reach a satisfactory result soon.

I've just won one battle with them over their refusal to make adjustments to allow me to retain my current duties, and now I have another battle over a chair.

I hada chair in 2012 that was deemed unsuitable by ATOS and I was recommended another chair which they duly bought. Unfortunately despite trying to put up with the new chair it also isn't suitable and is causing severe back pain.
The new OH Assist (ATOS in disguise) Occ Health adviser has recommended the chair I originally had in 2012, and despite me telling my employer that it isn't suitable, and providing them with a copy of the assessment in 2012 they have said that I have to accept the OHA's opinion as she is 'a trained and competent person'.

So today yet another grievance was submitted.

I can't understand the stupidity of the HR Health/Safety/Wellbeing officer who has made this decision. It's a complete waste of everyone's time ordering the chair, a chair which by the way costs in excess of £400 such is the awful contract they have with the supplier, and all the time they don't seem to be realising that they are wasting public money.

I do hope this new chair, which I have been told I must 'trial' doesn't permanently injure my back... it would cost the department a significant amount of money in compensation if it did.

50Twuncle

I can only speak from experience - if you go for jobs in the public sector - you will find that most (if not ALL) employers use POSITIVE discrimination - ie As long as you meet the minimum qualifications and experience for a job - you will get a guaranteed interview - which means that if you get the job - they will make allowances for your condition (the law requires it) - I have no idea about the private sector though ...... anybody ???..

dori2o

50Twuncle wrote: »

I can only speak from experience - if you go for jobs in the public sector - you will find that most (if not ALL) employers use POSITIVE discrimination - ie As long as you meet the minimum qualifications and experience for a job - you will get a guaranteed interview - which means that if you get the job - they will make allowances for your condition (the law requires it) - I have no idea about the private sector though ...... anybody ???..

There is a scheme throughout the UK called the two ticks scheme.

I believe that all the employers within this scheme also provide the guaranteed interview system, whether they be public or private sector.

The Equality Act, which is the act which puts the duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments and prevents employers from discriminating against disabled people, applies to every employer both public and private.

GlasweJen

I used to work for a 2 tick private sector employer who shredded any applications that ticked the box...

I did "blow the whistle" and then later sued them but as far as I know they were never penalised.

G-MIKI

50Twuncle wrote: »

I can only speak from experience - if you go for jobs in the public sector - you will find that most (if not ALL) employers use POSITIVE discrimination - ie As long as you meet the minimum qualifications and experience for a job - you will get a guaranteed interview - which means that if you get the job - they will make allowances for your condition (the law requires it) - I have no idea about the private sector though ...... anybody ???..

My accident was 40 years ago this year. After three years at University I applied to work at Rolls-Royce in Bristol and have to say that I have only positive things to say about the company in terms of their willingness to do what was required to provide adaptions for anyone with a disability.

suse*

The only way I manage is thinking about the things I can do and playing up those assets rather than focusing on what I can't. I have a chair, keyboard and mouse from oc health. I suppose I am lucky as I don't have a condition that means I need a lot of sick time. I do have lots of physio and appointments but by working with them by doing overtime etc it offsets the time I'm not there so my work isn't impacted by this.

I am lucky too I'm in an industry where I can work from home on very bad days, so my work may not see the full extent of my condition as I still get my work done. They don't care if I do it from bed or at the office as long as it is done.

So you have to find something you're good at and isn't too time critical so you can fit it around your condition or appointments. With how the internet is developing there are more and more roles either with companies or just setting up by yourself that if you can type you can work. It is just learning the right skills and a lot of hard work to get the trust to gain the flexibilty you need to cope.

dori2o

suse* wrote: »

The only way I manage is thinking about the things I can do and playing up those assets rather than focusing on what I can't. I have a chair, keyboard and mouse from oc health. I suppose I am lucky as I don't have a condition that means I need a lot of sick time. I do have lots of physio and appointments but by working with them by doing overtime etc it offsets the time I'm not there so my work isn't impacted by this.

I am lucky too I'm in an industry where I can work from home on very bad days, so my work may not see the full extent of my condition as I still get my work done. They don't care if I do it from bed or at the office as long as it is done.

So you have to find something you're good at and isn't too time critical so you can fit it around your condition or appointments. With how the internet is developing there are more and more roles either with companies or just setting up by yourself that if you can type you can work. It is just learning the right skills and a lot of hard work to get the trust to gain the flexibilty you need to cope.

This is an excellent point you make.

I have asked several times to be allowed to work from home either permenantly or part time with the rest of my hours completed in the office.

My employer however has rejected my requests each and every time with their excuse being that they cannot allow me to do it due to Data Protection issues which IMO is a cop out, especially when there are hundreds of people employed by the same department as me travelling around with laptops full of customers data on their person.

I think that in order to help promote getting more disabled people to get into/stay in work then working from home needs to be an improvement that gives disabled people more rights to work from home if necessary where it is deemed to be beneficial by OH advisers/Doctors etc

We see many times on these forums how the welfare bashers like to claim that because people can sit on a forum and type they should be able to work. The issue is that currently there is little disabled people can do to get their employers to let them work from home. They can request it but there is no guarantee that their employers will allow it, and these work from home job adverts that you see are generally scams or involve (like Betterware/Avon etc) you to be physically fit enough to walk the streets delivering/collecting catalogues/orders/products etc.

People will probably say that disabled people have enough rights without giving them more, but as I see it, it can only benefit everyone to give those who do struggle, or canot physically get into a fixed place of work the chance to earn if they are able to.

rogerblack

dori2o wrote: »

This is an excellent point you make.

I have asked several times to be allowed to work from home either permenantly or part time with the rest of my hours completed in the office.

My employer however has rejected my requests each and every time with their excuse being that they cannot allow me to do it due to Data Protection issues

Is this their normal response to able-bodied employees requesting this?
If it is - and they are not considering adapting it to your disability - it may be unlawful.
Refusal is not unlawful - as long as it is not possible to reasonably do.
A blanket refusal for all employees probably is - to take an extreme example, you might live in a building with very controlled access, and have a locked room you can do all your business stuff in.

dori2o

rogerblack wrote: »

Is this their normal response to able-bodied employees requesting this?
If it is - and they are not considering adapting it to your disability - it may be unlawful.
Refusal is not unlawful - as long as it is not possible to reasonably do.
A blanket refusal for all employees probably is - to take an extreme example, you might live in a building with very controlled access, and have a locked room you can do all your business stuff in.

It is the blanket answer to those whose role doesn't involve mobile working where they have a laptop that is able to connect to the system via the internet.