New job not making disability adjustments

sangie595

TELLIT01 wrote: »

It will probably be possible to cover the part of the air con vent which is blowing directly on you. We had a similar problem at one of my previous employments which didn't just affect people with disabilities. Sitting directly in the draught from an aircon unit could be a concern for H&S reps anyway.
Physically relocating the aircon outlet is generally not a simple job. Covering part of the outlet should be.

Yes, we had a similar problem in one of my previous offices. Only more so. The air conditioning didn't work all summer. But come winter, guess what - it worked perfectly throwing cold air over everyone in the depths of winter! They couldn't switch it off - for some reason they never quite tracked down, it worked perfectly elsewhere in the building and numerous engineer visits made no difference. So they simply blocked up all the vents in the office permanently. Worked for us. So one vent shouldn't be that hard.

sangie595

codemonkey wrote: »

II've never been so tempted to key a car in my life! It's so selfish.
.

Oh I so know that feeling! I have never, ever, thought about it before, but now.... soooo tempting! Last Sunday I did my usual, stop at the place and demand the cars were moved. I started off terribly polite and explaining why they shouldn't park there, to which I got the reply "But it's our wedding" - which apparently overrides the law and common courtesy. I just lost it. "Well it's terribly nice that you have got to walk for your wedding, and that this is your big one day, but my legs don't work EVERY BLOODY DAY. Now shift your *****cars or I'm calling the police".

codemonkey

Update and further advice needed:

I logged a call with facilities to discuss my needs and see what could be done. . The guy who answered the call told me that they could turn off my vents but wouldn't and that my illness is psychosomatic.

My manager intervened and they said they'd turn the vents off. It got colder after that so the air con wasn't on as much. But today, I've been getting blasted with freezing cold air and I'm in pain. I can't go home as I have important meetings this afternoon.

My manager also said I could work from home 90% of the time, but is now developing an attitude if I do it even one day a week so obviously that claim was nonsense too.

I've had a look at the policy relating to disability and reasonable adjustments and I have to say, not one step of this has been followed. I haven't even had a desk assessment.

I hate the job anyway and I want to leave as soon as I find another role but I don't want them to get away with this behaviour because they've made my last few months painful and miserable and have lied to me at every step.

What's the best way to proceed?

I'm in Scotland if that makes a difference.

lincroft1710

codemonkey wrote: »

What's the best way to proceed?

If you want to resign, resign! Don't start a vengeance claim, just concentrate your efforts on getting a new job.

Undervalued

codemonkey wrote: »

I hate the job anyway and I want to leave as soon as I find another role but I don't want them to get away with this behaviour because they've made my last few months painful and miserable and have lied to me at every step.

What's the best way to proceed?

By heeding the old Chinese proverb....

He who sets out for vengeance should first dig two graves!

If you are going to continue working at this firm then you need to take steps to ensure that reasonable adjustments are put in place.

Keep in mind that, in the eyes of the law, reasonable adjustments don't go anything like as far as many people fondly imagine. Most, particularly larger, employers tend to do far more than the minimum the law requires. That often gives a false impression of what is actually obligatory.

Even if that is finally achieved you will still be in the unenviable position of working for an employer you have had to fight. That seldom ends well I'm afraid.

Realistically you best option is to devote your energies to finding another job.

Yes I know that in a perfect world it shouldn't be like that.....

dadtobe

Actually how far employers have to go to provide adjustments is actually quite a lot.

This is my area of expertise well disability and occupational health.

Will reply properly tonight.

dadtobe

I should also add it's not up to the employee to suggest adjustments.

It's the employers responsibility, see ridout vs TC Group off the Top of my head

Assuming you have told them or they are aware you have a disability.

Malthusian

You said that if you'd known they'd be this unaccomodating, you wouldn't have taken the job in the first place. Well, if you resign, you'll be in exactly the same position as if you hadn't taken the job in the first place. Minus the time you wasted on them, but plus the wages you collected in the meantime. I don't see the reason for wasting any more time on them.

dadtobe wrote:

I should also add it's not up to the employee to suggest adjustments.

It's the employers responsibility, see ridout vs TC Group off the Top of my head

In Ridout v TC Group an epileptic woman brought a claim against a company after an unsuccessful job interview. Her claim was that the company should have adjusted the bright fluorescent lighting in the room. The tribunal found against her on the grounds that the employer couldn't reasonably have been expected to make further enquiries into whether the lighting had an adverse effect on her. How does that case help the OP? It seems to have little bearing on their situation and in any case, the tribunal found exactly the opposite, that it wasn't the employer's responsibility to adjust the lighting.

marliepanda

Check 'dadtobe'a previous posts before taking any 'expert' advice from him.

Immediately quoting an irrelevant court case sounds about right, put it that way.

Rosemary7391

Malthusian wrote: »

You said that if you'd known they'd be this unaccomodating, you wouldn't have taken the job in the first place. Well, if you resign, you'll be in exactly the same position as if you hadn't taken the job in the first place. Minus the time you wasted on them, but plus the wages you collected in the meantime. I don't see the reason for wasting any more time on them.

The OP might have left another job for this one - in that case, resigning would put him in a significantly worse position...

I'd start kicking up a fuss in writing. You need to be able to prove what was said. I can't believe your facilities guy! Where was his medical degree from?