Reasonable adjustments.

dippy3103

I am having an issue with obtaining a piece of IT equipment for work, which will cost around £100. I have arthritis and this will hopefully assist me with managing my pain within my workplace. I have asked repeatedly over a significant period. Others without my issues have it, but I can not merely sit at their workstations to use it, as my own is set up with things such as the right mouse because of my disability.
I have now reached exasperation stage, and am in significant pain at the end of the day.
I am not looking for anything other than my employer to provide me with the equipment (they are a very large employer) so that I can get on with my work with minimised pain. I am not permitted to buy my own and bring it into the workplace.
Can anyone advise me on how I can go about getting help and advice about this?

Brynsam

This sounds very strange, especially as other people apparently have this piece of equipment. Have you ever actually managed to pin anyone down (your line manager, HR or whoever) and get them to explain the delay and when you can expect to be able to use this - or if they aren't prepared to supply it, why not?

Are you in a union and if so have they not been able to help?

Have you tried ACAS's Helpline?

Savvy_Sue

Union? Occupational Health? Raise a grievance? BYO, bring it in and see if they notice?

sangie595

It would be helpful to have a bit more information. As observed, it seems strange to deny you something that others routinely have. Have you been assessed as requiring this equipment? Have you asked why it isn't available? Who have your asked, and what has been the response? How long have you been asking?

Without knowing more we are really guessing at appropriate advice.

dippy3103

It’s a second monitor as we are constantly transposing information from one system to another. I have to print the documents and then do it that way. As one of my problems is my neck the constant looking up and down doesn’t help. The are not routine, but available if you want one, subject to budget. I came from an employer that had them and requested it. Others that did more of the transposing got them first, which was fair enough. Then they got rolled out in no particular order- and I am sure it’s just coincidence that the staff that are less easy going got them first. However we are now in the situation that 8 out of 10 staff have them.
I want to try one last bash at making them do the right thing before I go running to the union- I find the union can be abrasive in their approach. I don’t want to raise a greivamce unless I have to as it also tends to leave a bad taste... and those two statements probably are exactly why it’s me that’s been left without.
What I would like is to be able to nicely send an email telling them that this would help me greatly and I also feel that as this is harder for me than it would be another member of staff, which may be a potential issue if I were to press the matter (call it a warning shot as well as a last ditch attempt). I think the very fact that I of all people are angry enough to seek advice and then attempt to force their hand may shock them.
I have seen OH, they have made some recommendations but I have got worse since then. I am waiting for an urgent referral to neurology so we don’t have a firm diagnosis at this stage. So it’s a question of trying to lessen my symptoms at the moment, I don’t want to be off sick.
I shouldn’t have to create to get the same as others, especially as I have a disability and a new health problem.
I also think I shall book myself on that assertiveness training as I suspect it’s the whole “she will just get on with it” thing Is exactly why we are here.

dippy3103

Sorry for cloak and dagger.. trying not to give away too much to avoid being identified.. saw that other thread and sudddered.

dippy3103

Me yet again!!! So cross am I, I just rang ACAS for advice. They were very helpful and I wanted to share this link to advice just in case anyone having similar problems reads this

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/proving_disability_and_reasonable_adjustments.pdf

Brynsam

dippy3103 wrote: »

Me yet again!!! So cross am I, I just rang ACAS for advice.

An angry doormat is still a doormat - and the only person you're upsetting is yourself, which I'm sure only exacerbates your pain and overall distress.

A calm, factual e-mail to your employer (make sure you send it to both your line manager and HR to avoid the possibility of one 'not receiving' it) is your next step. If you'd like a hand to write it, send me a PM and I'll PM you back a draft for you to think about. Why PM? Just in case anyone from your workplace is reading this thread (unlikely but you never know...).

dippy3103

Brynsam wrote: »

An angry doormat is still a doormat - and the only person you're upsetting is yourself, which I'm sure only exacerbates your pain and overall distress.

A calm, factual e-mail to your employer (make sure you send it to both your line manager and HR to avoid the possibility of one 'not receiving' it) is your next step. If you'd like a hand to write it, send me a PM and I'll PM you back a draft for you to think about. Why PM? Just in case anyone from your workplace is reading this thread (unlikely but you never know...).

Thank you so much. I have just been reading that guidance and it was an eye opener. I assumed that because I could complete the task, but it causes me pain was not enough - turns out that as the pain is more than minor or trivial, that I am covered. That’s all I want, is the equipment to get on with my job and hurt a bit less. My GP has said that a medical certificate would not be unreasonable (as a general thing, I have not mentioned this saga to him)but I really do not want to be off sick- I get full sick pay so that’s not an issue.
Stupid really. That I have to create to achieve parity - I think they didn’t think I had it in me. Funny, I have just finished reading Animal Farm... and Boxers fate.

takman

dippy3103 wrote: »

It’s a second monitor as we are constantly transposing information from one system to another. I have to print the documents and then do it that way. As one of my problems is my neck the constant looking up and down doesn’t help.

Is there any reason why you have to print the documents? Can't you just switch between programs on the computer to get the information or have the two programs side by side on the screen.
It may be slower than having two screens but i don't see why you would need to print. Even if the programs run full screen you can still switch between them quickly.

sangie595

I am struggling to see what your are so angry about. It seems, from what your are saying, that you have not actually told anyone that you need this monitor and why, and had you explained that your working conditions were causing you pain and asked for it as a reasonable adjustment, possibly alongside any OH referral, there's every chance you'd have simply got what you needed.

Employers are not mind readers. There is no real evidence here that you did anything other than ask for a second monitor, and on that basis they "put you in the queue". That was a reasonable response to what people want, rather than what they need - you can have it when we can afford it. At what point did you say "i have arthritis and doing xyz is causing me pain, so I need 234 so that I can work without pain. Can we do that now or do I need to see OH first?".