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Advice for final OH meeting, ADHD, "reasonable adjustments", tiny office, heating not working
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cs95aam
Posts: 330 Forumite


Hello,
I have my final OH meeting tomorrow. I'd really appreciate some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD in May. We moved into a tiny office in August. From what I suspect it's a lot smaller than the 11m3 that the HSE have quoted as the minimum space per employee under Regulation 10 workplace health 1992. However, I intend to get to work early on Thursday and measure it.
I work for a university. There's 5 of us in a tiny room. We all now face the wall. We barely have enough space to walk past one another. Some people are really loud and slam their desk and pedestal drawers. The last two days when it has been especially cold the heating hasn't been on either. It's been really hard to concentrate.
I am allowed to leave the room and sit elsewhere for a short while after seeking my manager's permission. We're also now not allowed to eat anything in the room in case the smell offends others and any academics that may visit! My lunch break has been cut down from 1 hour to 30 minutes as I now cannot start at 8AM anymore because another manager thinks we should only start from 8.30 as there's no point being there when the academics aren't there. Since I work 18 hours a week spread over 3 days and need to leave by 3PM this now only allows me 30 minute lunch break.
On Tuesday when I left to sit in the library, my manager responded by also saying I suppose so. She's normally happy for me to sit elsewhere. As soon as I left she went straight over to her manager's room. I could hear her behind me. I could be imagining it but I suspect it was to discuss this. I also had an apple in my hand as I didn't have enough time to finish my lunch so I am not sure if that added to the situation. Plus I was cold as the heating wasn't on.
My gut feeling is that she will bring this up in my OH meeting. She probably wont like the fact that I left to sit in the library straight after my 30 minute lunch break.
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.
I have my final OH meeting tomorrow. I'd really appreciate some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD in May. We moved into a tiny office in August. From what I suspect it's a lot smaller than the 11m3 that the HSE have quoted as the minimum space per employee under Regulation 10 workplace health 1992. However, I intend to get to work early on Thursday and measure it.
I work for a university. There's 5 of us in a tiny room. We all now face the wall. We barely have enough space to walk past one another. Some people are really loud and slam their desk and pedestal drawers. The last two days when it has been especially cold the heating hasn't been on either. It's been really hard to concentrate.
I am allowed to leave the room and sit elsewhere for a short while after seeking my manager's permission. We're also now not allowed to eat anything in the room in case the smell offends others and any academics that may visit! My lunch break has been cut down from 1 hour to 30 minutes as I now cannot start at 8AM anymore because another manager thinks we should only start from 8.30 as there's no point being there when the academics aren't there. Since I work 18 hours a week spread over 3 days and need to leave by 3PM this now only allows me 30 minute lunch break.
On Tuesday when I left to sit in the library, my manager responded by also saying I suppose so. She's normally happy for me to sit elsewhere. As soon as I left she went straight over to her manager's room. I could hear her behind me. I could be imagining it but I suspect it was to discuss this. I also had an apple in my hand as I didn't have enough time to finish my lunch so I am not sure if that added to the situation. Plus I was cold as the heating wasn't on.
My gut feeling is that she will bring this up in my OH meeting. She probably wont like the fact that I left to sit in the library straight after my 30 minute lunch break.
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.
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Comments
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cs95aam said:Hello,
I have my final OH meeting tomorrow. I'd really appreciate some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD in May. We moved into a tiny office in August. From what I suspect it's a lot smaller than the 11m3 that the HSE have quoted as the minimum space per employee under Regulation 10 workplace health 1992. However, I intend to get to work early on Thursday and measure it.
I work for a university. There's 5 of us in a tiny room. We all now face the wall. We barely have enough space to walk past one another. Some people are really loud and slam their desk and pedestal drawers. The last two days when it has been especially cold the heating hasn't been on either. It's been really hard to concentrate.
I am allowed to leave the room and sit elsewhere for a short while after seeking my manager's permission. We're also now not allowed to eat anything in the room in case the smell offends others and any academics that may visit! My lunch break has been cut down from 1 hour to 30 minutes as I now cannot start at 8AM anymore because another manager thinks we should only start from 8.30 as there's no point being there when the academics aren't there. Since I work 18 hours a week spread over 3 days and need to leave by 3PM this now only allows me 30 minute lunch break.
On Tuesday when I left to sit in the library, my manager responded by also saying I suppose so. She's normally happy for me to sit elsewhere. As soon as I left she went straight over to her manager's room. I could hear her behind me. I could be imagining it but I suspect it was to discuss this. I also had an apple in my hand as I didn't have enough time to finish my lunch so I am not sure if that added to the situation. Plus I was cold as the heating wasn't on.
My gut feeling is that she will bring this up in my OH meeting. She probably wont like the fact that I left to sit in the library straight after my 30 minute lunch break.
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. 1. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. 2. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.
2. Sit in the library doing what, exactly - calming yourself down/trying to focus, or actually carrying out the work you're employed to do?
None of this sounds very promising, I fear, but I think you need to be absolutely clear what you do want/need, why you want/need it, and whether your requirements are ever going to tally with the needs of your employer.Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!1 -
cs95aam said:Hello,
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.All I can say is that the punishment must fit the crime, and if they try to go after you for asking for something small like going to the library to eat lunch, I suggest you absolutely fight back and go through their entire list of company handbooks and also document any of their wrongdoing, as well as any special provisions or exceptions anybody else takes in the office.I'm not sure what your claim or problem exactly is, ADHD is not exactly the biggest diagnosis and I'm not sure it requires that many reasonable adjustments. But what I can say is that if they try to go after you for asking for said adjustments, you can also absolutely treat them as a hostile party.0 -
ace4500 said:cs95aam said:Hello,
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.All I can say is that the punishment must fit the crime, and if they try to go after you for asking for something small like going to the library to eat lunch, I suggest you absolutely fight back and go through their entire list of company handbooks and also document any of their wrongdoing, as well as any special provisions or exceptions anybody else takes in the office.I'm not sure what your claim or problem exactly is, ADHD is not exactly the biggest diagnosis and I'm not sure it requires that many reasonable adjustments. But what I can say is that if they try to go after you for asking for said adjustments, you can also absolutely treat them as a hostile party.Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!5 -
Marcon said:ace4500 said:cs95aam said:Hello,
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.All I can say is that the punishment must fit the crime, and if they try to go after you for asking for something small like going to the library to eat lunch, I suggest you absolutely fight back and go through their entire list of company handbooks and also document any of their wrongdoing, as well as any special provisions or exceptions anybody else takes in the office.I'm not sure what your claim or problem exactly is, ADHD is not exactly the biggest diagnosis and I'm not sure it requires that many reasonable adjustments. But what I can say is that if they try to go after you for asking for said adjustments, you can also absolutely treat them as a hostile party.0 -
ace4500 said:cs95aam said:Hello,
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.All I can say is that the punishment must fit the crime, and if they try to go after you for asking for something small like going to the library to eat lunch, I suggest you absolutely fight back and go through their entire list of company handbooks and also document any of their wrongdoing, as well as any special provisions or exceptions anybody else takes in the office.I'm not sure what your claim or problem exactly is, ADHD is not exactly the biggest diagnosis and I'm not sure it requires that many reasonable adjustments. But what I can say is that if they try to go after you for asking for said adjustments, you can also absolutely treat them as a hostile party.0 -
Marcon said:cs95aam said:Hello,
I have my final OH meeting tomorrow. I'd really appreciate some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD in May. We moved into a tiny office in August. From what I suspect it's a lot smaller than the 11m3 that the HSE have quoted as the minimum space per employee under Regulation 10 workplace health 1992. However, I intend to get to work early on Thursday and measure it.
I work for a university. There's 5 of us in a tiny room. We all now face the wall. We barely have enough space to walk past one another. Some people are really loud and slam their desk and pedestal drawers. The last two days when it has been especially cold the heating hasn't been on either. It's been really hard to concentrate.
I am allowed to leave the room and sit elsewhere for a short while after seeking my manager's permission. We're also now not allowed to eat anything in the room in case the smell offends others and any academics that may visit! My lunch break has been cut down from 1 hour to 30 minutes as I now cannot start at 8AM anymore because another manager thinks we should only start from 8.30 as there's no point being there when the academics aren't there. Since I work 18 hours a week spread over 3 days and need to leave by 3PM this now only allows me 30 minute lunch break.
On Tuesday when I left to sit in the library, my manager responded by also saying I suppose so. She's normally happy for me to sit elsewhere. As soon as I left she went straight over to her manager's room. I could hear her behind me. I could be imagining it but I suspect it was to discuss this. I also had an apple in my hand as I didn't have enough time to finish my lunch so I am not sure if that added to the situation. Plus I was cold as the heating wasn't on.
My gut feeling is that she will bring this up in my OH meeting. She probably wont like the fact that I left to sit in the library straight after my 30 minute lunch break.
Can anybody give me any advice or backup on reasonable adjustments? I have only been in the role for a year so I'm not in a strong position. 1. My OH form states that these adjustments cannot continue beyond the 3 months. The 3 months are now over. I am not even asking for anything. The temporary reduction in workload didn't happen as we were during a quiet period anyway. I don't even need it. I've been there a year and I am a lot more on top of things. 2. I just want to be able to leave the room and sit in the library when I need to providing there is nothing else obviously going on that needs me to be there. Thank you for reading.
2. Sit in the library doing what, exactly - calming yourself down/trying to focus, or actually carrying out the work you're employed to do?
None of this sounds very promising, I fear, but I think you need to be absolutely clear what you do want/need, why you want/need it, and whether your requirements are ever going to tally with the needs of your employer.
2. The agreement is to sit either in the library or the student lounge to work. I do not just sit there and do nothing.0 -
Regarding the noise, could you ask your employer to provide a set of noise-cancelling headphones as a compromise?0
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At my work place, I take headphones to blocked out the radio as it drives me loopy and I can't concentrate.
I also take a hot water bottle as I'm freezing all the time when I'm there.
Can you do these things? It might help combat the problems with the cold and the noise.
Why can't you eat your lunch in 30 mins? That's quite a long time.0 -
housebuyer143 said:At my work place, I take headphones to blocked out the radio as it drives me loopy and I can't concentrate.
I also take a hot water bottle as I'm freezing all the time when I'm there.
Can you do these things? It might help combat the problems with the cold and the noise.
Why can't you eat your lunch in 30 mins? That's quite a long time.1 -
GingerTim said:Regarding the noise, could you ask your employer to provide a set of noise-cancelling headphones as a compromise?0
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