This post has content warnings for: Venting.
Kimberly Main
Artist who likes word puns a bit too much. Has a soft spot for anime girls that don't show their emotions very much. Please read Mashle and Dandadan! Also Shimeji Simulation.
You must log in to comment.
in reply to @InquisitiveRaven's post:
Just tell them you confirmed with the doctor. It's reasonable. Period.
Not that you owe them even that!
I agree. Them negotiating it just seems ridiculous. At one point I was able to sit behind the counter, until it made it hard to see customers sometimes. So then they changed it to sharing the one seat that's open to customers, too. And now this...
Yeah, the ADA is all you need to point to. You got a doctor's note. You can fully perform your duties while seated, I assume. It sounds like they want you standing mostly for appearances and to avoid sending a signal to other workers they might also be allowed to sit. But that's their shitty middle management problem.
Like 80% of it, yeah. A lot of the standing is from running around to all the stations we have in our 1 department, which is always chaotic and not streamlined in the least.
They keep adding new systems/tasks on top of everything and its just a mess. We print, ship, and do all kinds of return programs for several stores, all in one place. Not to mention helping people do all of them and navigate their own phones.
I think that is part of it, yeah. They claimed they didn't want to say I can't sit, but they said other coworkers would get "jealous" without the accommodation form completed. Which got filled out, but they didn't agree with the doctor's recommendation.
Sorry to hear they're giving you problems. Providing accommodations shouldn't be that difficult.
You think it wouldn't be, yeah. There's a coworker in another department who has a disability and is allowed to sit with no problems.
That's ridiculous. I know stuff is fucked up in the US but they shouldn't be able to not follow the doctor's recommendation.
I hope things work out for you.
You'd think so, but apparently corporate feels it's not reasonable enough...
They'd have to get rid off you on the grounds of Medical Dismissal - which is difficult for them to do.
Being able to sit would be seen as a reasonable adjustment and if it's backed up by a doctor's note you should have a Work Place Adjustment in place and on file (the terms change from place to place but it's the same thing).
Most places will also have something along the lines of Occupational Health (again term may be different) who will look at your role and doctors note and deem your request reasonable or not.
If you're not in a union - get into one. Most workplaces, by law, should tell you when you start which unions they are supported by. Makes things a lot easier when places start trying to push things that go against their own policies and the law.
The adjustment form is basically what they're trying to get filed, but with their recommended changes. Supposedly the amount of sitting is not seen as reasonable by occupational health or whoever.
I dunno if my store is supported by a union. In fact, during training I remember seeing a totally-unbiased video about how unions are BAD, actually. Granted this was almost 6 years ago, but still.
I think Walmart or somewhere used to have a "damn unions are terrible" video.
Occupational Health would be a third party. That's kind of the whole point of it so it's not influenced by shitty employers etc.
Though, I'm talking based off working in the UK and the US... you guys kinda really suck in the form of like any workers rights kinda thing.
But, don't put anything on paper you don't agree to or know isn't possible. You might as well be signing your notice.
And - do your managers like you? Pushy behaviour like this is often them just trying to get rid of you and thus poking at what they see as the easiest thing.
You need to look into desk jobs. Data entry, data science, entry level stuff in an office or work from home. Your job sounds like a bunch of mopes and they suck. But you deserve better and your health comes first.