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Bothered by inconsistency?

LauraVicuna

I work as a data analyst at a university – a job I enjoy, and on the whole it’s a very nice place to work. I was diagnosed with ASD a year ago – I have declared it on my staff record, but haven’t as yet officially requested any adjustments (or had an Occupational Health assessment – which I have a sneaking feeling HR should have referred me for when I declared the ‘disability’).

I’ve just put in a request to slightly reduce my hours. So far all fine, and it’s been approved by my unit with no quibbles. However, our HR department – who, ironically, have recently renamed themselves ‘People Services’ and stuck notices all around campus saying how they’re Here For You – have sent a bunch of emails (from different advisers) suggesting completely inconsistent things on how this can be implemented.

I’ve finally had a phone conversation (phone is not my best medium) with a People Services adviser this morning, whose idea of a ‘conversation’ was to reiterate the latest offer in a massive monologue without giving me a chance to ask any questions. When I did ask why a different adviser had told me something completely different, her only response was a brisk “I don’t know. I don’t know who he spoke to.” Eventually I went silent as I felt flustered and overwhelmed – after a pause she says “So, I’ll let you go then?” As though it was all sorted.

I’m upset because people are being inconsistent in what they’re telling me but she doesn’t seem able to understand this. I become obsessed with why that’s happened. I know I should just draw a line under it. Just ranting ….

  • I feel for you too! 

    I get very upset about people being inconsistent as well. 

    I've had similar experiences to you and can relate how different HR people give different responses. Sometime it's not just inconsistency, it's inconsistency + dishonesty. Both are terrible. Oh yeah, and sometimes it's inconsistency + laziness. Sometimes they don't even bother to find out what a different HR person said when their response can be critical. 

    I hope you do get your reduced hours issue sorted out.

  • in reply to Plastic

    Actually I have pretty much asked for and got that - I only take phone calls if they are pre-arranged. So it's worth asking. Just let the voicemail answer the phone if people who don't know about the adjustment call.

    (Actually I pretty much hate picking up voicemail messages too because they are out of date by the time I get to them and I have to listen to the slow voice telling me what my number is and what their number was and what time they called and would I like to listen to what they said and if so press "1" before I get to hear Jenny (made up name) say "Thanks for your email" - but that's another story.)

  • in reply to LauraVicuna

    Directly you're on the phone, you're totally at the mercy of a skilled operative on the other end.   You will lose.   Answers in writing is the only option.

    Maybe it's one of the accommodations you should ask for.... Smiley

  • in reply to LauraVicuna

    So many times I've asked a question over email and someone's suggested a phone call and I've wondered "Why can't you just answer my question in the email?"

  • in reply to blank_smile

    Yep I prefer email too for similar reasons - and until I understood about ASD, I beat myself up for it as a deficiency that I must work on for 2 decades.

    It's almost "So, you're going to tell me stuff, imprecisely, and I'm going to clarify that into precise notes, which I'm going to email back to you as a record for both of us.............wouldn't it have been more efficient for you to write your thoughts down precisely and email them to me?" I'm saying this tongue in cheek, because I know that we provide a valuable service to people who can't write things down precisely by doing exactly this :-)

  • in reply to Plastic

    Email's my preference too. I started out by emailing, but they didn't reply ... My line manager said "Shall I get them to phone you for a chat?" As he's a nice man I said yes, but had a strong suspicion it wasn't going to go well.

  • in reply to Plastic

    This ^

    Phone calls are out of your control and have an unlimited potential of possibilities. You have to think on your feet and respond instantly, no time to digest what has been said. On top of that you have to remember everything after the call.

    I use email as often as I can. You can go back over them. You don't have to remember things and they're there to back you up.

  • I feel for you.

    This is exactly why I avoid phone calls at all cost.

    I use e-mail only - that way, it's in writing and can be referred back to when needed.