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 ….
