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Rejected reasonable adjustments - struggling

illustrated.lady

Hello,

I'm newly diagnosed with autism, I'm in my thirties and I was diagnosed in April. Work has been a struggle for me for a long time and my attendance is poor, largely due to anxiety and stress.

I requested reasonable adjustments - one was to work from home and was to remove one of my additional responsibilities. My request to work from home one day a week was denied as my role apparently cannot be done from home (people in similar roles work a day from home) and my additional responsibility was removed but with a reduction of hours in my contract. 

I sought advice from my union and they advised to reject my work's proposed 'adjustments' and have a meeting with them with the union rep present but honestly the fire in my belly has just been extinguished so I begrudgingly accepted the 'adjustments' whilst making clear that they don't support me.

I feel hurt that my request was rejected so outright with no justification. There is more than enough work to be done in my primary role but instead of helping me, they took hours from me. I'm in this cycle now where I manage a few days in, then I'm off sick, my attendance is awful. I haven't had any follow up with my management and I've just been left to it. 

I have requested a referral to occupational health in the hope they can suggest some adjustments. I am looking at and applying to other jobs because at this point I honestly just need to get out but I need try and make this work in the meantime! 

Any advice/support would be greatly appreciated.

  • in reply to Mr_Indeed_Autism
    Mr_Indeed_Autism said:
    Employers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace.

    The key word here is reasonable.

    Employers can argue that an option is too expensive, means the job cannot be performed remotely, will set an example that will destabalise the team, impacts others etc etc.

    I know the way they think and they can typically make it a grey enough area to work around the spirit of the law and thus avoid a lawsuit.

    There don't seem to be many mid or senior level autistic managers - most of us struggle even in low level manager roles and can't take all the bulldroppings that go with working with these sorts of higher level managers.

    They make decisions based on their world views and they rarely align with ours which leads to struggles for so many of us. It is little surprise that only around 20% of autists are in full time employment.

  • I'm sorry - it sounds like you're having a really tough time.

    From what I've learnt from my wife who's an HR Manager, autism is a disability. Employers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace. I'm probably autistic (and in my 50s) and looking back on a previous job, realised it was the wrong environment for me.

    A now work part time for a university in a creative studio and the support has been amazing. I think many creative people are ND, and I hope that shows that there are positive places to work.

  • Sorry to hear it was so negative a response for you.

    illustrated.lady said:
    I requested reasonable adjustments - one was to work from home and was to remove one of my additional responsibilities. My request to work from home one day a week was denied as my role apparently cannot be done from home

    I know most companies want the return to office becuase of their ability to oversee staff. Many are also using it to encourage some staff to leave so they can downsize without having to pay severance payments.

    I can understand them reducing your hours/pay as you have less responsibility however. If this does give you less stress then it is a fair trade off.

    It sounds like you are not being treated with consideration so I would return the favour and do the bare minimum for the role - not work outside of core hours, not be reachable if not in work, not take on any additional work or help others out and carve out as much space for yourself in the role as you can.

    Work to live only - don't worry about getting a high performance review rating (after all the company has not performed for you) and reiterate to the people who made the decisions that you are very dissapointed in them for their lack of compassion to a disabled person.

    All the while I would ne looking for another job and building my skills in my own time, as well as working on myself (with a therapist) to find ways to be able to tolerate the working environment and reduce my overall stress).

    Thats just my thoughts - I hope you find a company who look after you better next.

  • I am sorry to hear of your struggles but I am not surprised by anything employers do. There does seem to be an unfortunate view held by employers (being echoed by reform and others) that adjustments are 'perks' ie getting something special not as a need.

    I can understand your reasoning and why you have accepted there so-called adjustments.

    I think I may have replied to a previous post of yours about the website valla and its resources.

    Employers rely on wearing you down and it takes courage to continue the fight for what is right. My own situation has been ongoing for over 2 years now. I was on the brink of submitting an employment tribunal claim but lost my nerve and engaged a lawyer (at a cost) to do mine. Waiting on the tribunal accepting for it to move to the next stage. I wish it was over and have come close to quitting it so many times. It is so draining to be in this kind of situation.

    keep your chin up and don't let the bas***ds grind you down

  • How is the job search going? Are you looking at only remote jobs or are you open to hybrid/in person work?