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Work and reasonable adjustments

Lissy02

Hi all, 

I was diagnosed in April this year and I’m in my early 20s, I work in a healthcare setting and let my manager know about my diagnosis. I brought up some reasonable adjustments but was told it’s practically impossible in my line of work, I was sent a link from HR yesterday after they were finally told about my condition 6 months later for mental health at work support. Again I mentioned my reasonable adjustments in the medical questionare submitted to HR but still nothing has been suggested. I’m struggling at work but nobody seems to want to help, the programme they sent me the link to doesn’t handle neurodiverse individuals. Am I being dramatic? And Where do I go from here? 

Parents

  • I can tell you what I would do.

     Firstly if you are in the UK your request has legal implications. I don't know about any other country. Under the Equality Act of 2010 you have protected disability. They are not legally allowed to dismiss your request. My Occupational Health were really angry with my manager for not providing ecerything I needed and told my manager ( in Education) that he had to provide accommodations and if he didn't he had to find alternative work that I could do. Suddenly all my accommodations were impkemented 

    1. Email  or submit a wriiten request to your line manager and  HR  . In that request for accommodations be very clear about linking aspects of your autistic profile to the barriers you are experiencing in the workplace. ( These are the reasons you need accommodations and they answer the - why accommodations must be made )

    Mention the accommodations that you have asked for,but frame them as an answer/way of removing barriers.

    Try to frame them under specific need such as any sensory modifications needed,any work communication and scheduling needs you have,  and any physical adaptations you need.

    2. Request an Occupational Health Referral

    Occupational Health will understand your healthcare setting. They will objectively value your role. I found Occupational Health very supportive. When you have a meeting/assessment tell them all the things about your job that are more difficult because of your autism. Occupational Health will write a report recommending specific adjustments.

    I have never known an employer ignore Occupational Health ,and their report is your evidence.

    3. Get external support and funding for any accommodations that cost your employer. I referred myself to Access to Work. This service is government funded and you can find them through gov.uk. Access to work can provide money to buy things,as well as training for your colleagues if needed and you can ask for someone to coach you through accessing work with autism. They do this by providing you with a grant. You can even tell them you don't know what accommodations you need and they will talk you through this.

    If your manager or workplace still refuse to meet or provide accommodations then escalate this issue. 

    You can - involve your union.

    You can file a formal grievance.

    Lodge a formal internal grievance with HR. Cite the Equality Act 2010 for failure to provide reasonable adjustments.

    If all internal routes fail, you can contact ACAS.

    Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Their advice is impartial and free.

    As I say, if you are not in the UK your route may be different.

    Are you being dramatic? No.

    You can also identify the fact that sending an autistic person a link and expecting them to follow it and sort out their own situation is not acceptable.

    Best of the best for moving forward. Apologies if I have made any spelling errors.

  • in reply to NAS51275

    Hi Nas, thankyou for your response I have found this really helpful 

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