Do I have to attend welfare meetings?

[OfTheNight]

I have bipolar disorder, which I have openly declared at work as soon as I was diagnosed. I also left my ex husband who was abusive around the time of my diagnosis. So I have had some counselling for anxiety and PTSD, which I also disclosed.

I have provided HR with information and always been honest and upfront. We discussed some very basic adjustments, which up until now they had no issue with. They don’t cost the company any money or impact how long or hard I work or impact my colleagues. They are very simple (e.g being in the same building as my team not on my own.) The adjustments have been in place for about 4 years. I also had to attend welfare meetings with my line manager and a member of HR, supposedly to support me and allow me to flag any issues or concerns. I have never flagged anything in these meetings and I have always been honest. I have not had a welfare meeting since October but I am not sure why.

Recently the company have stopped most of the adjustments citing covid. E.g. moving another staff member into my building so I no longer have a room. They have changed my job quite a lot. I have discussed my concerns but I was told I have to accept the changes or go part time. I cannot afford to do that.

Up until now I have loved my job and have always worked hard. I am actually very good at it and have always performed well. The company stated they introduced the changes, which involve more responsibility, because I am good at my job. I do not get a pay increase, they are just extra duties.

They want to arrange a welfare meeting next week but I don’t really see the point. I have lost quite a lot of faith in HR and my manager after how the changes to my job have been handled. I don’t think they will support me and they won’t uphold my arrangements whilst covid is an issue, even though my adjustments actually don’t contravene any guidance or are a consideration for the risk assessment.

I feel awkward and embarrassed about the meetings. I have been open in the past and I now regret that. I know they are just a tick box exercise for the company, not actually to help me. I realise I have been awfully naive.

My question is - do I have to have these meetings? I assume they will say I’m refusing help, should I ever complain about the company. But these meetings don’t help, they’re just pointless lip service really. If anyone can advise that would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to get in to trouble by asking for the welfare meetings to stop.

I am, very sadly, looking for another job but this one had been perfect up to now, I can’t afford to leave my current job without something else in place.

[Onesnowynight]

I too have bipolar, and have made my company aware. The only adjustments I have are weekly meetings with my head of department to just make sure everything is ok. I haven’t requested anything else.

I would say attend them, and explain what you are having difficulties with and make sure it’s written down. You may not like these meetings but play the game.

It’s crap having a serious mental health condition, and a good manager and company can make all the difference. I’ve excelled where I am and am leading more projects than any of my team- but comes with that is stress which is one of my triggers (lack of sleep is the other), so my manager knows that there’s that fine line for me between excelling and bottoming out.

What I’m trying to explain probably badly, is that there are good managers out there. If you feel that you aren’t getting the support, you risk this impacting on your MH.

Give them one last chance after making clear what you need, and decide if you want to stay or go.

[OfTheNight]

Thanks for the advice. I have made it clear for the last 4 years (backed up with psychiatrists reports.)

Now they’ve rescinded the 3 extremely minor adjustments I had and changed my job role I don’t see the point of the meetings. I haven’t had the meetings for 6 months - no idea why the company stopped them. So I don’t see the point of them starting again.

I just wanted to know from more of a legal/contractual standpoint if I have to attend them?

[Aprilx]

@OfTheNight

Thanks for the advice. I have made it clear for the last 4 years (backed up with psychiatrists reports.)

Now they’ve rescinded the 3 extremely minor adjustments I had and changed my job role I don’t see the point of the meetings. I haven’t had the meetings for 6 months - no idea why the company stopped them. So I don’t see the point of them starting again.

I just wanted to know from more of a legal/contractual standpoint if I have to attend them?

Refusing to attend a work related meeting would certainly be unacceptable, as that would be refusing “a reasonable request” of management.

I guess it could be argued that this is slightly different, but I honestly cannot see how refusing to attend a welfare meeting could ever be in your best interests. It will either not matter at all, or should it ever come down to your trying to make an employment claim it is going to go in the employers favour that they tried to hold welfare meetings and you refused to attend. I would keep going.

Cannot really comment on the rest of your post about removal of some adjustments as you have been a bit too vague about what that involved.

[HermioneWeasley]

If you refuse to attend, you make yourself look unreasonable. This is your opportunity to go on record about them removing your reasonable adjustments and the difficulties this is causing