I need advice - should I accept this job

[Charliescar]

I have been offered a job as a Receptionist . 30 hours a week . One day they want me to work from 9.30am - 8pm. The downside is I will not have a stool to sit on as they like to have Receptionist standing .
I am 42 and moved out of retail because of the endless standing . I started to work( sitting) for a small company but it’s only 8 hours a week ! They cannot give me more hours - I have asked . I am not having much luck finding a new job - it’s seems so tricky ! Am I being too picky refusing this job or should I grin and bear it - we do need some extra money. Standing really took a toll on my feet , Painful bunions and lower back pain.
Please help me make a decision

Hi Twicker ,I said I noticed there wasn’t a stool available and they have said they don’t have one as they like the receptionist to stand

I’d take the job then got on to hr and oc health for a stool 😂

It’s a a small business so they don’t have a hr dept - just the owner .

This is discrimination. From the Gov.uk website:

"You can discriminate against someone even if you do not intend to. For example, you can discriminate indirectly by offering working conditions or rules that disadvantage one group of people more than another."

They are discriminating against people who are less able to stand for 30 hours, and are making no effort to see if a reasonable adjustment can be made.

Gostiwooz that’s interesting. I don’t think it will help me though as she seems adamant about the stool . They a young 20 year old doing some part time hours / I don’t know the age of who I am replacing.

Could I demand they let me have a stool ?

No seat & no loo breaks. It's a no from me. Sounds very unreasonable

Hmmm 😭 sounds like you all think it’s a no.
I think I shall reply and say I am not going to accept the position because I think standing for 9 hours is going to work for me . Is that the best way to respond ?

Bump

Yes, that's how I'd respond.

Would it be worth quoting the law
The Law
The Workplace (Health and Safety) Regulations 1992 refer to standing. The law says that employers must supply suitable seats if workers are able to perform their duties, or a substantial part of them, sitting down.
No prosecution of an employer under this law has taken place. There have been five improvement notices served on employers. These notices have insisted upon seats for workers. All the employers complied.

Attitude
Part of the reluctance to encourage workers to sit is attitude. Employers believe that staff who are standing create a better impression with customers.

So I asked and they say a chair would make the reception area less efficient. Not sure how

I believe that it's up to us all as consumers to make a complaint when you can see a company treating their staff like shit. It's not so bad if you are a waitress or nurse where you are on your feet for long periods, but at least you are moving around and can occasionally snatch a quick rest, but to have to stand still behind a desk all day is absolutely ridiculous.

Right, so they want "someone older to take control" - someone older who has to stand up from 9.30am-8pm and is barely allowed to go to the loo.

They'll find it difficult to fill the role. I can't think why

It wouldn't surprise me if they have a high staff turnover, at least for this role. Only the most desperate people would take it.

Do you have two threads on this?

No, I would keep looking, had a job like this as an in shape teen and was in pain at the end of every day.

The standing and loo thing don’t bode well for the organisation’s treatment of staff!

I used to work as a receptionist and roughly 50% of our shifts were on a client meeting room floor with a standing desk. We also had to wear heels and weren’t allowed to drink water except in a cupboard. Luckily breaks were ok since there was a group of us. Honestly it was awful. I lasted 3 months and I was a fit 21 year old. No one I worked with lasted longer than 6 months but I believe from someone who was promoted internally that they now have a stool for quiet periods. However, based on my experience, the standing really was the tip of the iceberg for shitty working conditions so I would decline the offer. Even if they relent on the chair, the owner clearly has no regard for employees’ well being and that coupled with no HR would send me running in the opposite direction.

No you shouldn't accept the job. They clearly don't give a shit about whoever gets the job and the whole 'they like to have Receptionist standing' is an indication of an incredibly weak management.

What would happen if someone in a wheelchair applied for the job?

If you accept the job but demand a chair, they will either:

A. Let you go after the probationary period on the grounds that you're not fitting in with the team, or

B. Give you a chair but say it's for quiet periods only, then complain that you're "always sitting down" even though you only sat down for five minutes, then let you go after the probationary period on the grounds that you're not fitting in with the team.

I know what these types of employers are like. Don't do it!

Thank you everyone- you have really helped. I have worked in this role before and had a chair . It just feels increasingly hard to find jobs as the years go by . I know I have done the right thing and want to work where I am valued . I know what this feels like and it’s a win win for all involved 😀