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Original poster

Feel like I'm being forced out of my job because of allergies

34 replies

Havea · 15/02/2022 02:40

Not sure I've posted in the right place but here goes.
I've worked at the same large government employer for a long time. My youngest child likely has autism and other issues and it's nearby so it suits me, although I don't love it, it's best for my family if I stay there. We have one car and my husband uses it for work. My husband also has a serious, life limiting health condition which makes him tired at times.

I have asthma and am generally allergic to a lot of things like dust, pets etc. I have always managed this well and take antihistamines, inhalers etc.

A while ago we found out we were getting a new member of staff who has an assistance dog. The office is quite small so I said straight away that I would probably have problems with this as I'm very allergic to dogs. Plans were put in place for us to be of different floors and I avoided the dog as much as possible. I was in a room which he had no cause to ever go into so I was fine.

I was then moved to a more general area in the office. He has to pass through this area as it's a main thoroughfare. Since I moved I've been sneezing, nose running, wheezing. I raised it with my manager last week who said that she would speak to HR about it. I suggested that there were treatments you can put on the dogs coat to make it less likely to make me sneeze and also said I would probably have been better off left in my self contained room.

Manager has come back saying HR aren't happy with the measures taken so are looking to move me to another office. This has completely stressed me out. The nearest alternative office is half an hour bus ride away. Sometimes my son has absolute meltdowns and I have to go home to help at school or home with him. This is fine at the moment as I am 5 minutes walk away. The thought of being that far away from him makes me so upset and worried.
I've limited my career to care for and be nearby for him (and to some extent my husband too due to his health).

Apart from the extra cost and time taken to get to the other office it just seems like a load of hassle and worry for me. I was willing to go back to my little room and do meetings etc over zoom.

I can't sleep because of this. Thanks for reading.

OP posts:

Others4Dreams · 15/02/2022 02:52

Your employer has offered you a good alternative to work in another office

How do you know that it's the dog that is making you allergic, it could be other things in the office

Have you been back to your GP about worsening allergies ?

GirlInACountrySong · 15/02/2022 02:54

They are fulfilling their obligations with the other office solution

Surely meetings via zoom are now going to be a bit of a thing of the past. People seem keen to shake off old covid measures

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 03:01

I don't know that it's the dog making my allergies worse. I've had allergy pin prick testing and I tested positive for all sorts of things. It could be something else like cleaning products which won't be solved by moving me elsewhere. I'm not sure how I can find out what it is though. I don't know what else my GP could do either. I already take very strong antihistamines.

I don't see an issue with using zoom for all office meetings. It would just be a way of me listening in. Everyone else would be there in person. I'm trying to bend over backwards to think of ways to solve the situation.

Moving to the other office just makes my already hard life, much harder.

OP posts:

WTF475878237NC · 15/02/2022 03:04

If you've worked here for many years (including before your youngest was born) then I understand this may stress you out but have you considered getting a new job?

Does your condition meet the disability criteria in itself under the DDA? I'm not sure how they'd stand in moving you to accommodate another disabled worker if you were to take them to court for constructive dismissal. Perhaps ask in legal?

halloweenie13 · 15/02/2022 03:04

@GirlInACountrySong

They are fulfilling their obligations with the other office solution

Surely meetings via zoom are now going to be a bit of a thing of the past. People seem keen to shake off old covid measures

Meetings via zoom are not going to be a 'thing of the past' they a very much a permanent fixture and here to stay. If an employer has reasonably supported WFH for an employee without reasonable issues then there is no reason for them to not continue to offer this. The moving to another office is entirely unreasonable as it was never an agreed expectation. Also, OP was in the office first, if anything they need to offer 50/50 offices or wfh for both as a compromise.

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 03:06

I think your employer is out of order here, they need to be accommodating everyone. It is discriminatory as severe asthma is considered a disability.

If they can send you to another building, they can surely just leave you to work in the room you were allocated when the dog started.

I would put your case forward that you are able to do your job absolutely fine with the original adjustments and you don't understand why it was changed to move you to the general office area. You feel you are being shipped out so they don't have to accommodate you as a person with a disability and the knock on effect it will have on your disabled son won't be manageable. Your place of work shouldn't be changed when there is a perfectly workable solution.

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 03:09

@WTF475878237NCt I'd love to get a new job but need to wait until my youngest needs me less. We can't use childcare for him due to his needs so this job allows me to work and care for him.

I would imagine asthma would be covered under the DDA.

OP posts:

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 03:15

@chiicken thanks that's what I was trying to articulate. She chose to move me out of my room when there were no issues when I was there. She moved me as she said I wasn't as sociable with the other staff when I was tucked away.

OP posts:

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 03:15

[quote Havea]@WTF475878237NCt I'd love to get a new job but need to wait until my youngest needs me less. We can't use childcare for him due to his needs so this job allows me to work and care for him.

I would imagine asthma would be covered under the DDA.[/quote]
I totally understand you.

I can't work at the moment at all as my son needs me for various things during the school day.

If I was working and it fitted around his needs I would go ballistic if I was made to change it all for no good reason snd potentially set him back and cause distress.

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 03:17

[quote Havea]@chiicken thanks that's what I was trying to articulate. She chose to move me out of my room when there were no issues when I was there. She moved me as she said I wasn't as sociable with the other staff when I was tucked away.[/quote]
Well you won't be sociable with them in another building will you!

Honestly some employers think the world starts and ends with work. I couldn't give a shit about being sociable as long as the work is done to the expected standard they should but out and understand the consequences for your family if you are moved.

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 03:17

@chiicken that's exactly what I mean. I'm glad someone understands. I'd rather just sit and sneeze than upset my son and not be there when he needs me. Jobs like that are like gold dust.

OP posts:

GirlInACountrySong · 15/02/2022 03:20

You are only guessing it's the dog though

Get definitive proof

All our zoom arrangements are now being discouraged and WFh is definitely ending in our company.. who knows what yours plans but don't bank on it all continuing

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 03:22

I was meaning to do the zoom meetings from my laptop in the office rather than at home. I don't expect to be able to wfh as it's not in the nature of the job.

I am guessing it's the dog as I was fine for years until the dog started there.

Maybe I'll ring my GP and see if there are any other solutions. I already take cortisteroid nasal spray, prescribed antihistamines etc.

OP posts:

chiickenandchiips · 15/02/2022 03:25

@GirlInACountrySong

You are only guessing it's the dog though

Get definitive proof

All our zoom arrangements are now being discouraged and WFh is definitely ending in our company.. who knows what yours plans but don't bank on it all continuing

Why are people suggesting the OP can't be sure it's the dog.

She was absolutely fine until a dog started coming into the work place.

She also has allergies.

Doesn't take a genius.

And either way, it's not a good enough reason to change someone's place of work when they have backtracked on a suitable adjustment.

WTF475878237NC · 15/02/2022 03:28

This job won't suit you if you're moved though will it? So what I'm saying is do you have a case for constructive dismissal? I'd be speaking to a solicitor about that, then going to HR armed with the information.

ArabellaStrange · 15/02/2022 03:31

'more sociable' equals more under her eye imo...

Seemslikeagoodidea · 15/02/2022 03:33

@chiickenandchiips

I think your employer is out of order here, they need to be accommodating everyone. It is discriminatory as severe asthma is considered a disability.

If they can send you to another building, they can surely just leave you to work in the room you were allocated when the dog started.

I agree, the employer is out of order here.

As a person with multiple allergies myself, including dogs, I would put money on it that it's the dog triggering your allergies. You know your own body better than anyone else, trust your instincts.

Who is in your old room now? Is it someone higher up the food chain, who saw an opportunity to bag a nice quiet office away from the general office noise? If so, this is the real reason they are doing this, but they are dressing it up as you being too cut off from others. I know, I've been there.

I would resist this, stating you have rights under the DDA and that the needs of someone with an assistance dog do not trump your needs, and mention that if you are forced out you will have grounds for claiming constructive unfair dismissal. Trouble is, they might make life awkward then make you redundant anyway (this happened to me eventually, but for Covid related reasons). I feel your pain, this is stressful and if you are a good worker you deserve better than this.

As an afterthought - are you a good worker? Were there times when you coasted a bit, left to your own devices, tucked away out of sight? I don't mean this unkindly, but if someone has noticed occasions where you've done this, they might draw their own conclusions and have other reasons to be moving you to the general office. Only you know how productive you are, and how much they may want to keep you. Good luck OP.

Blossom64265 · 15/02/2022 03:37

Allergy can qualify as disability. Your employer would be wise to be very careful here. Putting all the impact on you could seen as discrimination.

Competing disabilities are always going to be difficult. Depending on the severity of the allergy, things like putting you and the service dog user in completely separate areas and assigning you both routes so that you don’t cross paths is pretty common.

GirlInACountrySong · 15/02/2022 03:44

@chiickenandchiips

Because the op herself doesn't know where the allergy has come from.... dog is a guess
I
don't know that it's the dog making my allergies worse. I've had allergy pin prick testing and I tested positive for all sorts of things. It could be something else like cleaning products which won't be solved by moving me elsewhere. I'm not sure how I can find out what it is though. I don't know what else my GP could do either. I already take very strong antihistamines.

SmorgasBorb · 15/02/2022 03:50

@WTF475878237NC

Constructive dismissal is extraordinarily hard to prove and being moved to an office within reasonable commuting distance is certainly not a cause.

I also don't know if many jobs that would allow you to suddenly down tools and leave to attend to a family member any any time. I suspect that it isn't a formal arrangement (if management know about it at all) and it appears to be the OPs main bone of contention.

ralanne · 15/02/2022 04:04

I don't think it's right that you should have to take more medications when there is another solution which was working. Could you explain that being in the small office was working fine and that you would like to be moved back there? I can understand why you wouldn't want to move site and I don't think it's a particularly good solution. They should be able to manage all medical conditions within their building.

Original poster

Havea · 15/02/2022 17:55

I'm actually allowed to 'down tools' when needed as I use my own flexi time. I don't do it within work time. Would you rather I was at home not working at all?

Another reason given for moving me to the main office is I'm experienced and can answer queries that newer staff can't. It wasn't because I'm not productive. She said I bring energy to the room and get conversation going which boosts morale.

Anyway, the situation has resolved itself today. I won't be giving exact details as it's a very outing situation but I don't have to move office anymore so I'm very pleased.

OP posts:

Leftbutcameback · 15/02/2022 17:58

That’s great news @Havea - pleased to hear it (from a fellow dog-allergy sufferer)

Viviennemary · 15/02/2022 18:05

Your employer is in a difficult position here. But I sympathise with you as I don't like dogs and would hate to work in the close vicinity of a dog. Anyway I see your update. Glad it's resolved.

SickAndTiredAgain · 15/02/2022 18:15

All our zoom arrangements are now being discouraged and WFh is definitely ending in our company.. who knows what yours plans but don't bank on it all continuing

But they want to move her to a different office altogether, so presumably they aren’t worried about virtual meetings since she now won’t be in the same building. So I’m not sure zoom is an issue, she’ll be dialling in from the other office.

Unless they are moving you to a whole different team in the different building, OP?

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