Is this a reasonable adjustment? Disability/ work place related

[Socksies193]

I wasn't sure how to word the title but I'll explain my situation.

I have crohns disease, I've had it for 25 years. I basically have a 4 hour window each day where I'm well enough to function 'normally'. I've managed to do my a levels and a degree and have worked for 20 years since then. I negotiated my hours a long time ago. I do 4 hours 4 days per week. It's worked really well for myself and my employer.

Any training I've had to do has been online or just 2-3 hour in house face to face.

A new manager has started and wants me to attended a 2 day course, 8 hours per day. I haven't spoken to them yet. They're not aware of my situation. I'm very nervous about it. Can they make me do it? I could try but I know that after the 1st 4 hours I'd need to leave.

I hate this, i hate being awkward and i hate feeling held back. I dont know what my 'rights' are.

I don’t think anyone here can answer this. It depends what the course is and how essential it is to your job. It sounds like the new manager isn’t aware of your disabilities and the reason for your working hours so you just need to have a chat with them and explain, and see what they say. Hopefully they will say you don’t have to go, but if it is essential to your job ask them if you can do the training over 4 days instead.

I should add, I'm not expecting the course to make adjustments for me. I just want to know if I'm able to say 'I can attend 4 hours per day of the course' or that I can't go. It's not essential to my job and the course is made up of lots of different speakers so you don't need to attend the full 1st day for 2nd to make sense.

You have an established work pattern because of your condition, which your manager is unaware of.
I can't see any reasonable manager having an issue once they know.

Ted27 thankyou. I'm so stressed over this.

I hide my disability very well in work, I don't talk about it, I don't ever need time off because of it, I have my hospital appointments on my days off, I inject my meds at the weekend so the side effects don't kick in during work, when colleagues ask of I've had a nice weekend I'll always say yes even if I've spent it all in bed.

No-one would belive how poorly I can be as soon as I get home from work and how quickly I pick myself back up the next day. I probably do myself no favours as I'm not worried they'll think I'm bull shitting.

Crohns is awful, I know several people who have it.

I'm sure it will be OK when you tell them

You need to have a meeting with your manager (with HR involved if that makes you more comfortable) amd explain your current working patterns and that it is related to disability. (They dont need the gory details just enough to understand the already in place ajustment). Prior to doing that then your new manager hasn't a clue about the situation so 2x 8 hour days wouldn't be necessarily out of the question.

Once your new manager is aware of the situation if they then insist you attend then they would in my view be in the wrong. But impossible to say without understanding the need for the course to begin with.

I'm aware disability discrimination is rife and understand why you hide your illness, however given its life limited consequences I do think you'd be doing yourself a favour to open up a bit more.

What is stated about working hours in your contract?

They can't make reasonable adjustments if they don't know about your condition. I'd tell them asap.

LittleOwl153 thankyou, I do need a chat with this manager to make him aware of my situation.

namechange30455 the adjustments were made around 15 years ago with a previous manager, I had a note off my consultant confirming my condition and need to reduce my hours. It's never been mentioned since as its worked really well and my condition hasn't affected my work since then.

I think I'll send him an email. I dont want to get tongue tied and emotional about it.

I think an email sounds like a good idea. Keep it factual and positive, while being firm about not being in a position to work for more than 4 hours each day.
Remind your manager that you've been a diligent and productive employee, your condition has never interfered with your ability to fulfil your role.
Offer to do the training online if feasible.
cc HR into your email.
Any decent manager will respect your honesty and your privacy. And will value your commitment.

Gazelda thankyou, that was really helpful.

Thanks for all the helpful and reassuring replies.

I wish I had more confidence to stand up for myself/my rights. I have this constant feeling like I'm going to be 'rumbled' and they'll realise that I've been winging my whole life!! Or they'll think I'm completely pathetic for only being able to function for 4 hours out of each day or they'll think things don't add up. If I've been on holiday I'll just talk about the highlights, I won't mention that yes, I visited such and such tourist attraction but then spent the rest of the day on the sofa with a hot water bottle or doubled up in pain on the toilet! My close friends and family know all about it but I'm very private where works concerned.

The course should - must in fact - make adjustments for me. But they must be reasonable. So you could ask for example if they could make things available to watch at a later time. However you couldn't ask that they re write the course and compress it. Just quick examples. You can request/suggest but it must be reasonable. Equally they too can should be considering solutions for you.