Seating issue at work

[lotsofbackissues]

So I work in a customer service center, there’s three staff members and we hot desk. There’s two seated desks and one standing desk. Staff member A has a health condition that affects her balance so always sits at a seated desk. I have a back condition which makes standing for long periods uncomfortable and the standing desk is none adjustable and is too low for me to stand comfortably at. I had a OH assessment and they ordered me a made to measure chair for the seated desk so now I always sit at the seated desk too. Staff member B was (understandably) unimpressed with having to stand every day, they have recently had tests and have a heart problem which they now say they can’t stand all day either.
management bought a adjustable chair for the standing desk but due to the height of the desk and shelving in it I can’t get my legs under to sit comfortably, both other staff members are not happy with it either. Both staff members are expecting me to use the desk too(some sort of alternating system) but I don’t want to use it as it’s uncomfortable. Management are not on site so last week both staff members had ‘claimed’ the seated desks and I felt uncomfortable asking one to move.
management won’t change the desks as they are wooden structures which are attached to the wall and shelving units so it’s a big undertaking to rip them out.
Can insist I use a seated desk? Do I have any rights here?

Are you a trade union member?

Surely management have to change the desks if you all have OH recommendations? They owe you a duty of care under employment law so they don’t get to ignore it just because it might be a big undertaking.

Can't they just replace the standing desk with a sitting desk?!

ETA: Sorry, just saw your last para. Could a platform be put under the standing desk? I would not like to be made to stand at work, it gives me hip pain.

Yes

Really your work needs to have 3 sitting desks that are suitable. I’d go to HR and your union if management are refusing to do anything about it.

Try Access2Work, they can make recommendations and potentially fund a suitable equipment for your needs.

The other 2 need to sit, but you're the only one with a specific chair for you. You need to be using the chair that was made to measure for you, and if that's not compatible with the weird desk then you can't use it. It really is that simple.

They need to get another seated desk, or only have 2 people in the office at a time.

(Who the hell has a shared non adjustable standing desk anyway - that's literally the point of them?!)

There’s 5 shops across the region and all of them have standing desks that are non adjustable

i agree I need the seated desk specifically it’s hard because it makes life harder for my co workers

Has anyone pointed this ridiculous situation out to management?

If I were you, I’d email your line manager, pointing out the difficulties each of the team members are having. refer to the OH reports that have been written for individuals and suggest that a OH visit to address the team’s issues is organised.

any sensible organisation would sort this pretty swiftly to avoid the risk of long term sickness, claims around poor working arrangements exacerbating medical issues, poor team morale, etc.

if management don’t address this with 14 days, I’d be raising with HR and your union.

management won’t change the desks as they are wooden structures which are attached to the wall and shelving units so it’s a big undertaking to rip them out.

Well, that's their problem, not yours fortunately.

This doesn't sound right to me. Can you wfh? I'd be tempted to say you'll be working from home until you have confirmation you have an appropriate desk and chair to use in the office.

Also to add to this, if you are using a computer at the desk, take a look at display screen regulations. They have a legal duty to assess and give you suitable workspace.

You really need to spread to them about it. It’s a clear health and safety issue.

A non-adjustable standing desk (in every shop) is no use to anyone -or maybe to one in 30 people who happen to be the right height. They've wasted their money, and should get rid (or replace with adjustable height).
You should all stand (or sit!) your ground with union support as you all deserve the correct ergonomic working conditions

Unfortunately it’s a customer role

Call ACAS