to want to sit at work with the blinds open and no heater on?

[Iwantsun]

I share an office with a colleague who has a disability. I am not sure what it is and she has never disclosed the nature of it, just that she has one.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous at the moment. The minute she gets in, she closes all the blinds, claims it is freezing and has the heater on all day. She puts the lights on because she has closed the blinds. I am fed up of sitting all day in the dark roasting because of the heater.

I have dropped several hints that she should wear more layers but she prefers to sit in a thin dress with the heater blaring on.

I have spoken to my line manager and he says he cannot do anything about the situation because of her disability. There is no other room for me or her to move to.

I just want some sun and fresh air

[SirNoel]

She might have spoken with Occ Health, and they might have told her that the way to alleviate any issues is to pull the blinds and use a heater

Can you ask to move?

[SirNoel]

Sorry I did that really annoying thing of not reading the OP properly, you can't move

[Methe]

She needs a jumper and sunglasses.

Being disabled doesn't mean you can make everyone suffers!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

There must be some way if accommodating all of you.

Expecting you all to roast in the dark takes the piss tbh.

Tell her you have a vitamin D deficiency and open the blind and window.

In all seriousness surely of you work with computers the company pays for an eye test and puts money towards glasses? She would be entitled to that surely?

If she was honest with the manager at least then surely he could help manage the situation so everyone's happy?

[withextradinosaurs]

I was locked in overhead light conflict for ages. Other person wanted them off, I wanted them on. Unfortunately there's no compromise!

Can you pick one? Either open the blinds or turn the heating down?

[Iwantsun]

The company I work for does provide a free eye test and she has special VDU glasses. The company won't pay for this eye sensitivity she has so that means sitting in the dark apparently. She doesn't have the money to pay for glasses but can go to Florida next week with her DH and DC

Hissy I don't think I should be expected to suffer in the sodding dark, you are right. If she didn't have a disability, I don't think I would be expected to

[Iwantsun]

I think if she put enough clothes on, we wouldn't need the heater on. But she turns up to work with a thin dress or top on and moans all day it is freezing. I can't think what the compromise is for the blinds, she is in physical pain if they are open but then she should buy the bloody glasses instead of spending the money on Florida

[Iwantsun]

The manager is not willing to swap because he has a lot of meetings in his office that are confidential so wouldn't work if he had to share

[mymatemax]

Surely your office cant be the only place that she is in sunlight. If it has such a significant impact on her she would need the glasses for general use??
The employer making reasonable adjustment should not mean that you are uncomfortable.
Do you have a thermometer to take the temperature in the office?
Can you wear less clothes?
If she is not going to work with you to make it comfortable for all you are going to have to force your manager/HR to address the issue in a more formal way.

[itsmeitscathy]

Bear in mind that it isn't just the organisation that can be accused of discrimination; individuals can be too do. I would tread carefully. Take it up with HR formally, not with her as it is their place to make you comfortable at work, not hers.

[HearMyRoar]

I work with someone who is well known for sitting in skimpy tops and then turning all the heaters up as she is so terribly cold. A previous colleague of hers once went to a charity shop and bought some hideous huge cardigan and presented it to her. It hung in the office and when ever she complained about being cold someone would point at the hideous cardigan.

Apparently the cardigan never got worn but complaints about coldness did decrease significantly :o

[vettles]

Have you put in a grievance about this?

[Iwantsun]

I haven't put in a grievance. I have spoken to her directly and asked her politely about the blinds and heater. I have spoken to my line manager who is not willing to do anything. If I go direct to HR, then it will reflect badly on my line manager and make it difficult for me to continue working there. I feel stuck.

I can't wear any less clothes without being indecent! I wear thin clothes myself because she has the blasted heater on so much

[craftysewer]

When I worked I was helped through something called Access to work. They did a full assessment and provided an electrical desk, chair and trolley for moving files. Firm paid but then claimed it all back through the scheme.

[Iwantsun]

She has a special chair that the company paid for that cost £1500. She has a special keyboard, mouse and foot rest, not her £500

That is fine, just wish they would pay for a dark room to be kitted out for her then she can cook herself silly in the dark away from me

[Hissy]

You will have to go to HR tbh.

[feebeecat]

Isn't it quite bright in Florida??

We have someone similar in our office, think manager is also scared of her. We have regular moves and she just gets passed on to annoy someone else for a while. Not had my turn yet and am lost as to why no one has cut the plug off her heater yet and told her to dress appropriately?! Guess I'll probably find out when my turn comes
Do like the charity shop hideous cardie idea though.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Isn't being in the dark a major health and safety risk? Trip up a few times and you might find the blinds open again.

[kinkyfuckery]

Tell your line manager if nothing is done about your working conditions you will take it further.

Can't they put either of you in a different office?

Though, I'm feeling this is getting slightly more unbelievable with reference to a holiday in Florida

[Nennypops]

I think you'll need to go to your line manager and put to him the points that have been made on this thread, i.e.:

1. Colleague almost certainly can get special glasses cheaply if she needs them for her disability. He needs to get HR to check for her.
   
2. Her disability does not mean that she can demand that the heating be put on because she can't be bothered to bring in a cardigan or jumper. He needs to double-check with HR that there is no reason why she can't wear jumpers, vests etc and, if there isn't any reason, he needs to tell her that she has to meet you half way and put on warmer clothes. She would not be able to complain legitimately about this.
   

And I think you need to tell him that if he isn't prepared to sort this out you will have no choice but to go to HR yourself.

[MrsGeneKelly]

My eyes are sensitive, I wear sunglasses when they are bothering me, I have some that fit right over my regular glasses.
What if you were suffering from S.A.D.? (seasonal affective disorder) and needed that sunlight to help you fight depression? I don't think she is trying very hard to be thoughtful to those around her.

[Andrewofgg]

Open the blinds, lower the heating, and if she closes them and turns it up, open them again and lower it again. TNS. Your employer only has to make "reasonable" adjustments for her and has to have regard for your health, which is not promoted by sitting in the dark and in an over-heated room. Good luck.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

Hi op. I have a condition that has affected the back of my eye, so that normal light levels seem like blazing sunshine.
I have glasses to deal with this. They were massively discounted. Cost me no more than normal single vision lenses.

[stolemyusername]

Take the blinds down and cut the plug off the heater while she is in Florida

You are going to have to go to HR about this though.

[withextradinosaurs]

If her requirements mean she can't effectively share an office, your employer might have to put her on her own somewhere. I needed to use voice recognition software for a while, which worked better if I wasn't sharing. My employers huffed and puffed but found me a solo office in the end. It was in a different building though! Also I had an occcupational health letter which stated my requirement to use VR. Does she have an occupational health assessmenta. Can you encourage your line manager to get her one?