Would I be unfair to let my manager ask to move me?

[Tyzer85]

Hi all

I have mild Cerebral Palsy, it affects my arms and legs and it also means my balance can wonky on occasion.

I've been working here for nearly ten years, for the vast majority of the time I've been based on the first floor. Whenever there was a fire alarm I'd wait in a stairwell behind fire doors with a colleague, if the situation was serious then security would come and find us and I would be helped down the stairs and escorted out of the building (this only happened once).

However last year myself and my team were relocated to another part of the building and I'm now based on the 4th floor. It was obviously not well planned as the move was delayed for several weeks whilst card readers and other access changes were made so that I could enter/exit certain doors without relying on other colleagues.

Anyway, during the move the fire evacuation plans were changed upon the advice of the local fire service, I now have to exit the building regardless of whether it's a fire drill or not. It takes three colleagues to walk me down the stairs and it takes ten minutes, ten minutes of being so tense that the slightest flinch could take out a colleague.

It's literally ten minutes of me feeling uncomfortable and it's like hell on earth. My colleagues are amazing and I can't praise them enough.

My manager knows that I'm unhappy with this arrangement and he has offered to raise it with senior management in order to ask them to move me a few floors down or even to the ground floor, it wouldn't affect my work in any way as we have an internal messaging system (think MSN Messenger) etc. Would I be unfair if I asked him to persue this? It would be better for me and my colleagues safety wise but I don't want to be seen to be geting preferental treatment.

This may or may not be relevant but the first thing that came into my mind was that it sounds as though your work (albeit inadvertently from the sounds of things) haven't made reasonable adjustments due to your disability. They've actually made your life a lot harder - not being able to get through doors without a colleague is crazy! And the fire evacuation plan as it stands can't be right - in the event of a real fire, your colleagues are expected to risk their lives helping you?! Obviously human decency would mean that you'd always try to help others, but seriously? Your best chance of escape is if your colleagues don't panic and remember/choose to help? I really feel for you and think you should definitely push to be moved to somewhere where you're able to be more independent.

NewYear, can't you see there's a difference between running out into the street in your knickers because your house is burning down ( undignified but essential) and making reasonable adjustments so an employee can leave the ground floor quickly and efficiently in an emergency, rather than having to rely on colleagues to assist her down four flights of stairs in a position where they feel vulnerable? Or "bumping on her bum", ffs.

I'm glad you aren't my fire marshal. And you do come across as patronising.

Yes I get that.

I'm just asking if the op has considered the implications of her moving. Sitting with a team not doing the same work as her or lone working. Is the space set up for her needs, has she got facilities she can use comfortably etc

Yes ground floor working is the ideal solution but it's not always a practical one

In this instance it's the company who don't seem to be recognising that safety comes before, well, most things.

Even with an evac chair, the plan of putting the OP on the 4th floor isn't exactly desirable.

The company clearly have the a choice of floors including the ground floor. They just didn't prioritise the safety of the OP AND her helping colleagues when shuffling desks. Bet the fire service are thrilled.

Yup totally agree. Sadly common sense in large companies is rarely found!

FYI I'm a 'he' ;)

But yeah the whole thing was rushed just prior to the move, I'll be pushing for a move to a lower floor at least.

I have also already said that my immediate team colleagues have said that they will move to the nearest hotdesk if I'm moved. There will be no impact on my ability to do my job.

Sorry for calling you "she", Tyzer. Good luck with getting the move. I'm sure the fire services will be quietly cheering...

YANBU. I'm the H&S rep for our team and it would concern me greatly to know that a member of our team would not be able to evacuate building in a reasonable length of time in an emergency and that their evacuation would be dependant on other team members as well.

Absolutely move downstairs. 10 mins is far too long to get out of a building in the event of a fire. It's also putting your colleagues at risk as well so by requesting the move, you're doing it for their well being too.

Will you still have to visit other floors, for meetings etc?

I'd suggest both pushing to be based on the ground floor and, if there's more than a remote chance that you could be on a higher floor when there's a fire, considering an evac chair or ensuring the fire marshalls on each floor would know how to help you.

What would happen if you were on the 4th and your team had based themselves on the ground floor for the day?