One way system at work

[onewayonly]

Sorry for the length, trying not to drip feed.

I'm disabled with mobility problems and chronic pain. I work in an office in an admin function, we are key workers and have been in all through lockdown.

It's a large open plan office and a one way system for walking around the office was introduced along with social distance measures. I went from an average of 3k steps a day to 7-8k steps a day. The pain is excruciating and I'm struggling to cope. I can't take more medication and it has a cognitive impact.

I've started limiting what I drink, so that I don't use the toilet and can limit my movements more. I've had a bladder infection due to dehydration.

My employer is not supportive and polices the one way system with threats of disciplinary action. My desk is close to the only toilets on the floor, but I have to walk the full one way system every time I need to use them.

AIBU to think that it's now unnecessary? Supermarkets stopped the one way system ages ago. And is it discriminatory to force disabled staff to use the one way system? Can I challenge this, or does Covid safety trump disability?

I've never taken a day off sick for my disability and work really hard to balance my activity levels in order to be otherwise fit and healthy.

does Covid safety trump disability?

No and the covid-secure guidance for employers explicitly states this.

Failing to make reasonable adjustments for you is unlawful.

Oh, and indirect discrimination - enforcing a policy that has such a deleterious effect on disabled staff - is also unlawful.

Thank you, I'm so frustrated and upset by all this, I'm practically in tears every night now with the pain. I'm going to find the guidance and go from there. We have no on-site HR either so it means I will have to challenge this directly with the manager who polices it all. I'm not very good at sticking up for myself in this kind of situation when it comes to my disability.

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres#offices-3-2

Section 1.2 - sharing your risk assessment - do you have an employee representative you can contact?
Section 2.3 - reasonable adjustments and Equality legislation
Section 3.2 - moving around the office - suggests "more" one way systems. Not "only". Our offices are small, and we've simply said that the stairs are one way at a time.

There's more throughout, but those should be enough to make a simple case.

Any questions, please ask - I was responsible for implementing these guidelines in our organisation.