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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed about work non-adjustment

28 replies

strugglinglife · 24/03/2022 11:01

I work within lots of different schools as an external counsellor. In my old job, I used to have appointments in the morning then go home to do any reports, admin, resources etc (as long as we got everything done it didn’t matter where we were).

In my current job we have to stay in school all day as part of the service agreement. I recently have had really bad back problems and was even signed off work for a week. I think due to sitting on small chairs and small desks.
I’ve asked my boss for possible home admin time to accommodate for my back problems as the chairs and desks are terrible at school and some are kids size too. I’ve asked this a number of times but they say I have to stay in school and the only thing I can do is ask school if they can provide a better chair/desk.

Am I wrong in thinking as long as I get the work done, I don’t see the problem? My back is burning every single day and I’d still get all my work done.

OP posts:
Ikeptgoing · 26/03/2022 19:14

It falls under reasonable adjustments under the Equality act 2015 if you can be designated as disabled - which you can be if you have a chronic back problem. It's not just a health and safety at work issue although that helps too. It's very routine for local authority staff to have work station equipment (WSE) assessments. - which is why I suggest occupational health referral if the school have not provided this yet. (It's my field)

thecurtainsofdestiny · 26/03/2022 20:36

Occupational health. This may qualify as a disability which has protection under law and occupational health can advise about this.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/03/2022 05:26

It's not even a disability/reasonable adjustments issue. Everyone who's expected to use a screen/desk/workstation has the right for it to be correctly set up so it doesn't cause back pain/eye strain/wrist problems.

I thought I was perfectly comfortable working on our kitchen island at the start of the pandemic, before I realised it was a long term thing.

After a couple of weeks, I could barely walk my back was so bad, and it was then that I went in and brought home my proper chair and screen and did a proper set up and assessment, using my employer's online tool.

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