AIBU - only one without a desk

[Nurse1980]

Hi,

I recently returned to work following an episode of sickness.

We all had our own desk in the office (including myself). I’ve come back, and a six month temporary member of staff is now at the desk that was mine.

So Im having to use a laptop and sit at a filing cabinet, as I’ve no desk. I’m also disadvantaged as our job is much easier with two screens (all desks have two screens).

I’ve brought it up with my manager and was told that she was working on it.

I’m not sure if I’m overreacting (been off with stress and PTSD) and just finished my phased return. So I’m more sensitive than normal perhaps?

Tell your manager you're getting back problems from no desk, and speak to HR.
You'll have a desk by Monday.

In law they must do a DSE workstation assessment.

Email your line manage and HR and request one urgently as your current workstation is unsuitable and causing you health issues.

They are breaking the health and safety law by not carrying out and complying with a DSE assessment. Just request it is done urgently in writing.

This. If you also mention that you're perhaps starting to get a sore back or neck I'm sure it will be escalated quickly.

Follow this link then do the checklist yourself - highlight how many "no" answers you give. HSE

Don’t even call it a work station. Call it “the conditions in which I am currently being asked to work, a laptop on a filing cabinet”.

Exactly! OP, I’m sorry you’ve been off and it sounds awful but you really do need to get tough on this one.

And agree re contacting your union.

From HSE:

If workers use display screen equipment (DSE) daily, as part of their normal work, continuously for an hour or more, employers must do a workstation assessment. Employers should look at: the whole workstation, including equipment, furniture, and work conditions. the job being done.

Your workstation is, first and foremost not a workstation, and wholly unsuitable. You don't have the right equipment or conditions. As your manager has failed to address it you can contact h&s, union or HR as already suggested but please do keep pushing, it's not acceptable that your health (both physical and mental) are being put at risk.

In my workplace a reasonable adjustment here is to either work from home until you have a desk or to be off work until you have a desk.

This should all have been covered in your return to work discussions.

As others said I would point out that this is totally against H&S screen rules.

Go to HR... they will wipe the floor with your manager. HR in NHS are not always fab but this is such a clear case of H&S breach as well as bullying... and HR do like a good policy to uphold!

But TBH I would take back your desk and tell your manager that you need a proper place to work and that they will need tonsort something out for the other person as you are not continuing to be bullied. And start looking for another job...

There is no way they don't know this is unacceptable, I bet your manager has an issue with you because of your sick leave. So whilst I'd normally suggest you go the official route, I would now refuse to work on the days where you have no access to a desk, documenting it by sending an email to your manager and copying HR before setting off home. Claim that your usual workstation of a laptop on a filing station is not suitable and is causing you neck/back/shoulder pain.

Make them fear a constructive dismissal case.

It's always the NHS on these threads about bad treatment at work, yikes! Convinced me to never work for them.

I agree with the PPs sayikg escalate immediately. And be very clear in your wording - you're not 'hotdesking'. You don't have 'an unsuitable workstation'. You have nowhere to work and have not been provided with the necessary equipment to do your job.

This is very good advice.

It's a bit pot luck in the health service with competent managers. I don't think you are being bullied out, I think your manager sounds incompetent and ignorant of the law and implications for wellbeing.

I'd tell them verbally that you need what is suggested above and how not having a proper desk is affecting you. Then follow it up with an email to them so you have a paper trail and copy in HR.

Give them a deadline (I'd make it Monday) to get things started and if this isn't forthcoming go to HR directly.

You can say that you've come back having been off with stress and not having a workstation as every other person has has isn't contributing to an easy tradition back at work.

They should be moving a competent person to another area to free up a desk for you if you still need supervision.

Sorry you are going through this. I've worked in NHS and Social Services over the years and it's very much down to managers who can actually manage people.

I knew it would be NHS. Are you at my old Trust? 😃 I had the exact same thing, I was a band 2 medical typist and had no permanent desk, I just had to hope that someone was off and I could use their desk otherwise the day was spent not typing but filing and collecting casenotes. All the cover secs had no desk either, it was shit. I no longer work there, thank god.

I had a desk with a straight edge and a disability access chair which had a sign to not adjust the settings, so no one else could use my chair. With a clean desk policy, no one was allowed to leave their stuff/papers etc on the desks but we had individual file cabinets on rollers (usually stored elsewhere) which we took to our desk on the day. In the end, it was such a faff that people just starting using the same desk every day. If all desks were occupied, there was a large meeting room where the extra people who normally worked off site, could set up their laptops.

Agree with PP - you are not hotdesking, nor do you have an unsuitable workstation. You have no work station and are being told to work on a laptop on a filing cabinet!

Go back to your GP and request a fit note that says you are fit to work only if you have a suitable desk and chair or can WFH. You'll then be off sick until your employer sorts you a desk.

Also, request an urgent DSE assessment and escalate your lack of a desk. I would also take photos of how you're expected to work for evidence.

You need to go to HR and occupational health immediately.
This is not hot desking. You don't have a desk and it's not acceptable.

You were on a phased return so that makes it even worse.
I would wonder if it's being done deliberately.

Frankly, if I got no sense out of HR I'd go off on the sick again.

Absolutely knew it would be nhs. I spent 8 months doing 12 hour shifts with my computer on a metal trolley and a stool with no back. Nhs don’t give a about their staff. Never have and never will. That’s why they’ve got a massive staff shortage.

Hope you get things sorted out with HR and occy health. I just left.

I would do a display screen equipment assessment now, should be on your intranet and submit to your manager and HR. You should have a desk, your legs must be so uncomfy?

Completely unacceptable.

I’d contact HR and question whether you’re being discriminated against because you have recently had time off sick for your mental health.

Presumably your manager knew you were coming back to work, so the desk should have been ordered and in place before your return. You are being treated significantly worse than your colleagues and you might want to consider making a formal complaint under the bullying and harassment policy.

I'm sorry, OP, but it sounds like they're trying to force you out. Make notes of the conversation(s) you had with your manager regarding needing a desk and don't delay escalating this, in writing, to HR.

Whether the temp needs a desk or not is irrelevant. You need a desk. This is something your manager should have sorted in advance of your return and, if there was a delay finding another desk, a suitable alternative should have been discussed and agreed with you in advance.

This.