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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not sharing reasonable adjustment paperwork

73 replies

Raffleyourdoughnut · 29/01/2024 17:12

TL;DR new colleagues wants copies of my personal paperwork so she can use it to get her own reasonable adjustments despite not having an medical issues or disabilities. I have not given anything to her. Apparently I have let her (and all womanhood) down.

I work full time and have a variety of medical conditions. I have had reasonable adjustments in place for over 15 years. These adjustments have always included the flexibility to work from home.

Pre covid we worked 5 days a week in a council office 15-20 minutes. The office we now work in is at least a 30 minutes drive away. Due to roadworks and traffic it has often taken up to 1hour 15 minutes to get home at times. Early last year we initially started back working in the office 1 day a week. Currently we are to work in office 2 set days a week. In a few months time we will be working 3 set days a week in office.

My current reasonable adjustment agreement limits my number of days in office to a maximum of one. This was both suggested by and agreed to by senior management. Whilst I have never publicly announced the specifics of my reasonable adjustments, its something people may well be aware of.

A woman from another LA planning team has joined my team and I have been training them up on how we process planning applications. She has recently been asking about why I am only coming into the office 1 day a week and I must have said like it was due to my reasonable adjustment. Last week during a teams call she asked me some questions about how to get a reasonable adjustment without actually having any medical issues or a disability and specifically asked for a copy of my personal paperwork including my completed application form, doctors letters, any other evidence etc so she can model her application on mine. I said no. I would not be giving her anything. However I did suggest she speaks with management about applying for one and I sent her the link to the council policy guidance on reasonable adjustments.

I had expected that to be the end of the matter however today during our virtual service meeting she asked for my personal information again. This time I was more annoyed with her asking, given it was in front of everyone (there was about 25 people on the call) so I again said no and I told to her that, this was the second time she had asked and my answer won't change. One of other women on the call ( who is not in my direct team) butted in that we should be helping others especially those with less experience. I agreed we should but I'm not giving my personal medication information away to someone I just met. One of our managers on the call stepped in and told first colleague to set up a call time so they can speak to her privately about it.

Since this meeting I've had 4 other women (who are not in my specific team) call or message me via teams to say I was unreasonable to say no to her request and to essentially tell her off in front of everyone especially the 2 managers on the call. Apparently everyone thinks the same especially as women should always be helping other women, no matter what.

I've been too busy today to have a chance to speak to my actual teammates about what happened. I don't think I was unreasonable but it would be good to get other opinions. Should I speak with management about my conversation with colleagues last week?

OP posts:
PonyPatter44 · 30/01/2024 21:35

Oh thats a very impressive follow-up email!! What an utter moron she is!

Raffleyourdoughnut · 30/01/2024 21:39

Unfortunately this is the third time in my 20 years career this type of thing has came up. The first time at my current job though.

The first time I was just out of uni, first full time job, I was congratulated by my manager (at an English LA) as he had never seen a 'spastic' planner before 🤐

The second was during my time at a different Scottish LA, a (male) colleague was annoyed that I was promoted instead of him. Apparently I was only promoted as it gives councils cripple points (I was using my walking stick at that time). When I had to take three months off after my heart attack he was enraged. He did end up getting disciplined after that as he tried to get people to sign a petition to have me demoted. Twat 😂

OP posts:
LemonGelato · 30/01/2024 21:40

Well I can see an invitation for mandatory disability awareness and inclusivity training coming out to the team fairly soon OP!

Honestly how can she be so stupid. 'Disabled people don't work' ffs. Well indeed, many don't work precisely because of old fashioned attitudes like her, and the lack of reasonable adjustments by short sighted employers.

ClematisRock · 30/01/2024 21:44

Unfortunately there are grabby and desperate members of staff who will stoop to any level to get a right to wfh.
I have met quite a few.

Raffleyourdoughnut · 30/01/2024 21:45

@LemonGelato that is so true. I'm very lucky with my current employer, they have been very open to any adjustments I have needed when my health and mobility has been low.

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 30/01/2024 21:51

I can’t believe her response!

I’m glad your managers are supportive of you!

BreadInCaptivity · 30/01/2024 22:19

I'm pleased your management has been supportive.

That email though.....

She really, really needs someone to spell the situation out to her. So bloody patronising and ignorant.

I hope that latest communication got sent to management as well.

CandyLeBonBon · 30/01/2024 22:22

Raffleyourdoughnut · 30/01/2024 21:20

Just an update. I spoke with my managers today and they are not happy with both me being asked for my paperwork and with the other women's teams messages. I had sent them screenshots of the teams messages.

They have spoken to colleague and apparently she didn't know what a RA was, that it relate to disabilities, despite her having years of LA employment. My managers advised that she won't be raising anything to do with this with me again ever.

I thought that was the end of it however I got an email from colleague saying she was sorry I made myself upset 🤔and she didn't expect me to speak to management about it. Apparently she didn't know what she was asking for was an issue especially 'as I don't look disabled' and that she didn't think I was disabled as I work because 'disabled people don't work' 🙄

This email has been forwarded to management and HR.

Bloody hell I hope she gets the boot after that load of bollocks!

SinnerBoy · 31/01/2024 05:59

I'm sorry you had to put up with this awfulness from such a wretched person! But glad that your bosses have treated the situation properly.

MrsPinkCock · 31/01/2024 08:11

Raffleyourdoughnut · 30/01/2024 21:39

Unfortunately this is the third time in my 20 years career this type of thing has came up. The first time at my current job though.

The first time I was just out of uni, first full time job, I was congratulated by my manager (at an English LA) as he had never seen a 'spastic' planner before 🤐

The second was during my time at a different Scottish LA, a (male) colleague was annoyed that I was promoted instead of him. Apparently I was only promoted as it gives councils cripple points (I was using my walking stick at that time). When I had to take three months off after my heart attack he was enraged. He did end up getting disciplined after that as he tried to get people to sign a petition to have me demoted. Twat 😂

I am actually 😮 at this! Especially the second one. That’s just malicious!

IWishTheBishopWell · 31/01/2024 09:02

Apparently she didn't know what she was asking for was an issue especially 'as I don't look disabled' and that she didn't think I was disabled as I work because 'disabled people don't work' 🙄

Crikey. Imagine not only thinking that but to actually put it into writing and send it!

She needs to be sent on a disability awareness course ASAP.

ntmdino · 31/01/2024 09:16

IWishTheBishopWell · 31/01/2024 09:02

Apparently she didn't know what she was asking for was an issue especially 'as I don't look disabled' and that she didn't think I was disabled as I work because 'disabled people don't work' 🙄

Crikey. Imagine not only thinking that but to actually put it into writing and send it!

She needs to be sent on a disability awareness course ASAP.

I'm honestly amazed that there are still people for whom that's a logical train of thought in this day and age.

GreenFrog13 · 31/01/2024 09:18

I think there are a few separate issues.

Lack of understanding on reasonable adjustments (you only have to stand at school gates to hear parents moaning about special treatment). And the fact that if she needs reasonable adjustments they will be different to yours!

The fact your boundaries (for want of a better) are being ignored.

The way you may have spoken to your colleague in a meeting. Maybe reflect on tone of voice and the fact it was ‘public’. If several people have commented are they all likely to be wrong?

BadSkiingMum · 31/01/2024 09:24

YogiYogiBear · 29/01/2024 18:34

I'm guessing other people getting involved don't realise that she's asking for your personal info.

From the ‘women helping women’ comments I suspect that others think she is asking for an example of a flexible working application form or something like that, not disability or health related information.

People are very quick to virtue-signal about helping others if it doesn’t involve putting themselves out!

BadSkiingMum · 31/01/2024 09:32

Apologies for not seeing your update - glad to see that your managers are supportive and have their heads screwed on.

The silver lining is that you know exactly what she’s like now, namely utterly grasping and insensitive, so you can adjust your expectations of her to almost zero.

Valeriekat · 31/01/2024 09:36

@ GreenFrog13
Maybe reflect on how patronizing you are being.
The woman was totally out of order. Why are women expected to suck it up?

Flamme · 31/01/2024 09:40

Good grief, your colleague is batshit. I'm glad your bosses are across it, if she keeps pestering you she will be getting into workplace bullying territory.

I hope they'll send her on an equalities course, her lack of basic knowledge about disability is seriously alarming.

CandyLeBonBon · 31/01/2024 09:57

GreenFrog13 · 31/01/2024 09:18

I think there are a few separate issues.

Lack of understanding on reasonable adjustments (you only have to stand at school gates to hear parents moaning about special treatment). And the fact that if she needs reasonable adjustments they will be different to yours!

The fact your boundaries (for want of a better) are being ignored.

The way you may have spoken to your colleague in a meeting. Maybe reflect on tone of voice and the fact it was ‘public’. If several people have commented are they all likely to be wrong?

Have you read the OP's updates?

Mabelface · 31/01/2024 14:31

Well, she's just put herself into the firing line for direct disability discrimination. She's one of those who thinks that adjustments are a privilege rather than a legal right. I doubt you'll hear much from her again now.

PotterHead1985 · 31/01/2024 15:01

Dear god her latest response has just dug her a flaming hole the idiot.

I've been there op with the disabilities thing, especially with the hidden disabilities, coupled with the age

Neriah · 31/01/2024 17:40
Man Slapping Couch Laughing GIF

I thought that was the end of it however I got an email from colleague saying she was sorry I made myself upset 🤔and she didn't expect me to speak to management about it. Apparently she didn't know what she was asking for was an issue especially 'as I don't look disabled' and that she didn't think I was disabled as I work because 'disabled people don't work' 🙄

From someone who works, definitely looks disabled, holds three postgraduate degrees and I am positive earns a lot more than her, all I can say is

flusterbluff · 31/01/2024 18:02

GreenFrog13 · 31/01/2024 09:18

I think there are a few separate issues.

Lack of understanding on reasonable adjustments (you only have to stand at school gates to hear parents moaning about special treatment). And the fact that if she needs reasonable adjustments they will be different to yours!

The fact your boundaries (for want of a better) are being ignored.

The way you may have spoken to your colleague in a meeting. Maybe reflect on tone of voice and the fact it was ‘public’. If several people have commented are they all likely to be wrong?

Nope. Shutting someone down is totally appropriate. Maybe others were uncomfortable. That doesn't mean the tone was not correct. Other people feeling embarrassed by someone discriminatory being shut down is not something one needs to consider.

lieselotte · 31/01/2024 18:09

The way you may have spoken to your colleague in a meeting. Maybe reflect on tone of voice and the fact it was ‘public’. If several people have commented are they all likely to be wrong

Even if the OP wasn't disabled and had a child and it did relate to flexible working, she'd still be well within her rights to say no I won't share my form, and be irritated that someone kept asking her in a public forum. No reflection required. No means no and you don't keep asking.

Of course in this case, the situation is 100 times worse because the OP IS disabled and the woman is ignorant.

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