Reasonable adjustment

[sushibelt]

Work want me to do a presentation and my manager's manager is getting funny about me not wanting to do it. My anxiety just won't let me. Do you think I can ask for this to be a reasonable adjustment? There are others who can do it.

You already are.

I think this thread is going round in circles a bit. You did drip feed op and there's been some miscommunication with posters. I'm glad you feel like you've got a suggestion to take to your manager and wish you the best of luck with it. I hope you manage to recover from your anxiety disorder or it becomes less restrictive for you.

Upon reflection I think I did mistakenly see this forum as somewhere for people with mental health issues and yes got defensive when people seemed to belittle it as just being anxious. I see now that writing "anxiety" was where I went wrong, I wrongly assumed as this was the mental health place, that people would understand the context that it was part of my condition.

My apologies if that meant I was snipy. Since the condition developed I have had to deal with lots of people treating it as if it's "just nerves" and that it isn't a "real" illness, this despite the diagnosis and so yes I do react a bit strongly.

I will not manage it ok

You’ve had some unhelpful responses here, some of which I’ve reported.

You don’t need a diagnosis to qualify for reasonable adjustments.

You haven’t said how soon the presentation is meant to be. But potentially I suggest having a look in your employee handbook or intranet for any policy that mentions disability or reasonable adjustments. If you have an HR department, ask to be referred for an occupational health assessment to discuss reasonable adjustments.

In the short term, to get a reasonable adjustment you need to make your employer aware you need it. There’s no rule that this has to be in writing but it’s probably sensible. I would contact them and explain that due to a disability you need to request a reasonable adjustment. Good luck.

@sushibelt I've found the useful feedback you've received really helpful and just wanted to say thank you for asking the question.

I apologise that some of my responses yesterday were unkind OP and wish you all the best. I’m usually more supportive to fellow suffers of MH issues.

No worries. Forums are tough places, things get lost in text.

I have been asked to do a presentation on my work during this review year. It is not part of my job description or part of my job, it is however one of my manager's team goals set for her by her team manager. Like you, I simply cannot do a presentation, nor do I have any desire to learn (late 40s, been there done that in other jobs, absolutely not worth the stress for me, and I acknowledge that fact). I've actively avoided jobs where I would have to do this.

The other side of this is I'm a valued employee, been there a long time, and in the right situation, I make good verbal contributions in other settings (I can do it in formal meetings with seniors, team meetings) and I am generally acknowledged as a careful, tactful and intelligent communicator at work. It's just that being on a podium so to speak, in front of others, - well I melt into sweat and shakes. I don't have any specific mental health issues as such, but I have been on anxiety meds for 15 years as I have had panic attacks before.

I've already raised this with my manager and she has suggested ways to make it 'work' for me - presently these ideas work for her a lot more than they do for me though. So this is still work in progress I'm afraid, but hopefully a compromise can be found. Also, I will die on this hill - they can try and make me do it, but it isn't in their interests, or mine - so why would they? It doesn't benefit anyone. And like I said, it's not a requirement of my job.

I realise this is a bit different to your job, but I wanted to offer some support in that how you are feeling is not uncommon at all. I hope your manager is helpful, I think going with 'suggestions' should be welcomed - and they need to accommodate these where they can. Good luck.