Getting reasonable adjustments in my workplace

[Addyman12]

Is it me being fair I’ve been employed at my workplace for around 4 years now, but recently I’ve been suffering mental health I have not been diagnosed but I have dpdr I’m currently working 3 on 3 off but every new employee is doing 4 on 2 off now can my employer change my work shifts to a 4-2 just because I ask for like an afternoon start rather than early morning starts as I’m asking for change in start times and finish times are they able to make this change without changing my days I’m currently awaiting a health occupation to speak to me currently as the shift alternate from like early mornings I’m feel more comfortable and do my health to do like afternoons am I I wrong to ask for this I need suggestions please as how I can kind of ask for this in a professional way,my employers are aware that I have this mental health condition, I did say to them I’ll see how it works I’ve gone back to work but can I get it sorted, what can I do as a next step as can I see anyone about this plz help thank u

You have a legal right to ask for flexible working but a reasonable adjustment needs agreement that your condition qualifies as a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act - the two things are very different legally.

it sounds like you would like to ask for an afternoon start but maintain your 3 on 3 off shift pattern? I would suggest that the best way to do this is a letter to your manager stating that you are requesting a change to your working hours and that this is a statutory request for flexible working. This means that they have to consider it and that they must discuss it with you. This may mean you can have the discussion around the impacts the shifts are having before you speak with Occ Health. Your employer can refuse a flexible working request but only under grounds defined in the legislation.

i understand this but I mean like, my employer had said we can make reasonable adjustments for you, but I’m not diagnosed with a mental health condition, how can I word it them also you said to write a letter, how can I do all this with help of my health affecting me with lack of sleep I’ll be honestly or mentally tires me out I start work as early as 4am what can I do then please help me much appreciated

I think you need to go to the Drs and get a proper diagnosis which can be used as evidence to back up your request.

I agree with getting a diagnosis. So you are covered by the equalities act.

However, diagnosis doesn't equal automatic adjustments, they have to be reasonable, and it's up to your employer to decide what is and what isn't.

Your OP was somewhat jumbled, so I'm unsure what you're asking of them.

You can always use AI to create a letter for you.

Are they allowed to change my shift pattern to 4-2 for this if I ask for this please explain and what can I ask from doctors a medical report that I have this condition

OP are the afternoon shifts generally a lot more desirable than the early morning ones?

If they start at 4am im going to hazard a guess that everyone hates those and so everyone's expected to do a mix, for fairness.

If you don't have a diagnosis you dont yet know if the difficulties you're experiencing are a long term, permanent thing.

If i were you id ask for afternoon shifts for a temporary period, to get you back in a better place?

You can ask chat GPT to write it. Just say 'write a professional sounding letter to my employer requesting a reasonable adjustment, in that I wish to now start at X time. Due to suffering from symptoms of x illness'

You can state you are suffering from 'symptoms of' whatever MH condition it is even if you haven't had an official diagnosis by a psychiatrist.

Right okay that perfect, I could ask for that I wanna do like 9 hours shift starts start at like 1pm to 11pm and I have derealisation I’ve seen the doctor they have referred me to talking therapy about this so what can I currently do to help me get out of this as I feel like I’m stuck in a cycle, as if I work afternoons it wil help with my derealisation as I’ve got enough rest to work and to fully concentrate

Okay I’m currently working like this so
Day 1 5am -5pm
day 2 5am -5pm
day 3 5am-5pm
day 4 Off
Day 5 off
day 6 off
day 7 5am -11am
day 8 5am-11am
day 9 5am-11am
this is an example of my working shift pattern so I work 12 hours for 3 days and then 3 days off then back in but doing 3 days of 6 hour shifts it’s a 30 hour contract I want to work in afternoons but I suspect I have DPDR I have told my doctors they give me a sick note for 3 weeks to recover, but what would be the next step is it to maybe get a medical report from my GP to say that I’m currently undergoing this, so yeah I want to work afternoons rather than these early morning shifts as they are affecting my sleep pattern and will help me work better

So
Dear.... I am currently experiencing (symptoms) which my GP has suggested may be DPDR. I am waiting for a proper assessment with (the title of the professional your GP has referred you to) to confirm a diagnosis and any treatment which may help.

Meanwhile, it would really help me to work afternoon shifts. I struggle with X,Y.Z and in the mornings my symptoms tend to be worse because (reasons, explanation of symptoms). If I work early/morning shifts I will struggle much more with (elements of your job), whereas afternoon shifts will help maximise my productivity at work (if appropriate, link aspects of your condition to your work tasks).

I therefore hope you will consider that giving me afternoon shifts will be beneficial both to my own health, but moreover to the company as I will be able to be more attentive to and productive in my work.

I don’t think you need to go into the ins and outs of the possible diagnoses, just mention you have been referred to OH due to ongoing difficulties and a later shift would help you be more productive. You could make a formal flexible working request to start later rather than rely on recommendations for adjustments. However it is not clear from your description of shift patterns whether that already exists or a change that will directly impact other employees and workload. How would going off sick for three weeks help?

Kindly, if you feel you have a condition that qualifies as a disability and would mean you’re eligible under the Equality Act to reasonable adjustments, then why haven’t you sought help for it or had an assessment for it?

You can’t just self-diagnose with something you believe you have after reading about it online, then not feel you need any treatment for it, but expect your employer to give you special dispensation around the bits of work you (and everyone) don’t like.

Im a MH clinician and it drives me mad when people self-diagnose and then present to me “to be diagnosed”. No, you seek help for certain symptoms/difficulties, then these are assessed and potentially a diagnosis is made but potentially it isn’t. Please don’t self-diagnose.

I am currently awaiting for a mental health specialist to speak to me about this, I have let my doctors aware also I had told my employer and tried to request to change my hours to a nine hour shift but they have referred me to a occupational health meeting can I ask I’ve never done one before so can someone please help what I can be asked please

OH will ask you about your diagnosis and how it affects you day to day. They may ask you about your symptoms and any treatment you are on. Based on your answers, they might suggest to your employer that RA are made in the long/ short/ medium term.

A report is then prepared and sent to you and your employer. I have cancer and this is the format that my OH assessment took.

Are you a member of a trade union?

I’m confused OP because you say you haven’t been diagnosed but you have DPDR? If you don’t have a diagnosis then I don’t think you can ask for reasonable adjustments for an unknown condition, can you?