What are my rights?

[hydra234]

Hi there,

I have 2 disabilities, one is epilepsy, grand mal, theother is that I dont have complete us of my right arm, the bone is deformed, it is much smaller than my left side and I have no strength in it.
Last year my company held an away day, only a week before I found out that due to my disabilities I could only take part in around twenty minutes of the entire days team building actiivities. I was asked if I would mind being an official photographer for the day and I said no asI had never declared the arm part to them. They told me that the company event this year would be changed so that I would be included. Turns out it hasnt at all, Its at Go Ape, nothing like an epileptic hanging by one arm 15 feet in the air, I cannot take part. I was once again asked to be a photographer. I went to my immediate boss who told me I did not have to attend and he completely understood. That was 4 weeks ago, now I have just been told I have to attend the meeting in the morning, it is in Slough, company are going to pay for a taxi for me and can't I just be a photographer again. I have been told I cant work in the office alone as it affects our insurance or something. I have written another email to my boss saying that I am not a happy bunny, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what my actual rights are in this situation please? Thank you for any help.

The company might have a tricky situation here. It is probable that their insurance policy stipulates no lone working in the office - unless the worker is the owner who is there at his/her own risk or the employee has been trained officially on lone working practices - daft as that might seem. So looks like they are trying to get you to go along.

I recommend you talk to you boss again face to face or at least on the phone - rather than by email and see if there is a compromise.

Sounds as though they are trying to do something for you - but maybe not going about it in the best way. Employer liability insurance might seem a dry topic but it is a PITA which they can't ignore.

So you haven't declared a disability to them? For heavens sakes, why not?

How do you expect them to accurately risk assess the event without that information?

The reason I didn't report my arm is because it doesn't affect my day to day job- my epilepsy of course I made them aware of. They haven't risk assessed the evet at all- they knew about my arm and epilepsy this time, it was for the first event they didn't know about it.

I took your advice and actually spoke to my boss last night, he is going to let me work from home. Sorted thank you- should have made it by phone to start with!

I'm pleased it worked out.

So am I, shows that face to face and phone conversations make life a lot simpler!