Job offer withdrawn because I asked for a stool

[Charliescar]

I was offered a job as a receptionist and they wanted me stand for 30 hours - one day for 9 hours . No stool at the reception desk .
I said I would accept if they provided a stool and that I have done the same job with a stool and it was fine . They said it would make the reception area less efficient. I am not sure if this is ok ? Any experts ?

YANBU. It is bad to stand up still for such a long period. But maybe you should have taken the job and ask to make changes after. They might have thought that you would be difficult

There are a lot of jobs where you aren't seated when working why do you think you should have a stool. Unless you have a disability that warrants you to be able to sit whilst working YABU. Another case of tge modern Entitlement.

Yanbu.

Oh gosh, there’s a lot of very harsh reply’s to your post! Personally I think that’s a very reasonable request & there should be a stool, no one should be on their feet for a solid 9 hours - no matter what job it is (& i run a landscape gardening firm - I would never deny my staff a seat if they needed one EVER!!!) if that’s what type of company they are then i’d say you’ve had a lucky escape! My daughter is anaemic & she faints easily she also struggles with standing for long periods, regardless of you have a disability or NOT you should be given the right to a seat when u need one - anything else sounds quite frankly unacceptable in this day & age!!!

Years ago (early 90s) I got a job in a department store & I wasn't allowed to sit down. Being young I anticipated no problems, but I was surprised to find that the soles of my feet burned. And burned and burned! I had to shift from foot to foot for most of the day, it was agony. And that was only a seven-and-a-half hour shift, with a lunch break. 25 years later I'm a nurse and I spend 13hrs running around with no break at all. The only time I get to sit down is on the loo!! I have swollen ankles by hometime & I'm getting all sorts of leg vein problems, but that's to be expected. The point of my post is that just standing still for hours is a very different thing to running around all day. Just standing there for hours on end without moving is like torture! All the same no-one's being unreasonable here... they want to project a certain image, no sitting down on the job, if it doesn't suit you then go elsewhere! Which is what I did when I left that department store.

I have never been in a hairdesser's where the poor receptionist has not been allowed to sit down. What is the point of making her stand? However it's their terms so they can set any they like I suppose.

Why would you need to stand for that amount of time? Did you ask? Who is it benefitting? Customers? How?

As customers do we really notice if a receptionist is sitting/standing? In my experience most are sitting, and I only notice if they are polite or rude. The receptionists at my GPs are always seated.

OP I would not stand all day as a receptionist and I can't understand their reasoning.

When I worked at a hairdressers on reception I stood all day.

I used to work as a receptionist in a hotel and we all had chairs. We spent part of the day standing, but could sit down during quieter times, and there was a back room with a sofa to rest during breaks, a bit surprised they would expect you to stand the whole day while it's something so easy to sort out.

Sounds awful OP, some businesses just want to make the working day unpleasant for their staff. YANBU

YANBU

I could do a job walking around all day, but not standing in one place. I don't have a disability. I wouldn't take the job either.

I'm 100% sure in my hairdressers that the staff have chairs/stools and leap up when they are needed. Fine to ask, now you know not to work there,

Totally agree with you Charliescar, nothing to stop you standing up when a client walks in. And for the record, standing in one spot is a tad different to being on your feet all day. I can also see that someone standing will be percieved to be alert and and keen to wellcome you, and im sure you could have come to some agreement there. What always matters to me especially with a hair dresser receptionist, is that I often feel self concious, and that I'm going to look silly in front of people. So long as they have the professionalism to make me feel comfortable, even if I haven't booked, I wouldn't care if they were laying down on a chaise-longue

Having just had varicose veins removed from both legs due to working in jobs that involved standing - you've had a lucky escape.
The consultant told me standing still for hours on end is really bad not just for veins but your back and feet.

I think the law is actually on your side...
The Workplace (Health and Safety) Regulations 1992 refer to standing. The law says that employers must supply suitable seats if workers are able to perform their duties, or a substantial part of them, sitting down.

No prosecution of an employer under this law has taken place. There have been five improvement notices served on employers. These notices have insisted upon seats for workers. All the employers complied.
www.safeworkers.co.uk/standing-for-long-periods.html

Amazing all these "If you want a job and the employer says 'Jump' obviously you say 'How high' type comments."

Why would a receptionist be required/told to stand all through their shift for 9 hours or more everyday??
It’s ridiculous and In my opinion strange .

I bank at the Nat West and was surprised that the staff have to stand all day.
Seriously what is that about ?.

@Charliescar I wasn’t being rude or mean saying you should do it, I was just pointing out that you do build stamina and it soon stops being so difficult.

Why would you need to stand for that amount of time? Did you ask? Who is it benefitting? Customers? How?

Exactly! Clearly, any employer who believes staff should be required to stand for hours at a time with no option to sit and rest their legs, and doing it for days at a time, is living in the dark ages.

They must be thinking that staff are just servants standing to attention for customers.

Unbelievable! These employers are inhumane and don't deserve staff loyalty. It shouldn't be a race to the bottom, willing to be treated appallingly for no reason.

I've been with the same hairdresser for years, and I support her, I see how well she treats her staff - they have been with her for years, many having started as apprentices, because she treats everyone, staff and customer with the same respect. Her (high) reception desk has no stool, but the staff are never expected to stand there for hours, they have a comfortable seating area at the back and have regular breaks. If the phone rings they work in rotation, either attending to their customer or having a break or answering the phone. No way do I want to see a poor stylist getting varicose veins on my account!

It is possible, so find a good employer with good health and safety regs, don't be prepared to be treated badly.

Thanks for all your comments! They have been useful . I spoke to where I used to work and they were amazed too. When will people see that if they treat staff well it works wonders for the whole business . They are so short sighted . I think that’s why you see so many younger people in these roles - they have no experience and are easy to control. It’s very sad

I worked in a warehouse setting for 6 years, we all stood for 7.15 hours per day (45 minutes of breaks) 5 days a week. I think that's pretty normal for a lot of jobs...