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Original poster

Is this a Reasonable request by work?

86 replies

RSIWoes · 06/03/2020 15:26

I've nc and I'll try to keep it short. I work in a clerical job for a large organisation. I was told 5 minutes before I left today that for the forseeable future I would have to take my work laptop home (and back) every day, in case coronavirus shuts down the building.

I said I might have a problem with that, and was told "make it happen".

I currently pay for weekly physio sessions because of tennis elbow in both arms, caused (the physio says) by having too small a desk at work and at home which isn't supporting my arms properly. I also have stiff shoulders and neck. My manager knows this.

My team all drive to work. I deliberately live a 15 minute walk from work to avoid a commute. My walk home is all uphill and the weight of the laptop in a backpack today has set off my elbows and neck. Apparently I can ask for a suitcase on wheels instead of the backpack, but I think pulling something will be worse for my arms than wearing it.

Mornings are a nightmare because my 12 yo with ASD and dyslexia has multiple things to remember and gets a bus. I regularly forget my lunch/handbag/keys/phone - or DC gets on the bus and I'm left holding their PE bag. The laptop is one more thing to remember (used every day at work).

I will ask next week whether there is a different bag, or perhaps I could have 2 laptops and leave one at home and one at work. There may be a solution I haven't considered and I remain open to ideas. I understand why they want me to have the laptop at home.

BUT, can they insist that I must carry the damn laptop back and forth? I have Reasonable Adjustments at work for a few different reasons (one being the arm issues) but they seem to have forgotten this.

OP posts:
Troels · 06/03/2020 16:34

I'd get one of those old lady shppoing trolley bags. I noticed Aldi had a couple of pattered ones yesterday, £7.99 They aren't online though.
You can push instead of pull too, so easier on your shoulder.

Chloemol · 06/03/2020 16:48

I think you will find something on wheels much better. Then you can load everything else into it. They are not being unreasonable to expect you to take a laptop, which is not heavy home in case of Coronavirus.

PuppyMonkey · 06/03/2020 16:55

Start working from home now? Grin

woodhill · 06/03/2020 17:02

I think they should be adapting your workstation anyway as it could be exacerbating your TE.

Desktops are supposedly better for TE I believe

Yanbu

BlueBirdGreenFence · 06/03/2020 18:10

Just remember if you end up on lockdown and have refused the alternative to enable you to wfh you'll not get paid.

Original poster
RSIWoes · 06/03/2020 18:14

picklebarrelfalls

Sorry to be harsh but your own ineptitude has little to do with this issue and you can't blame any of that on your employer and as others have said, they provide you with a laptop for a reason.
If I asked this of one of my staff and their excuse was but I can't remember my lunch at the best of times, my response would be to sort their shit out-- but maybe politer and I'd have to stop laughing first.

Have you actually had any diversity training? Disabilities - including problems with memory- aren't really a laughing matter, neither does it make me inept. They have provided laptops because they don't want to have to provide desks for all the extra people they've moved into our building. I don't need, or want, to WFH. I don't have the space or equipment to WFH so it isn't for my benefit at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
RSIWoes · 06/03/2020 18:17

Thanks to everyone with helpful suggestions. It isn't a case of refusing. I don't want to make my issues any worse by carrying a weight twice a day that is too heavy. Sounds like it isn't unheard of to get a second laptop to leave at home, so I will ask next week.

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 06/03/2020 18:23

I have similar issues and I think it is unreasonable.

I currently have 2 laptops for this reason, in the last I have logged on via my home pc instead.

I do take my home laptop to/from the office about once a month as it needs to go on their network for updates but I choose my day /route differently that day to avoid too much carrying.

catwithnohat · 06/03/2020 18:24

I have a disability and have a laptop at home and one at work (both of them pre-owned....) Try and have a civil meeting with your line manager and see if you can get a second one, even if its just for the short term.

The flexibility is brilliant but then it depends on who you work for....

BreathlessCommotion · 06/03/2020 18:26

I have a CV old with ASD who frequently school refuses. I am a pretty organised person, but I've left my laptop at home once after a particularly bad morning meltdown

bbcessex · 06/03/2020 18:26

OP - my laptop and work equipment weighs a tonne as well.

I have a really good rucksack that I put over both shoulders and it has a front strap too. It takes the weight but isn't easy, and I don't have your physical problems.

A PP mentioned having a spare charger / mouse to leave at home - that makes quite a difference, as the chargers themselves are hefty.

You are totally within your rights to ask for a second laptop / equipment to keep at home if you have disabilities. You will exacerbate your problems otherwise.

TheCatServant · 06/03/2020 18:26

it is reasonable. Use a bag on wheels

Robs20 · 06/03/2020 18:26

Can you ask for a second laptop to keep at home? I did this as I am pregnant/ didn’t want to carry my laptop around!

BreathlessCommotion · 06/03/2020 18:27

A child. Not CV.

madcatladyforever · 06/03/2020 18:29

Really? I'm disabled with spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, nuropathy and a few other things and wear morphine patches everyday (butec) and even I can manage to get my laptop to and from work everyday with a short walk.
Are you making this unecessarily hard for yourself?

BlueBirdGreenFence · 06/03/2020 18:37

Asking for a second laptop specifically for home sounds like a good suggestion. The bottom line however is if you can't work from home = you won't get paid. Even if that's because you can't because of your disability. Full pay with no output isn't a reasonable adjustment.

madcatladyforever · 06/03/2020 18:42

The best way I have to get organised is to get it all in my trolley by the front door before I go to bed, it takes me ages to get up for the day because of my health problems so I don't need to be hunting for keys and bags before I go to work.
My clothes are laid out and ready to go and my lunch is made.
My 18 year old cat has pills, special food and a morning routine so all of that is laid out as well.
Routine and organisation is the key.

Purpleartichoke · 06/03/2020 18:45

I have similar physics issues, but it’s really not hard to figure out a solution. I tried a few bags until I found one that worked for me. Carrying a laptop back and forth is a standard job requirement.

Do ask for an extra power supply to keep at home. If they won’t provide one, aftermarket ones are available cheaply. The power brick often weighs as much as the laptop.

picklebarrelfalls · 06/03/2020 18:47

Your op speaks of tennis elbow and having kids, nowhere does it say you have diagnosed memory problems. That's either a massive drip feed or you're inventing because you're getting defensive.
I've got a shed load of outside-of-work problems and several more kids than you appear to have, i do a 20 mile round trip school run twice every day. I also have a business and am in my office til 10pm often. I don't pin it on other people when I forget my lunch.
You're literally digging to find reasons as to why you can't fulfil your role.

rookiemere · 06/03/2020 18:56

Sometimes I'm glad I'm not a line manager any more.

We have all been told we need to bring our laptops home every day at our organisation, it's a perfectly sensible precaution under the circumstances. Perhaps your line manager should have remembered that you have adjustments at work and this might be tricky, but they are only human and keen to get home on a Friday evening same as you are.

So yes do ask for another laptop as that sounds like a reasonable solution, but do try to phrase it pleasantly. Nobody asked for the coronavirus and like me as an office worker, you're lucky to have the option to continue working from home and getting paid.

73Sunglasslover · 06/03/2020 18:56

I guess you could choose to take AL or potentially unpaid leave instead if the base has to shut? I don't think they are being unreasonable in this request TBH and you need to find a way to make it work. Can a colleague give you a lift for example? 15 minute walk can't be a long drive I'd think. Or is there a way of leaving the laptop at home and working on a PC at work?

LaurieFairyCake · 06/03/2020 19:00

The main problem is going to be making your desk at home safe for you to use

Is a taxi an option? Will work pay or contribute to this?

You have disabilities - if you can't carry it, you can't carry it.

Get occupational health involved

CheekyMango · 06/03/2020 19:06

If it's just for emailing, then use a personal tablet or laptop? Depends if you really need it, does it have software your own stuff doesn't have?

thinkfast · 06/03/2020 19:08

Can't you just take the laptop home and leave it there?

gamerwidow · 06/03/2020 19:10

Laptops are designed to be portable and I don't think you can reasonably expect work to provide you with two so you don't have to carry one.
I would ask for an OH referral if it really is unmanageable.
Are you using a decent back pack with shoulder padding and wearing it correctly so it doesn't put too much strain on your shoulders.
I have to carry my laptop to and from work too and I have RA which causes me shoulder pain. It is doable and while uncomfortable the pain is short lived.