requesting change of role or responsibilities

[YonBonnieBanks]

Can anyone help me word a letter to my manager / HR requesting either a change of responsibilities / switch to home working / change of role in light of Covid 19 and also breakdown of relationship with colleagues.

I have multiple disabiliities and whilst I have always worked since the age of 16, with reasonable adjustments, in the last 2 years, I have had resistance to these adjustments from my current manager. I've had my performance unfairly questioned. I've had discriminatory comments made about me. I raised a grievance and got my union involved. I had a breakdown and was of sick leave. Due to return then lockdown happened.

Lockdown is causing me lots of problems. I cannot lip read through a mask (I'm hearing impaired) and much of my work is out and about in the community where masks will be everywhere. Also train travel will be difficult due to masks.

I have a lung condition which makes wearing my own mask difficult for prolonged periods. I have a minor speech impairment.

I also cannot socially distance as I need to stand closer to hear. I am also visually impaired (not blind) which makes social distancing difficult.

With normal reasonable adjustments, I can work, but with Covid 19, my current job will be very difficult to do under govt guidelines and will put me under lots of stress and potential danger.

So this, on top of breakdown in relationships, is making me wonder if I should request permanent home working (unlikely to be granted but ideal), change of responsibilities (again unlikely due to the nature of my job) or a change of role (more likely but I like my current role and other departments just dont interest me as much. Plus I dont want my manager to feel she's succeeded in getting rid of me!).

What would people suggest I ask for and how do I word it? Any templates that don't make me sound demanding / whiny etc?

I don't want to work there at all but obviously can't leave in current climate.

I would word it something like the below after the dear sir/main intro but “ as you know I have several disabilities and have been working with reasonable adjustments prior to mental health issues causing me to be off work. I will be returning soon and may require that the reasonable adjustments previously in place be changed/augmented due to new difficulties arising from the post Covid world.

The concerns are

1. I have hearing and sight issues, previously dealt with by lip reading and close contact, and have concerns that I would not be able to properly service my clients and hear/see what needs doing whilst maintaining social distancing.

1. Preserving physical health

Even if clients were willing to allow me closer I would have concerns doing so due to a lung condition that would make the consequences of Covid dire for me but also make it difficult for me to use a mask for prolonged periods.

I enjoy working for the business and therefore am willing to work with the business to come up with new/inventive ideas in order to continue working here. This includes working from home in my current role or taking on new responsibilities/roles within the business in a less customer facing position.

I am happy to talk through this and would welcome if we could do this before my return so that we can work out how I can continue and what reasonable adjustments can be made in whatever capacity I return in”

Then pleasantries and sign off

That sounds much better than I had come up with. many thanks for that.

What Louise trees said but I’d miss out ‘continue working here’. You don’t want them to think you will flounce-I’d make sure the expectation is on them due to equalities act to find a workable solution.

who should I send it to? I've already highlighted to my manager and HRBP what my concerns are and keep getting fobbed off with a wait and see!

I haven't formally requested a role change though or responsibility changes. I'm not sure if this would be a flexible working request or something else? If so, is there a timescale for it? Is there a particular name I should give to my request?

HR I think and I would head up the email Covid and disability adjustments or something like that. You are not requesting flexible working, you are requesting the work with you to come up with the best outcome for you and the business. You are requesting they make new reasonable adjustments under the disability discrimination act.

Don't formally request a change of role. What you would be essentially saying is that you are unfit for your current role. If that is the case and there were no other suitable roles, then your continued employment could be at risk. Focus on adjustments to your your current role where possible. EG can you contact your clients remotely, is there any other PPE that you can use eg a visor, can other people in your team do the visits while you do some of their admin etc.

Yep what purple dagger said. You could even sprinkle some of that in my suggested email. When you do speak to them give them all the options not just your preferred one. You are trying to get them to make reasonable adjustments to your current role and suggest anything that may help