Reasonable adjustment in the workplace

[hellywelly3]

I’m laying here wide awake worried about going into work today. Approximately 18 months ago I had a very serious knee injury and was off work for about 4 months. When I came back to work i explained that I would need a chair to sit on at the till to give my knee some rest. I had to purchase this chair myself. Everyone else uses it too which is a little annoying. I’ve used the chair less and less but then I’ll get a slight twist to the knee and need to use it a bit more for a few weeks again. My knee injury has been very slow to heal. My physio hasn’t been as it should due to redeployment of physiotherapists. I’ve been furloughed every lockdown. When I’ve returned to work after this lockdown I was meet with my assistant manager saying “the chair needs to go, the manager doesn’t want to see it anymore”.
I was a bit taken back by this. When the manager came in a few hours later. I asked him regards the chair situation, he said that other staff members were using it and he wanted to discourage sitting down so it needs taking away. I explained that I still needed the stool especially after so long off and not being used to being on my feet for 9 hours again. He understood and I have to take the chair home each day now. I’m in with the assistant manager today and I’m dreading it. I know she will give some snide remarks about the chair being back. Am I being unreasonable if she starts to as her to stop and say it’s discrimination. Reasonable adjustments should be made to enable me to complete my job role. Also if you don’t want other staff using the chair, tell them. Don’t make it difficult for me to do my job.

Ugh, I hate this so much. Not even the reasonable adjustment stuff, but I don't understand why servers can't sit at the till. It doesn't affect productivity at all, aldi is proof of that.

Anyway, back on topic, I don't know what else you can do. He's saying you can keep the chair, and as you don't have an office as such, and other people need to share your work environment, I don't think it's unreasonable for them to ask that you pack it away (well, I DO. See above. But still...)

Is there a storage closet or something you could keep it in when not in use so you don't have to drag it around everyday?

I'd raise this either HR, assuming you have one?

This is really unreasonable of them. You shouldn't have to purchase equipment yourself. Please Look at the access to work scheme. I'm not sure if you can claim this retrospectively but it's worth knowing you're rights. www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-factsheet/access-to-work-factsheet-for-customers
I hope things go okay today. I would also speak to HR if you can.

Thanks for your replies. We do have a HR department, I work in a small store but it’s a massive company. I think that will be my next step if anything is said today. I don’t really have too much of an issue with bringing it in and out to work. I have a blue badge now so can park really close. It’s more the way it was called out to me across the shop as soon as I arrived on my first day back. I think a quick 5 min meeting to discuss it would be the better approach. I feel it’s easier for them to get rid of my chair than address the other staff about sitting down. I don’t really have too much issue with people using it I’ve never said anything it’s more about the wear and tear of it as I had to purchase it myself.

Thank you spaceman101

If they are a big company also look if they are sighed up for the Disability Confident scheme as if they have they would have made commitments to support disabled people in the workplace.

I'm appalled by every part of your post OP. I hope that you are ok.
Be really clear an assertive today. Contact HR and request a welfare meeting with the present and ensure it's all documented. Next step would be ACAS x good luck

Thanks for your replies. Setting off for work now. I’ll update how it went when I finish this evening x

@hellywelly3 - how did it go?