DH's employer has labelled him disabled

[MusicMenu]

Maybe he is, but he doesn't see himself that way and no doctor has said such to him.

He's been off work for a few weeks with a degenerative back problem. Doctors are hoping to get medication right to manage the pain, but in the meantime he's having great difficulty walking or sitting for any length of time. He can, however, cycle and has been doing so frequently, as consultant has said keep mobile.

So concerns are:

• what are the pros/cons of having this label? (it came after a meeting with OH)
• is the fact that he's regularly out for long bike rides, whilst off sick with a bad back likely to cause issues at work?

Is it simply that work have identified that he is due some protection under the Disability Act? That's a good thing?

They are recognising that he they need to make adjustments for him as he is protected by the equality act. That is a positive thing.

People who are offended by being considered disabled should really examine their own prejudices - why don’t they want to be seen as disabled? Do they consider people with disabilities incapable?

For the purposes of the equality act I am disabled as I am diabetic. That means my employer has to allow me to treat my condition, eat at the right times, inject in the workplace. It feels a bit weird as I am pretty much the same as anyone else (just a bit sweeter) but equally that’s what anyone with more significant disabilities generally expresses isn’t it? Treat me the same, I just need these adjustments due to my medical conditions.

@Covidisdrivingmecrazy thank you, ironically it's Dragon OH has advised work to get but I do know others in the organisation already use.

We are also needing advice on whether a laptop will be needed to use it rather than a crappy ThinkPad when WFH.

@randomMess they thought they would have to put it on my laptop but I think outta astutely running through Citrix but I know it's been challenging for IT as like the rest of local government they are short staffed and over worked. It doesn't work on igels ago I used to have to bring my laptop in. Access to work would have paid for a laptop but I already had a decent lightweight one that I liked so preferred to use my own.

I really rate dragon. Takes a little getting used to and I feel like an idiot sitting there saying mouse click over and over. Luckily I mostly work from home even pre covid .

@Covidisdrivingmecrazy we don't use Citrix.

That thing gives me nightmares DH works in IT support for government 😂😂😂😂 i used to work in the same organisation.

It is likely that he has a disability within the meaning of the Equality Act, which means that there is therefore an obligation upon his employer to consider reasonable adjustments to is policies and practices to help to mitigate the effects of that disability on his ability to work.

My view is that the threshold for this is fairly low - lots of conditions can be considered to be a disability within the meaning of that act when the people who have them wouldn't necessarily consider themselves as 'having a disability'.

I agree with PPs that this is a good thing. It means that the employer has to pay extra attention in supporting him to keep working.

It is definitely worth him mentioning his cycling to his employer and / or their occupational health provider so that he can have it on record that even though he can cycle comfortably, that there may be some aspects of his role that he finds more difficult, and that actually the cycling may be therapeutic.

Also I much prefer to say that someone 'has a disability' rather than 'is disabled'. Much better to label the condition than the person I think.

His professional opinion on it "it's absolute shit" 😂 he thinks they are replacing it with something else soon.

@MusicMenu I work for a regional spinal injuries unit. Your DP cycling would be a form of rehab and actively encouraged where I am form. I wouldn't overly worry about that. His consultant should have no issues in providing evidence that this will be beneficial.

As for the disability label. As others have quite rightly stated, this employer may end up in hot water if they fail to make this recognition under the Equality Act and did not make all reasonable adjustments. It's just a criteria which you DPs condition fulfils.