Will reasonable adjustments to my role impact my ability to be promoted?

[okhowab]

At work, I have recently had some reasonable adjustments made to my role due to anxiety. Specifically, I have temporarily had all presentations and leading meetings taken away and they will be slowly have internal meetings/presentations added back, but not external meetings.

My employer tends to promote people around every 12-18 months and there is a clear hierarchy (e.g. Junior Account Executive -> Account Executive -> Senior Account Executive). Promotions are announced in our quarterly departmental meetings. There has just been a wave of promotions and it's made me wonder whether my reasonable adjustments will impact my performance reviews and/or promotions? I'm not bothered by the actual promotion, but rather I know it will be hard to see those I started with be promoted and me 'left behind', but that's my issue to get through.

I'm just wondering to what extent reasonable adjustments will impact my career and ability to be promoted? For context, my role is a skill (e.g. graphic design) and the part of my role that has been adjusted is I don't have to present my work internally or externally in meetings

I think you need to talk to your employer about it, with two things in mind

• can more senior jobs be done without those elements. What's 'reasonable' at one level might not be at another
• how can you make sure your achievements be showcased if you're not presenting them? Can (for instance ) your manager take an additional role in doing this on your behalf?

I've managed someone in similar circumstances, and they were promoted. Probably not at the same speed as it looked like they were on track before their anxiety became apparent, but that was pre to do with their own choice to take their foot off the pedal a little.

Do you meet the legal definition of disabled under the EA2010?

If not they can hold off on a promotion due to these adjustments to your role.

If you do meet the definition then it would depend on if the same adjustments are still reasonable in the promoted role.

If you have concerns you should discuss with your line manager. You could bring it up directly and ask if the adjustments would stop you being promoted. Or you could ask what you would have to do to be promoted, see if they mention it, and if they don’t then bring it up again if you fulfill the goals they give you and still aren’t promoted.

I'm saying this as someone who is disabled. That matters because like you I have reasonable adjustments.

Sorry, but yes it could. In my area of work these things are essential - if you couldn't do them you wouldn't get the job. Or the promotion. "Reasonable" is exactly what it says. If the employer can't accommodate them, then they don't have to. They are things I can't do. I don't have a job that requires those things. I couldn't/ wouldn't expect my employer to "excuse" that, but I would, if they had the resource, expect them to help me meet the standard if I could.

Is anxiety a recognised disability?
Seems pretty fundamental to your role isn't doing Internal and external presentations?

It doesn’t automatically count as a disability in the way a couple of named conditions, such as cancer and HIV, are. But, if the OP’s anxiety is severe enough to impact her day to day life greatly, and is expected to be long term, it may meet the definition.

That would definitely impact promotion where I work. Being able to present and communicate to wide audiences is critical to progression into leadership roles.

I work with a woman who won't put herself forward for promotion because you have to present to a panel in the promotion interview.

“Sorry, but yes it could. In my area of work these things are essential - if you couldn't do them you wouldn't get the job. Or the promotion. "Reasonable" is exactly what it says. If the employer can't accommodate them, then they don't have to.”

^This

It doesn't matter if it's a disability (I have a severe panic disorder and am medicated). It's such a myth that a disability means you can't be fired or be passed over for promotion etc.

If a job requires an element(s) that cannot be done by the person with the disability, and adjustments cannot be made in away that protects the business interest, then the person has no right to the role.

The bulk of my role is my skill/providing content for clients, sharing it in meetings is a pretty small part as we mainly share work over emails. If clients have any comments during meetings usually the senior staff answer.

I'm junior and the next promotion would still be junior.

It would count as a disability, I've had to have substantial leave from work due to anxiety and I actually handed in my notice because of it. My manager and head of department were the ones who responded to my resignation by telling me they could make changes to my role.

We're also in a bit of a niche job area which has a huge lack of people with the right background and skillset so the promotions are done pretty much annually in a cohort to retain talent, so the promotion culture isn't like you have to apply for a promotion, you just get promoted (not sure if that makes sense)

Rightly or wrongly you'd be at risk of being thought of as flakey and a bit lame (not saying I agree with that or that your reasons aren't valid).

Your manager sounds supportive, doing the right things etc. Problem being when you're up in front of an interview panel or being discussed in a review, you don't want to give any reason to make them doubt you.

It isn’t a myth, they cannot refuse to promote someone based on their disability where reasonable adjustments can be made.

If the reasonable adjustments would not be reasonable in the promoted role they can lawfully discriminate.

However, if OP isn’t disabled, then whether or not these adjustments can be made in the promoted role doesn’t matter.

They should however explain to the OP whether
-They have made these adjustments due to her meeting the definition of disabled in the EA2010, these adjustments would not be reasonable in the promoted role (and explain why)

-They have made these adjustments due to her meeting the definition of disabled in the EA2010, these adjustments would be reasonable in the promoted role (and explain the other reasons she was not promoted)

-The OP does not meet the definition of disabled in the EA2010, and these are not reasonable adjustments due to disability. They would not be able to give her these same adjustments in the promoted role, or do not want to

-The OP does not meet the definition of disabled in the EA2010, and these are not reasonable adjustments due to disability. They are happy to continue these adjustments in the promoted role and the reason she has not gotten a promotion is x.

If the OP meets the definition of disabled under the EA2010, and the reasonable adjustments in her current role would also be reasonable in the promoted role then OPs disability and these reasonable adjustments should not factor into decisions regarding promotions.

@PinkFrogss you just repeated what I said?

I appreciate that your managers have been very supportive towards you. But that is in your current role. But that isn't what you asked. You asked about having adjustments to more senior roles in the future - and that is not something anyone except the employer can answer. The amount of time spent on the thing isn't relevant - what matters is whether it is possible for you not to have to do it. Speaking publicly is a small part of my role - but I must be able to do it because nobody could do it for me. So if I couldn't do it I wouldn't be able to have my job.

I think this is perhaps a conversation that you should have with your manager(s) around your personal development; equally, it is perhaps an area that you need to focus on improving your anxiety about. Just because you have a serious anxiety issue doesn't mean you can't find strategies to overcome it.

Flip the question around, is it reasonable to be promoted without the elements that you have been relieved of? I'm guessing you are sales? If so then face to face meetings are presentations are integral to the work. In all honesty you have a good employer to work with you to help you get back on your feet, until you can do the role fully I would doubt promotion (many employers would be looking for legal ways to dismiss you if you cannot fulfill your role, they would claim that presentations are key so no reasonable adjustment is possible.

I would suggest considering if there is a role which doesn't require the elements that challenge you so you can thrive and be promoted

Given the your issue is anxiety I think you also need to ask yourself if promotion is going to make you feel better or worse personally? All promotions carry more responsibility and pressure.