Disability & work - upset by comment from manager, how would you feel?

[Roman151]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted some thoughts on this - a bit of background: I have a long term health condition that means I can only work part time. Love my job, team are amazing, always had brilliant feedback from managers - I lost this job in 2020 after covid exacerbated my condition. Came back to the same workplace last year on a flexi contract then got offered 6 months in a different dept but still work flexi in the original one when needed which has been weekly.

6 months is almost over and the plan was to go back to the original place as flexi. There should be funding soon for my old role, permanent position but manager said to me "I'd be looking for a full time worker" ... even though I've been part time before & there is currently another part time worker there.

This honestly felt like him saying - don't bother applying because you can only work part time. Even though I'm already doing the job and they wanted me back in the first place. I asked if that's what he meant and he said no not at all but the impression I get is they'd take someone who can work full time over me automatically, regardless of experience & qualifications. I feel like this is putting me at a massive disadvantage, they've always known about my health condition and I now feel this is being used against me.

If I didn't absolutely love the job I'd look elsewhere but I do feel very undervalued now - and slightly discriminated against.

Any thoughts would be appreciated :)

Does your condition meet the definition of a disability? I think its over a year or expected to last over a year and have an impact on your say to day life,or be cancer or a facial disfigurement ?

I am guessing it does as you have put disability in your title. In which case apply for the job and say you want to seek reasonable adjustments for your disability. HR will be very interested to male sure it's all done by the book

Do they need sometime to work full time? If so how are they discriminating against you as you can only offer part time.

Under the equality act they have to make reasonable adjustments which they must have done as you have been working there seemingly with no problem.

However if it's not visible for the business to hire two part time workers, they are within their rights to go for one full timer

“I’d be looking for a full time worker” is a perfectly normal and reasonable thing for a hiring manager to say. You should not feel upset about this and no it is not discrimination just because you want part time work.

Of course you can apply and request part time work, but they are under no obligation to accommodate that if it is not in line with business needs.

Have you explored the possibility of job share? If you can find a job share partner, you can apply in tandem for full time roles, providing your company accepts job share for the role.

I am sorry, but if they need a full-time position filling then that is what they need. It has nothing to do with your skills and experience, it has to do with the fact that you only wish to work part-time and the job is full-time. I don't see that has anything at all to do with your disability - it would be true of anyone wanting to work part-time for any reason. It may be possible to ask whether there are possible alternative such as job-share, but that is only going to be possible if you have someone else who wants that too. It isn't up to the employer to make a job to fit you.

This.

Part time workers (and I’ve been one) can be hard to manage in terms of rotas and caseload.

I don’t think it’s discrimination. The post is full time, you want part time. It’s not always that simple, even if the employer would like to accommodate you.

It sounds like it could be viewed as discriminatory to me, most full time jobs can work as a job share part time, why can’t the business accommodate this? As you have a disability even more reason for them to be flexible, I would speak to HR. Speak to ACAS for advice. Good luck

It isn’t discriminatory. Companies are not obliged to have two part time roles rather than one full time role. Your comments have no basis in employment law.

Seconded. The employer has no responsibility to find another part-time worker / job-share for someone. If the OP can find someone themselves, and if that arrangement could meet the business need of the employer, they would be required to consider it as a reasonable adjustment. But even then they may have grounds to refuse it and they can do so. They are under no obligation to make a full-time post part-time because somebody disabled wants one. Employers are silly people, they just love paying out for full-time roles when actually they only need part-time ones!!!!

Well if they want a full time post, I don't see why they can't give you the role and find a job share. It would be a shame for them to lose an experienced and valuable staff member.

It always amazes me how rigid and shortsighted some employers are and then they moan about not being able to find/retain staff...

OP, I would put down in writing that you would like to apply for the role, even if it is full time, and to ask whether they could advertise it as a jobshare.

You have nothing to lose by doing that.

@Missingmyusername

''Part time workers (and I’ve been one) can be hard to manage in terms of rotas and caseload. ''

Nonsense.

Good managers need to be able to manage any type of employees and type of contracts: full-time, part-time, freelance, consultants, temps, agencies, volunteers, interns...

If you only know how to manage full-timers the issue is your ability as a manager, not the employee.

I have managed part-time staff for years and worked part-time myself. it is not an issue in itself.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I think the reason I'm upset is - working part time is not a want, it's directly tied to my health condition, it's not a lifestyle choice. The company is part of the disability confident scheme - there have always been part time workers, there is one now, and yes it probably would be easier from a managers perspective to have one person, but it's not a job that cannot be split.

I'm not an idiot - I'm not applying for something I can't do - or that the company couldn't reasonably adjust for, especially because I'm flexible in terms of days/how the hours are split. It seems as though my value and worth as an employee is being based purely on the amount of hours rather than the fact I'm good at my job. It feels very much like I should be happy doing the same job as everyone else but without a secure contract.

I'm not saying I should automatically get the role - if someone was more experienced/qualified then great - but to be made to feel I shouldn't even apply because I can't do full time because of my health isn't very nice.

Yes, the rota is not the employees concern!

The business could that's why I'm feeling so deflated - I'm seeing it in some of the replies as well that I'm basically being seen as a hassle and not actually considering what I bring to the job.

Thank you :)

Jobs at my place stating those with alternative working patterns are welcome to apply, but will only be granted subject to business need. It’s fair play from the manager. Apply but if they need full hours filled then that’s what they need.

Imagine disabled people/ those with long term health conditions having the audacity to want to have equal opportunities when applying for a role 🙄

You're absolutely right - I should know my place - do the same job as everyone else on a less secure contract with a lower wage rather than be considered for less hours.

I totally understand that - if a job requires one person it requires one person - this one doesn't. It would be easier yes, but is not essential, there is already a part time worker there (and I was one previously).

If someone knows you cannot work full time because of your health - and then says directly they'd want someone full time - when you're already doing the job, you're experienced/qualified - and will still be doing the same job after someone else is hired - but on a flexible/not secure contract, less wage - then of course I'm going to be upset when I know part time could be considered.

It's like employers claim to be disability confident until the disability requires any adjustments/considerations.

The answers that you get on this board are very much from a legal perspective. And the fact is the employer does not have to make a full time role into two part time roles if they don’t want to. There is no need for you to take the responses as personal insults to yourself, because they are not. I believe from other posts that Quveas is herself disabled so I am sure does not have the view that disabled people should “know their place” and like me, is commenting on the legalities.

It has been suggested that you apply and request part time and see what happens, that seems reasonable.

Yes just imagine. You do know that I am severely disabled, do you? Sarcasm won't get you the job. If they need the post filling full time then stop feeling sorry for yourself and find a job-share partner to apply for it. It isn't the employers responsibility to do this for you. It is yours. Or you can apply on the basis that you are only prepared to work part-time and you expect them to find another part0time person and see how that works out. You have an equal opportunity to apply for the role, but you don't have the right to tell the employer that they must create a part-time role because you want one.

I am going to offer a slightly different perspective.

apply for a different job …where your skills and experience are recognised.

the manager has shown you who they are - believe them. It will save you a lot of grief.