Situation at Work

[chatenoire]

I'm on the waiting list to be diagnosed, I believe it's spectrum+ ADHD.

I've been at work for 2+ years. I enjoyed my role for 18/20 months until well it came clear that it wouldn't take me anywhere and that having a varied workload was frowned upon. I need my workload to be different everyday because otherwise I get distracted. My performance remains the same, but I have to make a proper effort. Also knowing that I'll never find my job fulfilling and reach my potential makes me quite depressed and anxious.

So the question is... Could I request a change of role given the circumstances? I don't know if this could qualify as "adjustments" or they'll tell me to simply get a different role.

Not an expert but surely they could only make adjustments within your existing role?

I imagine you only have a legal right to reasonable adjustments if you have a diagnosis.
Is the role how it was advertised or has it changed?

Rather than approaching your issues as something your employer needs to resolve for you, you could look into finding roles which are a better match for you.

Are you quite young?

That’s not really what reasonable adjustments are op . Reasonable adjustments are to help you perform in the role the same as others who do not have a disability. It is not to keep moving you to roles to enable you to progress.

You are able to do the role you are employed for. If you don't like the role apply for another role

Is there such a role in your work place?
Is it the same level?
Don't have an HR team?
I'd get diagnosed, see occupational health and discuss with them
Discuss reasonable adjustments to your own role and see if a sideways move is possible
If it's a higher post you want then I suspect you'd need to apply and get in your merits

No, I'm not that young. I'm approaching 40 and have had a varied career. In most workplaces they've end up creating a role at my own suggestion. I've always been of the idea of get in and then move around (as I've been quite successful at that), so I understand simply this isn't the case in this company. It's a shame, as I really like it, and I could live with my role, but there's absolutely zero progression. Plus they keep changing the responsibilities and expectations, which is starting to get me too.

I asked about age as you'd said you'd been at work 2+ years. Wasn't sure if you meant you're at beginning of career, in which case I might have had different advice.

You wrote earlier that you need a varied workload. Surely if they keep changing the responsibilities and expectations, that's what you want as it suits you? You want change or you want things to stay the same? Or you only want change when it suits you?

I don't think from what you've said you'd be requesting reasonable adjustments because of any special need/disability but because you don't feel there is a defined promotion/progression route from your current role.
Which is not what reasonable adjustments are about.
Usually if there are no upward routes at a person's current setting, and that was important to the person, they would move settings/organisations to progress.

You imagine wrong. The Equality Act definition of disability does not require a diagnosis.

Redeployment to another role if there is a suitable vacancy can be a reasonable adjustment.

having a varied workload was frowned upon

What job do you do? When you applied for the job, was the workload varied? What has changed for the variation to be now frowned upon?

Yes, but the problem needs to be somewhat demonstrably concrete.
Not only are OP's wants contradictory - she complains about a lack of 'varied workload' but also the constant change in responsibilities - but...
She was happy for close to 2 years.
I have ADHD and while we're all different the calling card is getting bored very quickly with the same thing.
OP just seems unhappy with the lack of progression and erm 'reaching her potential' whatever that means.

Sounds like you need a new job OP. Why do you want to stay with this company anyway? What new role do you want?

You're unlikely to be given a shiny new high potential job as an alternative to 'dead-end job' as a 'reasonable adjustment'. If such a role was available in the first place why would they give it to you instead of allowing anyone else interested to apply.

The changes are only to "appease" me and when really queried, they go back to "do your day job". So for example they can say:
From X day you'll be doing all of these new tasks.
When I said, I was excited about my new tasks, they came back to say... "No, just go back to your main responsibilities, we don't think we can afford you to do the other tasks"..

That hasn't happened just once, but twice.

at this point I just want to move horizontally BTW. I find my team very toxic..

OK but that's not related to disability. You don't like your team. Or they aren't great. This could happen to anybody.
It also looks like you're trying to force the role into something that it's not. They don't have to give you 'varied responsibilities'. It's not their job to ensure that you enjoy your role, if it's similar to what was originally advertised.
You may have been influential enough to get roles created for you elsewhere, but this isn't happening.
You can try to apply for a new role, or see if anybody else wants you but I don't think the reasonable adjustment process is relevant here.

@freezefade thank you for clarifying.

I think that it's fairly clear that you are looking for them to solve the fact that you don't like your job. This has nothing to do with a disability, or possible disability. Your first comment was that you liked your job for nearly two years until you realised you wouldn't get promoted - so that was the reason you firstly gave for wanting a change. Then - after 20 months - you suddenly need a different workload every day, and if you don't get that you have to make "an effort" to perform as required! Then you are anxious and depressed because your job is not fulfilling and doesn't help you reach your potential (whatever that means). And the employer very unreasonably expects you to do your job, and when it is explained that that is - ermm - your job and a reasonable expectation from them - you then decide that your team is also "toxic".

You may or may not have ADHD, but even if you have, that doesn't entitle you to a job that suits your expectations and aspirations more. It might entitle you to some adjustments to your existing role in your existing team. But you know what? That every increasing list of reasons why the employer ought to find you the job that you want sounds a lot more like someone testing out what arguments might work to get their own way. And if that is what you are doing, please don't use disability as an excuse - as someone with a serious disability it really annoys me when people try to use disability as a mallet to get their own way. If you simply don't like your job, then just look for another one. People with disabilities have enough to contend with without employers becoming inured to reasonable adjustments because of a few who exploit their disability simply to get their own way.

A reasonable adjustment is not a job that helps you reach your potential - it is your job to find the job that does that. If you have a disability then you need to look at ways that you can be supported to do the day job better. And that is almost certainly the way to demonstrate your potential - do your job and do it well.

No you're wrong. I started disliking my job when they made it cookie cutter and process oriented. It also happened at the same time when they gave some non -specific feedback that crushed my self worth and made me question myself (as I couldn't figure out if it was me or not).

I do find it toxic that they all think that they're amazing and our colleagues are idiots that need their help.

I see. So basically there isn't a single thing you like about the job, but you won't leave? I am not sure the problem is one-sided, but the solution is simple. Get another job. This one isn't the right one for you.

Surely you're in a job to do the job that is needed? Maybe they need someone to actually do what you're employed to do and not other random stuff?

It sounds like you don't have much respect for your colleagues or the company. No amount of tweaks to job responsibilities will change this.

OK, but that still isn't related to disability adjustments.
You are allowed to dislike your job. It looks like they've changed it to bring in more controls. what you claim 'cookie cutter' might actually be very necessary for consistency of output or other things like safety. Without knowing what the job actually is, I can't comment.

If you are that unhappy with your job but want to stay in the company. nothing is stopping you from asking for a reasonable adjustment based on your purported disabilities. I guess the worst they can say is no, and maybe your card will be marked. But you already think they're toxic so you're not going to stay long there anyway are you?

You imagine wrong. The Equality Act definition of disability does not require a diagnosis

Jesus that's nuts!!!

So I could just make something up and demand change when it's not even true?

Even schools don't require an official diagnosis before making adjustments. It really depends.
If for example a potentially autistic employee has sensory overload from bright lights and noise, needing a quiet etc space to work and it's clear they're struggling the company should try to accommodate them. Allow them to wear ear defenders, provide an alternative space. Similarly if they struggle with uniform texture relaxing uniform requirements is a reasonable accommodation.