Anyone ever had to build a 'case' at work?

harmless_little_f***

So I've had a terrible time at work lately because of a lack of understanding every which way from my employer. She is getting repeatedly frustrated and disappointed in me for reasons which are not my fault and which I can't control; reasons which are disability related. I've tried to convince her of this but there is no talking to her sometimes.

I've decided I need to build a formal 'case' to inform and explain why I'm having the problems I am, why they effect my work, and what solutions I've come up with to tackle these issues, since she has repeatedly said that she is completely at a loss for ideas.

Has anyone else ever had to build a 'case' to argue for more support (or whatever else) at work? Is there any advice people can give me? I'm not a 'written evidence' kind of guy but I'm convinced that this is the only way I'm going to get through to her.

upina2001

what kind of disability issues do you have and how do they affect your work performance?

urbanhippie

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

So I've had a terrible time at work lately because of a lack of understanding every which way from my employer. She is getting repeatedly frustrated and disappointed in me for reasons which are not my fault and which I can't control; reasons which are disability related. I've tried to convince her of this but there is no talking to her sometimes.

I've decided I need to build a formal 'case' to inform and explain why I'm having the problems I am, why they effect my work, and what solutions I've come up with to tackle these issues, since she has repeatedly said that she is completely at a loss for ideas.

Has anyone else ever had to build a 'case' to argue for more support (or whatever else) at work? Is there any advice people can give me? I'm not a 'written evidence' kind of guy but I'm convinced that this is the only way I'm going to get through to her.

You already have some good ideas
You'll get there

harmless_little_f***

urbanhippie wrote:

You already have some good ideas
You'll get there

I have some ideas, but every little helps (Tescos ).

harmless_little_f***

upina2001 wrote:

what kind of disability issues do you have and how do they affect your work performance?

I have Spina Bifida (which causes me no problems at all - I can't walk but no big deal) and Hydrocephalus (which is an extremely long story but causes me problems in three task-orientated areas: organisation, memory and concentration.) I don't want to bore the crap out of people so look it up if you're interested, it's a shockingly under-recognised disability but causes at least as much heart-ache as dyslexia or dyspraxia, and in many areas.

eyedclaar

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

I have Hydrocephalus (which is an extremely long story but causes me problems in three task-orientated areas: organisation, memory and concentration.)

I didn't realize it had a clinical name; I just thought I smoked too much pot.

In all seriousness, don't they have something like disability determination specialists across the pond through like your equivalent of the Department of Labor? Employers in America (I'm an HR guy) must make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Not sure how it works there.

jammergirl

document EVERYTHING. have a notebook or whatever and every day when something happens, make a note of the day and the exact incident. this will be extremely handy if you want to prove a hostile work environment situation. good luck!

Spunkie

Pick your battles carefully.

eyedclaar

tish wrote:

Pick your battles carefully.

Indeed. Employers can almost always afford better lawyers than the employees can, and yes, you should document everything because if they have half a brain they are already doing the same thing. Still, I'm sure you would make for a very sympathetic case (no disrespect intended) and they would be reluctant to see you in court, or even risk firing you without very, very good reason.

At least here in the states...

jamie uk

Mark, in my experience I would agree, document everything.
But also, make some notes of some things that they've said, and counter them with questions to cancel them out, and seek an informal meeting. I had a HUGE run in with a boss once, which very nearly resulted in fisty cuffs,. But, I calmed down, and went away, made these notes, and the questions...along the lines of "it feels to me that you have something personal against me, why is that ? I mean, I never cause too many problems, I do the job...yadda, yadda" He completely bought into it, by the end he was apologising to me, and telling me I was one of the best blokes in the company.
Good luck.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

hmmmm...without more details, it's hard to say. But it's your responsibility to perform your job well. It's not your employer's responsibility to understand and accept that you can't perform your job well due to these disabilities unless they are temporary.

You have no case imo, unless you feel like you're doing a good enough job despite your disabilities.

harmless_little_f***

Saturnal wrote:

It's not your employer's responsibility to understand and accept that you can't perform your job well due to these disabilities unless they are temporary.

My boss has no responsibilities to support an employee with a disability? Even if they employed me on the basis that they 'knew I was the right person for the job'? Are you sure?

Saturnal wrote:

You have no case imo, unless you feel like you're doing a good enough job despite your disabilities.

Yeah, you're right. I may as well just quit. Stupid is as stupid does, right?

PearlJain

I have just spent the past 8 years working with people with disabilities. Believe me - you have plenty of rights! Not to mention a HUGE Lobbyist Group in Washington DC!!! Perhaps your supervisor is not being fair. Details please.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

My boss has no responsibilities to support an employee with a disability? Even if they employed me on the basis that they 'knew I was the right person for the job'? Are you sure?

If you can't perform the job they hired you to do, yes I'm sure.

If they tried to fire you just because you have a disability, that'd be a different story.

FinsburyParkCarrots

Legislation varies from country to country, remember.

PearlJain

Yep - should have checked his "location" first!