Accommodations at work

[sasywtch]

I had severe sciatica and over compensated and tore the ligament on the other side. I couldn't even roll out of bed without pain killers. I have a special accommodation at work to not bend especially filing files on the bottom shelves or lift anything over 10 lbs. I had a doctor's note but my big boss wanted an accommodation paper filled out so my doctor completed and it's on file at work.

A coworker and I got into a tiff today, actually she started yelling at me so I told her to stop and we went into the file room to have a private conversation. Somewhere in there she started yelling that no one helps our file person, she's 80 years old (the file person is 80, not the one yelling at me). She is the only one who has helped her move the files around because they're cramped in..on and on.(she was pretty much laying a guilt trip on me and my fellow unit workers)I told her we have been given specific duties we had to get done and couldn't help. She was yelling very snotty. She yelled that we don't refile our own files. I told her that we have been. She said there always some in the basket to be refiled. (Amazingly, I was being calm). I told her that those files are probably ones on the bottom and that there may be a medical reason for that and maybe someone can't file on the bottom self. I was trying to be evasive as it's none of her business but she wouldn't let up.

She started yelling that anyone who could put on a pair of shoes could bend over and file. She wouldn't stop so I told her that I was the one with the accommodation and didn't appreciate what she was saying. She kept yelling that she has arthritis, her back hurts but look...and then she sat down on a chair and showed me (still yelling) that anyone could just bend over and file on the bottom shelf. (it's on the floor).

Now I feel extreme guilt if I put one of the bottom shelf files in the basket. I'm wondering if others in the office are judging me about it (which would only be 3 others out of 20). If this had been a supervisor or manager, they would have been in deep trouble but since it's a coworker, I have no idea. I'm smart enough to know if someone mentions accommodations, medical condition etc...I shut up. I don't sit there yelling at them saying look, sit here, bend this way, anyone who can put on shoes can file on the bottom shelf.

This person told me that if she ever hears me talking about her, she will go to the big boss or the union. She's revengeful. I actually thought it funny here she is telling me this when she just reamed me for my accommodation and has no clue she just did that. I should have said, let's go right now and while we're at it, let's discuss how you just yelled at me for my accommodation. But, I didn't. So now, it's eating at me.

I'm thinking I might go to the manager tomorrow and ask that the three of us meet so as not to talk behind her back. We all have to take the yearly harassment, discrimination course but don't know if it touched upon accommodations or not. When I asked her to please stop after I told her I had the accommodation, she should have stopped and not gone on yelling at me. I want her to know that we are not, not helping the person moving the files because we don't want to but because we have been given specific orders to do another project and I don't want to feel guilt leaving the bottom shelf files in the basket.

Maybe I should just shut up and let it go.

 

[CaliBear]

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm very sorry you are going through this. It really is none of her business. Too bad she didn't let it go. Good luck.

 

[teller80]

Since you can't file in the bottom drawers, could you offer to file extra in the drawers you CAN file in?

 

[SLP958]

Sounds like this could have all been avoided if you had just explained your situation in the beginning. I get that you did not think it was her business but if there is a work task you can't do that causes others to do more, no matter how little, it is best to explain why since it does effect them.

Since you are at this point now, I would offer to do the extra filing that you can do if other file your bottom drawers for you.

Simple communication solves so much. This lady has probably looked at your files and wondered why you are not filing them yourself for months and it finally got the best of her. She should not have yelled but I would try and let it go unless something else is said.

 

[sam_gordon]

I had severe sciatica and over compensated and tore the ligament on the other side. I couldn't even roll out of bed without pain killers. I have a special accommodation at work to not bend especially filing files on the bottom shelves or lift anything over 10 lbs. I had a doctor's note but my big boss wanted an accommodation paper filled out so my doctor completed and it's on file at work.

A coworker and I got into a tiff today, actually she started yelling at me so I told her to stop and we went into the file room to have a private conversation. Somewhere in there she started yelling that no one helps our file person, she's 80 years old (the file person is 80, not the one yelling at me). She is the only one who has helped her move the files around because they're cramped in..on and on.(she was pretty much laying a guilt trip on me and my fellow unit workers)I told her we have been given specific duties we had to get done and couldn't help. She was yelling very snotty. She yelled that we don't refile our own files. I told her that we have been. She said there always some in the basket to be refiled. (Amazingly, I was being calm). I told her that those files are probably ones on the bottom and that there may be a medical reason for that and maybe someone can't file on the bottom self. I was trying to be evasive as it's none of her business but she wouldn't let up.

She started yelling that anyone who could put on a pair of shoes could bend over and file. She wouldn't stop so I told her that I was the one with the accommodation and didn't appreciate what she was saying. She kept yelling that she has arthritis, her back hurts but look...and then she sat down on a chair and showed me (still yelling) that anyone could just bend over and file on the bottom shelf. (it's on the floor).

Now I feel extreme guilt if I put one of the bottom shelf files in the basket. I'm wondering if others in the office are judging me about it (which would only be 3 others out of 20). If this had been a supervisor or manager, they would have been in deep trouble but since it's a coworker, I have no idea. I'm smart enough to know if someone mentions accommodations, medical condition etc...I shut up. I don't sit there yelling at them saying look, sit here, bend this way, anyone who can put on shoes can file on the bottom shelf.

This person told me that if she ever hears me talking about her, she will go to the big boss or the union. She's revengeful. I actually thought it funny here she is telling me this when she just reamed me for my accommodation and has no clue she just did that. I should have said, let's go right now and while we're at it, let's discuss how you just yelled at me for my accommodation. But, I didn't. So now, it's eating at me.

I'm thinking I might go to the manager tomorrow and ask that the three of us meet so as not to talk behind her back. We all have to take the yearly harassment, discrimination course but don't know if it touched upon accommodations or not. When I asked her to please stop after I told her I had the accommodation, she should have stopped and not gone on yelling at me. I want her to know that we are not, not helping the person moving the files because we don't want to but because we have been given specific orders to do another project and I don't want to feel guilt leaving the bottom shelf files in the basket.

Maybe I should just shut up and let it go.

She's a coworker, not a supervisor? I see a couple options for you...

1) Let it go.
2) Have another private conversation with her and calmly explain that since she is not your supervisor (and even if she was), and she has no right to berate you like that. What you do on the job is between you and your supervisor. If she has a problem with your work ethic, she should take it up with the supervisor. Let her know if she has another diatribe against you, YOU will involve the supervisor. And do it.
3) Go to the supervisor now.

I vote for #2.

 

[htmom]

Personally, I would go in today and apologize to her for not telling her about the accommodation. I agree with the pp about it probably ate at her for months seeing that you didn't file everything and it just blew up. I have been on both ends and it is another persons business if you can't do your whole job. They have to pick up the slack. I would offer to do more of the filing on top.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would go straight to HR. She can not do this to you.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

I agree with Htmom. Tell her you're sorry you didn't tell her before but you were trying to keep your situation private and didn't think about how it affected your coworker. Let her know that it's your doctor placing the restrictions and you're not just coming up with it off the top of your head.

Don't go to HR.

 

[DawnM]

I would report it. Being yelled at is not appropriate. No one should feel completely stressed at work because of a relationship issue.

I would have agreed with another conversation with her until I read that she threatened you. That, to me, is bullying in the workplace. (If you do X, you will be sorry.....)

Dawn

 

[javail]

The threat is what is most inappropriate. HR is there to help you. Seek guidance from them, and do it the next day you are in the office.

Disclaimer: I work in HR.

 

[izzy]

I'd go to my supervisor or HR. At my workplace, we have a respectful workplace policy, and her behavior towards you would be a violation of this policy.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[sunshinehighway]

It all sounds somewhat childish. I'd let it go before it turns into something worse. I think better communication with co workers is something you want to consider. Not having to do something (like discuss your accommodations) doesn't mean that you shouldn't choose to. It seems you want them to be blindly understanding of your situation. That's not how life works.

 

[anniemae]

I agree with the pp who said all co workers who were directly effected by your medical accommodation should have been notified. I understand you may have wanted to keep it private, but it impacted the others, and they were forced to pick up your slack. I also agreed it probably ate away at them and looked to them like you were slacking and not pulling your weight. That is infuriating for those who have to pick up the extra work. Not your fault AT ALL, but if they had been informed they wouldn't have been stewing about it. Had they known, they probably would have happily picked up the extra work, I know I would have.

I would chat with your supervisor and maybe have a team meeting to iron everything out and make sure EVERYONE is aware of their duties and what each worker can and cannot do. That way it's in the open. She was wrong to approach you in such a harsh manner, but as a pp stated, she was probably fed up.

You should not feel guilty at all though, you followed the correct procedures.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

So you think your coworker, who was totally inappropriate, will file a grievance with the union? What on earth will she grieve? That the manager is following the law?



Your accommodation is no one's business but your own. Your coworker should not have been told about it. She should not have questioned you about it and she certainly should not have yelled at you about it.

In any event, she is not directly affected by your accommodation, is she? If I understood what you said, she isn't the one doing your filing, she was yelling at you for making a third party do your filing. None of her business. If the 80 year old file clerk had a problem, she would have said something, I assume.

She knows better than your doctor? You can bend over and file? Excuse me?

Sounds like she's jealous. If her arthritis is that bad, she can ask her doctor for the appropriate paperwork for a similar accommodation.

I think you should talk to your manager this morning.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Schmeck]

Big issues are being raised here. First off, if the 80 year old can't do her job, she should retire. Why do other people need to pitch in to help her? If she is getting a paycheck, she should be doing her job. If it is too much for her, perhaps there is something else there that she could do? We have an older woman (70's) at work, and she really needs to retire as she is not performing to the job standard. It is getting to be a safety issue. She has qualified for a pension, but doesn't want the decrease in her income, but she can't do the job she was hired for, even with accommodations.

Second - health issues should not be shared among co-workers. The supervisor should have made arrangements for the accommodations and that should be it. And since there is a file clerk (80 years old though) it seems there is a person who should be doing the filing as it is her responsibility.

Third - verbal abuse should not be tolerated in the workplace. Go to the supervisor, report what this woman said and did, and how she threatened you. Since you are disabled with accommodations, you are in a protected class of workers and she is in big trouble.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Sounds like this could have all been avoided if you had just explained your situation in the beginning. I get that you did not think it was her business but if there is a work task you can't do that causes others to do more, no matter how little, it is best to explain why since it does effect them.

Since you are at this point now, I would offer to do the extra filing that you can do if other file your bottom drawers for you.

Simple communication solves so much. This lady has probably looked at your files and wondered why you are not filing them yourself for months and it finally got the best of her. She should not have yelled but I would try and let it go unless something else is said.

 

[kellyg403]

I agree with a few others. Honestly, you were the person that told her about the accommodation, so I don't know if that would even fall under anything HR related. The employee can tell anyone anything personal they would like, the supervisor can not. Now, being harassed etc for the disability would be different and should be brought to the HR/supervisor route.

The 80 yo? By the grace of God go I. I hope to be in the work place still moving along when I am 80. Probably be a little slower etc but I am still moving. Besides, I didn't get in the OP the 80 yo wasn't holding her own, it seemed more that she was and the co worker was using that as an example of why this employee should be doing her job 100%.

IMHO, I probably wouldn't apologize. But, I would go and say hey, I have this disability and I did not realize it was causing you extra work. I will gladly share the load of filing files I CAN reach so that you don't have to. Sometimes, you gotta be a team!

Kelly

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Sounds like this could have all been avoided if you had just explained your situation in the beginning. I get that you did not think it was her business but if there is a work task you can't do that causes others to do more, no matter how little, it is best to explain why since it does effect them.

Since you are at this point now, I would offer to do the extra filing that you can do if other file your bottom drawers for you.

Simple communication solves so much. This lady has probably looked at your files and wondered why you are not filing them yourself for months and it finally got the best of her. She should not have yelled but I would try and let it go unless something else is said.

No, I complete;ly disagree.

The only thing she should have been told is that it wasn't her concern, it wasn't any of her business, and she should take it up with the boss if there was a problem.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No, I complete;ly disagree.

The only thing she should have been told is that it wasn't her concern, it wasn't any of her business, and she should take it up with the boss if there was a problem.

I understand why you would say that, but it wouldn't do anything to alleviate the tension. The boss isn't allowed to discuss OP's disability, so the coworkers will all just continue to assume she's a slacker.

 

[ronandannette]

She's a coworker, not a supervisor? I see a couple options for you...

1) Let it go.
2) Have another private conversation with her and calmly explain that since she is not your supervisor (and even if she was), and she has no right to berate you like that. What you do on the job is between you and your supervisor. If she has a problem with your work ethic, she should take it up with the supervisor. Let her know if she has another diatribe against you, YOU will involve the supervisor. And do it.
3) Go to the supervisor now.

I vote for #2.

I completely agree with every word of this post, especially the choice to exercise Option #2. But then again I work in a modest sized office with people of (generally) good-will who are all just trying their best to achieve their goals while relating to one another like human beings.

The only thing I question is why the OP is so adamant about nobody knowing of her condition. I understand medical issues are personal but wouldn't it be better if everyone involved had at least a general idea of why things are the way they are? The OP specifically mentions not wanting to be "judged" for her legitimate medical accommodations so instead chooses to be judged as an unconscientious worker who is shirking her duties? I don't get it. And to the posters that have asserted the attitude that "I'm doing what ever I'm doing for my own reasons and it's none of your da**ed business", well, OK but that's really not the best strategy for getting along in a group.