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Disability Discrimination at Work
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Has anyone ever had a moment where they felt discriminated at work due to their disability?
I know that I have already mentioned having Asperger's but I feel like whenever I get stressed at work, my main manager always seems to have a go at me for how I behave under stress. I can still remember him saying something like I should have brain surgery which was hurtful towards me as it made me feel stupid.
I've been told many times that if I feel stressed, I should tell a duty manager but I think that is easier said than done for me as I can't control myself when stressed. On my last shift, I ended up getting so stressed out, I accidently cut my right hand and am now concerned that on my next shift, my main manager would have a field day with me. I can't help but feel like he will use my past behaviours under stress as a way to kick me out of the job  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Has anyone ever had a moment where they felt discriminated at work due to their disability?
I know that I have already mentioned having Asperger's but I feel like whenever I get stressed at work, my main manager always seems to have a go at me for how I behave under stress. I can still remember him saying something like I should have brain surgery which was hurtful towards me as it made me feel stupid.
I've been told many times that if I feel stressed, I should tell a duty manager but I think that is easier said than done for me as I can't control myself when stressed. On my last shift, I ended up getting so stressed out, I accidently cut my right hand and am now concerned that on my next shift, my main manager would have a field day with me. I can't help but feel like he will use my past behaviours under stress as a way to kick me out of the job "
That's awful OP.
I have never been discriminated against at work due to my disability. My employer had to make reasonable adjustments to my job. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I got fired for my attendance due to my epileptic attacks. The manager wouldn't recognise my disability. I won by appeal and was reinstated but my neurologist refused to allow me to resume work. I got no severance pay |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Has anyone ever had a moment where they felt discriminated at work due to their disability?
I know that I have already mentioned having Asperger's but I feel like whenever I get stressed at work, my main manager always seems to have a go at me for how I behave under stress. I can still remember him saying something like I should have brain surgery which was hurtful towards me as it made me feel stupid.
I've been told many times that if I feel stressed, I should tell a duty manager but I think that is easier said than done for me as I can't control myself when stressed. On my last shift, I ended up getting so stressed out, I accidently cut my right hand and am now concerned that on my next shift, my main manager would have a field day with me. I can't help but feel like he will use my past behaviours under stress as a way to kick me out of the job
That's awful OP.
I have never been discriminated against at work due to my disability. My employer had to make reasonable adjustments to my job. "
That's good that your employer made reasonable adjustments for you at your job. I'm sure this was done for me as well as I always do a floor shift mostly in the mornings when its not so busy with me working in a cinema. This does help on the quieter days but when its busy especially during half term holidays, it can get stressful for me if their aren't enough staff |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
It is easier said than done but you will have to address this and get an agreement about what a 'reasonable adjustment' is for when you are stressed. It is also your responsibility to manage your condition as much as you can at work. Maybe you could agree to alert your manager when you are feeling that you can't cope so that you can be moved to other duties?
I am fortunate that my disabilities have been fully accommodated at work except once, and that was long before the DDA. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"It is easier said than done but you will have to address this and get an agreement about what a 'reasonable adjustment' is for when you are stressed. It is also your responsibility to manage your condition as much as you can at work. Maybe you could agree to alert your manager when you are feeling that you can't cope so that you can be moved to other duties?
I am fortunate that my disabilities have been fully accommodated at work except once, and that was long before the DDA."
I can manage my condition at the best of my ability. What is not right is having most of the floor staff on their cover tills to help bring the queues down when there are screens coming out that are pretty busy and I'm the only one that has to do it. I do radio for help but I sometimes but it does get stressing having to clean a few busy screens one after another when low of floor staff |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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We still have a long way to go, not just in terms of disability awareness but in terms of staff welfare in general.
Finding an ethical, moral, caring, considerate and responsible employer is becoming increasingly difficult.
That said, in an age of entitlement, so is finding great, hard working employees. |
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Surely the company has a duty of care towards you, can't they have a buddy system put in place to help you. As in someone watching over you in case you get stressed, letting you know to go and have 5 minutes.
Speak to a disability charity, they have a wealth of information to assist you and your employer. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it, |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Surely the company has a duty of care towards you, can't they have a buddy system put in place to help you. As in someone watching over you in case you get stressed, letting you know to go and have 5 minutes.
Speak to a disability charity, they have a wealth of information to assist you and your employer. "
I thought they did have a buddy system when I first started working there but it seemed they didn't. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it, "
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Is there any help you could receive from the NHS or a charity which could help you to manage your Aspergers in stressful situations?"
I'm not really sure really. Even though I have this condition, I have not been registered as disabled and wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until I was in secondary school |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time."
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person? "
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Is there any help you could receive from the NHS or a charity which could help you to manage your Aspergers in stressful situations?
I'm not really sure really. Even though I have this condition, I have not been registered as disabled and wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until I was in secondary school"
Maybe start with some research, they're could be something at there for you which will help  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Well OP thanks for your side of it, shame your manager can't give theirs!"
He probably would say that I would punch walls and climb up fire escapes threatening to jump off them I bet |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person?
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well"
Ok so if you have someone in your screen with you and there's people in the other ones what is it they arent doing as you said they dont give enough help? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Is there any help you could receive from the NHS or a charity which could help you to manage your Aspergers in stressful situations?
I'm not really sure really. Even though I have this condition, I have not been registered as disabled and wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until I was in secondary school
Maybe start with some research, they're could be something at there for you which will help "
Yeah I'll make sure to look into it |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
It is important to remember that the employer has to make 'reasonable' adjustments. It's not always possible to meet every need but where it is someone's attitude, such as your manager's, OP, then you should speak to them and let their manager or HR know.
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"Well OP thanks for your side of it, shame your manager can't give theirs!
He probably would say that I would punch walls and climb up fire escapes threatening to jump off them I bet"
And do you?
Reasonable adjustments are exactly that, REASONABLE. Unfortunately one persons reasonable isn't someone else's, open to interpretation. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person?
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well
Ok so if you have someone in your screen with you and there's people in the other ones what is it they arent doing as you said they dont give enough help? "
There have been days when it would be busy in the mornings and there aren't enough staff which isn't fair on those doing an opening shift. Years ago, there was always enough staff covering every station but now its just always one staff on each station to cover everything which isn't fair to be honest |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Well OP thanks for your side of it, shame your manager can't give theirs!
He probably would say that I would punch walls and climb up fire escapes threatening to jump off them I bet
And do you?
Reasonable adjustments are exactly that, REASONABLE. Unfortunately one persons reasonable isn't someone else's, open to interpretation. "
These were something that only happened years ago which only happened once or twice when I was under great stress and couldn't manage it |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person?
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well
Ok so if you have someone in your screen with you and there's people in the other ones what is it they arent doing as you said they dont give enough help?
There have been days when it would be busy in the mornings and there aren't enough staff which isn't fair on those doing an opening shift. Years ago, there was always enough staff covering every station but now its just always one staff on each station to cover everything which isn't fair to be honest"
It may be that they can't afford more staff. The margins for cinemas are very tight.
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"Has anyone ever had a moment where they felt discriminated at work due to their disability?
I know that I have already mentioned having Asperger's but I feel like whenever I get stressed at work, my main manager always seems to have a go at me for how I behave under stress. I can still remember him saying something like I should have brain surgery which was hurtful towards me as it made me feel stupid.
I've been told many times that if I feel stressed, I should tell a duty manager but I think that is easier said than done for me as I can't control myself when stressed. On my last shift, I ended up getting so stressed out, I accidently cut my right hand and am now concerned that on my next shift, my main manager would have a field day with me. I can't help but feel like he will use my past behaviours under stress as a way to kick me out of the job "
All I got to say is " Karma "
My boss took the piss out of my medical problem sort of disability. He has been in and out of hospital for the last year. And still has problems I just wish him all the best. |
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"Well OP thanks for your side of it, shame your manager can't give theirs!
He probably would say that I would punch walls and climb up fire escapes threatening to jump off them I bet
And do you?
Reasonable adjustments are exactly that, REASONABLE. Unfortunately one persons reasonable isn't someone else's, open to interpretation.
These were something that only happened years ago which only happened once or twice when I was under great stress and couldn't manage it"
OP it sounds like you are working hard to work through your condition which is great, but you should also consider the affect on your colleagues and managers, they will also find it difficult as they may lack understanding of your condition. Good luck! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person?
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well
Ok so if you have someone in your screen with you and there's people in the other ones what is it they arent doing as you said they dont give enough help?
There have been days when it would be busy in the mornings and there aren't enough staff which isn't fair on those doing an opening shift. Years ago, there was always enough staff covering every station but now its just always one staff on each station to cover everything which isn't fair to be honest"
Ok so they arent targeting you then that sounds like hours have been cut. If doing the cleaning in a quick turn around isnt something you can do without being stressed is there something else you can do in the business? |
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OP your employer does have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to do your job.
When I had problems with an employer some years ago I got assistance from the job centre. They had a disability employment advisor who's role was to help disabled people find work in the first instance and then to help them to keep the job. I don't know if they still have them after all of the cut backs in recent years but it might be worth a try.
Here's a bit of an overview of what mine did for me.
I was offered a job with a multinational company and the job offer was withdrawn on medical grounds after they obtained a medical report from my GP. The advisor helped me to write an appeal letter pointing out what they had done was illegal and they reinstated the job offer.
After a 6 month probationary period the same company sacked me sayingy performance was slightly below that of other new recruits. The advisor again helped me write an appeal letter and came to an appeal hearing with me. He pointed out that they had not made reasonable adjustments to enable me to do the job to the best of my ability and they reversed their decision and gave me my job back with the needed adjustments. I went on to be the best performing member of the team.
A couple of years later they attempted to get rid of me again, this time with a legal severence package. They basically wanted to pay me off and keep me quiet about it. By this point the job was no longer suitable for me anyway so he helped me to negotiate a better settlement from them. By this time I wouldn't have won any case I took to a tribunal because they had made the adjustments so I took the money.
I'm sure there is help out there for you OP, advocacy serviced and suchlike, just have a look what you can find online.
Good luck xx |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you work for a chain then speak to the HR department and make them aware of how you feel the manager is treating you. Remember the manager still reports in to someone so they have to be accountable for their actions.
You say you are managing to the best of your ability what you need to do when you reach the limit of that is to ask for assistance, they need to be helping you more than they are doing and they cannot just fire you because of it,
I do ask for help when I need it when it comes to cleaning busy screens but they usually just send the one in which isn't enough to get some busy screens done in time.
Have you told them it isnt sufficient time with only one person?
I do tell them we have more than one screen out which I'm sure they do send another staff member to another screen to have it cleaned as well
Ok so if you have someone in your screen with you and there's people in the other ones what is it they arent doing as you said they dont give enough help?
There have been days when it would be busy in the mornings and there aren't enough staff which isn't fair on those doing an opening shift. Years ago, there was always enough staff covering every station but now its just always one staff on each station to cover everything which isn't fair to be honest
Ok so they arent targeting you then that sounds like hours have been cut. If doing the cleaning in a quick turn around isnt something you can do without being stressed is there something else you can do in the business? "
It is true about the hours being cut. In the past years, I used to enjoy being on box office serving tickets but the box office at my works is never used anymore so I'm mainly on floor.
I would have a cover till on each shift but would only use it to help bring the queues down but I find this as a problem as if I'm on my cover till on a busy day with low staff, there wouldn't be anyone to clean the screens and the customers would just walk straight on in |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"OP your employer does have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to do your job.
When I had problems with an employer some years ago I got assistance from the job centre. They had a disability employment advisor who's role was to help disabled people find work in the first instance and then to help them to keep the job. I don't know if they still have them after all of the cut backs in recent years but it might be worth a try.
Here's a bit of an overview of what mine did for me.
I was offered a job with a multinational company and the job offer was withdrawn on medical grounds after they obtained a medical report from my GP. The advisor helped me to write an appeal letter pointing out what they had done was illegal and they reinstated the job offer.
After a 6 month probationary period the same company sacked me sayingy performance was slightly below that of other new recruits. The advisor again helped me write an appeal letter and came to an appeal hearing with me. He pointed out that they had not made reasonable adjustments to enable me to do the job to the best of my ability and they reversed their decision and gave me my job back with the needed adjustments. I went on to be the best performing member of the team.
A couple of years later they attempted to get rid of me again, this time with a legal severence package. They basically wanted to pay me off and keep me quiet about it. By this point the job was no longer suitable for me anyway so he helped me to negotiate a better settlement from them. By this time I wouldn't have won any case I took to a tribunal because they had made the adjustments so I took the money.
I'm sure there is help out there for you OP, advocacy serviced and suchlike, just have a look what you can find online.
Good luck xx"
Thank you. I did get my job at my current workplace with the help of a disability employment advisor.
My parents tried to get hold of another DEA to help me find another job this past year but sadly to no avail |
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Engage support from human resources and a union rep or ACAS if needed asap. Formalise the process for you to get relief etc during stressful conditions.
Your manager is legally bound to recognize your needs for support as you are disabled. Ignorance of the law is not a supportive barrier for his requirement to treat you favourably and supportively. Ensure your injury is in their accident record book too. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Engage support from human resources and a union rep or ACAS if needed asap. Formalise the process for you to get relief etc during stressful conditions.
Your manager is legally bound to recognize your needs for support as you are disabled. Ignorance of the law is not a supportive barrier for his requirement to treat you favourably and supportively. Ensure your injury is in their accident record book too."
You're right there. The accident was put in the accident record book straight away before I went home that day |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I found out today at work that my manager is leaving on Thursday which I'm glad to be honest as he has been nothing but a dick. I just hope the new manager won't be a bigger dick than he was |
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