Hi all
I’m still under investigation for possible MS and have been taken through my employers absence process. Part of this process is for them to have an independent workplace assessor discuss my needs with me and make suggestions with regards to what reasonable adjustments could be implemented by my employer.
Following our discussion today (which lasted 90 mins) the assessor asked to speak with my manager to make her aware of the adjustments he would be suggesting in his report. She was happy with all of the desk/equipment adjustments (mainly because it is the assessors responsibility to arrange these) but she refused all adjustments in relation to working flexible shifts.
She kept saying that she couldn’t agree to these due to ‘business needs’. I work in a fraud prevention department for a large financial institution and deal with preparing the paperwork for fraud cases which are going to court. The department is open for over 90 hours a week and I currently work 37.5. Therefore, there is plenty of availability to work flexitime.
Surely it is better for ‘business needs’ for me to work 37.5 hours a week at anytime within the office opening hours than be out of the business due to absence?!
I would have thought my manager would have had to liaise with HR and discuss the assessors suggestions before just simply refusing to implement them.
HR have never been present at any point throughout the absence process and an HR representative has never attended any of the formal absence review meetings - again I would have thought this would be a standard requirement of a process which could ultimately result in my dismissal through ill-health.