Navigating the Complexities of Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustment it's an important topic, a phrase likely to have hard and if you've ever started a new job or are currently in a job, you might have considered requesting adjustments. That first step can feel quite daunting. Here are some common concerns:

a) Knowing what to ask for, would I qualify?

b) What things classes as an adjustment/s?

c) How many adjustments can l ask for? Is there a limit?

d) Will l be judged/ What will my employer think of me?

These are questions that lot of people can ask and these are the type of questions when people think about can actually deter people from even asking for possible adjustments.

Reasonable adjustments, (workplace adjustments or workplace accommodations just some of the other terms by which they are known). Speaking recently about adjustments, reminded me how requesting adjustments (what is essential support/ tools for work which allow you to do carry out your job responsibilities properly and to the best of your ability). Are still often faced with judgement, confusion and stress. Reasonable adjustments have to be provided by UK law under the equality act and often when people say things like ‘why don’t you request some adjustments’ they are under the illusion that this is a easy prospect and every employer a) has the knowledge b) is very supportive  and c)  adjustments are granted easily and quickly and yes absolutely this is the case for some people and should be for everyone but sadly this isn’t always the experience.

I have ask for adjustments myself while in pervious employment, even with a supportive manager, I found HR wasn’t as supportive (though l don’t think this was intentional) it did result in me often being given false and incorrect information,  causing me to have to continue to advocate for myself through-out the entire process which lasted a year rather than just needing to request and disclose my support need/s.

The reason l wanted to write about this topic is because what people or employers often don’t realise is that experiences similar to what experienced,  just help confirm the employees/person requesting own insecurities and often can make them feel like a failure and a problem that someone has to begrudging deal with. Resulting in people not asking for help when needed and increased levels of stress and energy excursion which ironically in turn makes them less effective at their job, as they are having to fight twice as hard to achieve something that if suitable adjustments had been implemented they could have managed without any added negative connotations.

Lets go back to the beginning what are reasonable adjustments?

These are changes or modifications made to a workplace to help employees with disabilities or specific needs perform their job effectively. These can be in the form physical, equipment, work environment, role adjustment or support services.

What makes you eligible to request adjustment?

Disability or Health Condition:

A person has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This could include conditions such as dyslexia, chronic illnesses, mobility impairments, mental health conditions, and more.

Impact on Work:

The condition must affect the individual's ability to perform their job effectively. This could mean difficulty with specific tasks, accessing the workplace, or needing support to manage symptoms

And remember you do not need a diagnoses of any conditions to receive reasonable adjustments.

What things can l ask for as a adjustment?

Well as mentioned previously these can include physical adjustments and equipment. Though often these are really simply things that have no or little financial impact for the company and often not thought about. Often people will just think in terms of equipment or sometimes software which yes is important but many adjustments are a case of working in a slightly different way.

Simple adjustments can be things like;

·       Not having to attend all meeting in person

·       Working the same shift pattern or 48 hours notice or more of any changes.  

·       Having clear agendas ahead of meetings

·       Additional or extended training

·       Not having to hot desk

·       Sitting in a different area of the office

·       Regular meetings with manager

·       And many more, subject to a personal needs

It’s important to also understand your adjustments may change over time, as our needs changes subject to stress, environment and general changes we experience throughout our lives. So l always say think of it as a working documents to be edited and changed when required and adjustments should be reviewed regularly by yourself and your employer. These isn’t a limit on how many you can ask for but these have to be reasonable and things that are going to help you do your job.

The hard part as l mention is it is unlikely that your employer will be able to suggest suitable adaptions in the work place if they don’t have all the information. We sometimes can say l struggle with X but not be able to recognise as to why and the why is important for example l struggle to work in the office currently. The why, could be the business, hotdesking, light, position of desk, overpowering smell of a colleagues perfume, these all different and all with different solutions so important that we do some assessing in advance and work with people this can be your employer to try to recognise the why.

Other times, we struggle with things that we may not be able to admit or recognize ourselves. For example, I need extra processing time, especially for what I call official or formal topics, and sometimes that means I have an advocate. However, because I didn’t want to admit or realize this, I experienced negative feelings, like feeling stupid. Now, I have learned to embrace my brain and know that I need that time. I can adapt how I work, making me a much more effective employee. If I weren’t self-employed now, what does this mean regarding adjustments?

For me, it means I need things in writing, minutes from meetings, and important meetings booked in advance so I can feel prepared and not just be a yes person because I don’t want to disappoint people. Having things written down or documents sent to me allows me to read them in advance, ask questions when I don’t understand ahead of time, and ultimately understand the topic or conversation discussed in meetings. These adjustments support me so that, rather than sitting in meetings, looking interested, nodding in all the right places, but internally experiencing feelings of rage and failure because I don’t understand the topic or parts are unclear, I can actually comprehend the discussions. Adjustments make me feel calmer and more prepared. I can ask for clarification in advance, reducing anxiety, and by reading the information multiple times, I gain a better understanding and a calmer mindset, lessening feelings of failure. Over time, this has also increased my confidence.

I firmly believe that adjustments come down to both education and workplace culture. Education means that people lack knowledge or understanding of the negative effects of not implementing these adjustments. Workplace culture involves people being overworked and not having the authority to implement changes without approval. The process of requesting these changes, such as going through a workplace assessment, can be negative and unintentionally make you feel like an inconvenience. Often, people do not realize the time and effort it takes to even request a meeting to discuss adjustments. Experiences will differ greatly, and I can only speak from my own experience and my thoughts on the matter.

So here are a few tips and tricks if you're thinking/planning to ask for adjustments yourself:

·       Stop and Think: Try to pinpoint the areas/things that affect you and need adjustments.

·       Document Over Time: Write down over a period of time the areas you think you need support in and any solutions you may have come up with.

·       Express Your Feelings: Write down how things make you feel. A couple of sentences like, “I struggle with this… When it happens, it makes me feel like this… And this will help because…” This personalizes your experience and helps others understand struggles that may be hidden from view.

·       Prepare for Meetings: Go to meetings with this written down so you have a frame of reference if worried or experiencing anxiety. The paper can also be something to fiddle with to help calm nerves.

·       Keep a Diary: Track how often things affect you. For example, if you have light sensitivity, record the dates and times you experience pain from the lighting over a few weeks.

·       Document Agreements: Get your employer to keep minutes from meetings and have agreed adjustments written down. This is hugely helpful if you change jobs or if there's a change in management.

These steps may feel like a lot of work on your part, but they will help others understand what they can't see and perhaps don't understand. People usually don't mean to make things complicated; it's often due to a lack of understanding. Though it can be a process and exhausting, it's worth it in the end. You don't have to do it alone—ask for support and remember you are entitled to an advocate if needed.

What are your experiences with requesting adjustments?