New job & disability barriers

[advice111]

Hello everyone.

Thank you for a great forum. This is my first post, so please accept my apologies in advance if I get anything wrong.

I have a number of disabilities which affect my hearing, speech (clarity of speech) and mental health - specifically stress & anxiety. After a considerable number of years of struggling to find a job, I have finally been successful in finding employment with a large employer in an administration type of role. Majority of the job is admin-based, however a minority part of the job-role involves making/taking phone-calls (approx. 20-25% of the role)

I really want to do this job, but for me making/taking phone calls is a significant barrier because of hearing loss and speech impairment. I'm concerned that if I struggle to take on this part of the job role, when I find it difficult to hear or speak clearly, this may also trigger my anxiety. I'm also worried that the employer will quickly try to push me towards dismissal if they feel I can't do a portion of the role.

It's been really hard for me to find a job and I'm really panicking what to do. My mind is all over the place. Even if the hearing part could possibly be resolved the employer by possibly providing me with a very quiet part of the office or allow WFH, but this still leaves me with the speech impairment, so I'm unsure how I could resolve that issue.

Could anyone please help advise? Can I ask the employer to totally remove me from phone duties?

[ULA]

Have you discussed your hearling loss/speech impairment with your employer? If not then I would suggest that you do so in order that they can consider what reasonable adjustments need to be made to help you perform your role. It may be that they ask you to attend an occupational health (OH) appointment which would help with guidance as to what the employer can do to assist you. One of those may be that you do not work on the phones or theymay provide other recommendations of suitable adjustments that can be made.

[advice111]

Have you discussed your hearling loss/speech impairment with your employer? If not then I would suggest that you do so in order that they can consider what reasonable adjustments need to be made to help you perform your role. It may be that they ask you to attend an occupational health (OH) appointment which would help with guidance as to what the employer can do to assist you. One of those may be that you do not work on the phones or theymay provide other recommendations of suitable adjustments that can be made.

Thanks very much ULA for your help. I have completed a health declaration and sent this to them, but it can take considerable time before they reply. I have heard though that employers are not obliged to accept occupational health recommendations and I know a friend who got dismissed from their role because they could not take on some of their role responsibilities and the employer insisted that if it's part of their advertised job role, then they must be able to handle that responsibility with adjustments, otherwise they have to let them go. I'm really worried that I'm am in a similar situation.

[ULA]

Yes you are correct that employers are not obliged to accept OH recommendations but if they do not then they have to justify their reasons why they cannot make the adjusments being suggested.

[advice111]

Yes you are correct that employers are not obliged to accept OH recommendations but if they do not then they have to justify their reasons why they cannot make the adjusments being suggested.

Thank you ULA and apologies for the late reply. The problem is that it's very easy for employers to say that it's business need requirements and fob you off or reject the adjustment outright.

[ULA]

Depending on the adjustments being recommended by OH then the company has to consider carefully if the adjustment:

• will remove or reduce the disadvantage for the person with the disability
• is practical to make
• is affordable by the employer or business
• could harm the health and safety of others

If the answer to the first 3 is yes and the final point no then it would be reasonably expected that the company should make the adjustment. If there was not a justified reason for making the adjustment then the employer does leave themselves exposed to a possible discrimination claim.

[advice111]

I would say that the 1st and 3rd are a definite YES, but 2nd is a possibly YES because using the phone sometimes is part of the job and the only way that can be removed is if another colleague or manager, which I'm not sure could be classed as practical.

The 4th is definitely a NO.

[ULA]

I think at the moment you may need to see what the outcome is of the health declaration.

I cannot quite tell from your post whether you have started the job yet?

[advice111]

Apologies, but no I've not started the post yet.

[ULA]

Thank you for the clarification in which case my comment at post #8 is still relevant as you will need to wait to see what the company comes back with have reviewed your health declaration.

[advice111]

Thank you for the clarification in which case my comment at post #8 is still relevant as you will need to wait to see what the company comes back with have reviewed your health declaration.

That's fine ULA. I'll wait and keep you posted about the outcome or any issues. Thank you and take care.