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Hi all,
I work in an IT role and have been with my company for about a year and a half. I was diagnosed with ASD in April and have struggled with the office environment due to sensory overload and social interaction difficulties in our large open office. Earlier this year, I requested a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010 to increase my work from home days from one to three days a week. I was flexible about how this could work, even offered the suggestion of a quiet place in the office instead, but the request was denied due to operational reasons and they maintained their position that I had to be at my desk at all times for in person requests. It's worth noting these in person requests are few and far between and the majority of requests can be handled remotely. Still, they do not seem willing to find a workable solution.
At this point, I sought representation from my union and appealed the decision in a meeting with a senior director. During the appeal, the director made a dismissive comment, saying, “everyone is a little bit autistic.” I lightly challenged the statement, but the director insisted they were correct due to their psychology background. This felt dismissive and minimising of my specific struggles with ASD.
Shortly after the appeal, I had a 1-on-1 meeting with my manager, where I was unexpectedly criticized for not closing enough tickets while working from home. This had never been raised as a concern before, and it added to my stress. A few months later, I had a second 1-on-1 that was supposed to be with my manager, but the head of IT was present instead with the tone of the meeting feeling more akin to a reprimand than a regular 1-1 catchup. There was a lot of eye rolling and sighing when I tried to answer their questions. During this meeting, I expressed that I felt like they were coming down on me since I made the reasonable adjustment request. I apologised for this emotional reaction, as it was related to my ASD, but it further heightened my anxiety.
I have since taken sick leave due to the stress of these experiences. I now have an upcoming long-term absence meeting, but I’ve asked my employer to delay it until I receive input from Occupational Health (whom I've requested a referral to several times since I first asked for reasonable adjustments and am only receiving now). They’ve stated they intend to go ahead with the meeting regardless.
I’m unsure what to do next. I’m considering submitting a grievance regarding the director's comments and how my ASD has been handled, but I’m also trying to figure out the best way to return to work given how awkward the situation now feels. Additionally, I am still without my reasonable adjustment, and I will have to return to the office with them not budging on it at all.
I work in an IT role and have been with my company for about a year and a half. I was diagnosed with ASD in April and have struggled with the office environment due to sensory overload and social interaction difficulties in our large open office. Earlier this year, I requested a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010 to increase my work from home days from one to three days a week. I was flexible about how this could work, even offered the suggestion of a quiet place in the office instead, but the request was denied due to operational reasons and they maintained their position that I had to be at my desk at all times for in person requests. It's worth noting these in person requests are few and far between and the majority of requests can be handled remotely. Still, they do not seem willing to find a workable solution.
At this point, I sought representation from my union and appealed the decision in a meeting with a senior director. During the appeal, the director made a dismissive comment, saying, “everyone is a little bit autistic.” I lightly challenged the statement, but the director insisted they were correct due to their psychology background. This felt dismissive and minimising of my specific struggles with ASD.
Shortly after the appeal, I had a 1-on-1 meeting with my manager, where I was unexpectedly criticized for not closing enough tickets while working from home. This had never been raised as a concern before, and it added to my stress. A few months later, I had a second 1-on-1 that was supposed to be with my manager, but the head of IT was present instead with the tone of the meeting feeling more akin to a reprimand than a regular 1-1 catchup. There was a lot of eye rolling and sighing when I tried to answer their questions. During this meeting, I expressed that I felt like they were coming down on me since I made the reasonable adjustment request. I apologised for this emotional reaction, as it was related to my ASD, but it further heightened my anxiety.
I have since taken sick leave due to the stress of these experiences. I now have an upcoming long-term absence meeting, but I’ve asked my employer to delay it until I receive input from Occupational Health (whom I've requested a referral to several times since I first asked for reasonable adjustments and am only receiving now). They’ve stated they intend to go ahead with the meeting regardless.
I’m unsure what to do next. I’m considering submitting a grievance regarding the director's comments and how my ASD has been handled, but I’m also trying to figure out the best way to return to work given how awkward the situation now feels. Additionally, I am still without my reasonable adjustment, and I will have to return to the office with them not budging on it at all.
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