Question About Accommodations

[desiderata310]

Months ago I was granted accommodations from my employer:
1. I was allowed to bring a service dog to work
2. I would be allowed, during the really bad times, to work from home.

Until now I've not needed to use #2. With all that has happened of late I REALLY REALLY need to be away from people and not at work. I have no idea to ask for this accommodation. I tried yesterday but it's all confused and I think that the woman thought I was asking for more time through FLM. She told me to fill out a form through FLMA that my doctor would have to fill out.

Honestly, The whole thing has my head reeling and I can't think through this. Am I doing this right? My therapist said he would happily fill out the form but I don't know if that's what I should be asking for in the first place.

Hell, I'm not entirely sure that I'm asking the question in a clear manner here.

Oh I should mention that I've been out on bereavement/fml for the last week and a half because of my mother passing. Hence FLMA came into the picture.

 

[Justmehere]

I'm so sorry for your loss. :( :hug:s to you if you accept them.

It makes sense why she assumed that you were looking for FLMA time off. If you have already been out on bereavement leave, then that is usually a form of time off from work, and she probably assumed you wanted that time off extended.

If what you need is more time off, then FMLA (or short term disability if you have that as a benefit) is probably the way to go. FMLA is simply an extended time off to take care of a family member or yourself, without pay, and without working. What FMLA does is ensure that your job (or a similar job) is available to you at the end of the FMLA time off. It's not an ADA accommodation to get FMLA leave as anyone can get it, disabled or not, as long as they meet the qualifications for it. If you need more time off, it's really understandable, and FMLA is reasonable option.

However, if what you are looking for is to start work again by working at home, instead of working in person, then FMLA would NOT be the way to go. If this is the case, and it sounds like it is, I suggest to try asking again, and state really clearly right up front that you would like to start working again, give the specific date you would prefer to start back, and state that you are seeking to use the previously "approved ADA accommodation" of working from home. Be sure to use the words "ADA accommodation" and "return to work," and this should (in theory) help the HR rep or other person you are communicating with understand better what you are looking for. If you can include a copy of written approval of the ADA accommodation approval, like copying it to the end of an email requesting to work from home, this might help remind them in a non-confrontational way.

If she is requiring you take FMLA leave instead of arranging the approved accommodation of working from home, then that's an error on her part. If this is the case, try making the request again, in a written format (like email) and perhaps copy her superior on it (if she has one). If you get really stuck, you can contact the "ADA technical assistance" center in your area. They usually have a lot of great suggestions on how to handle problems with ADA accommodations requests. They are not an enforcement or advocacy agency, just an educational one, but I have found it is be a really helpful resource when I have gotten stuck in sorting out ADA issues.

 

[Biz]

You need to get in touch with the HR representative who granted your accommodation and use VERY clear, direct language (in my case, things got muddled in part because I was trying to 'be nice' with my language and requests). Make sure this is done via email so you have electronic record. Print their response too. You can write something like, "Per my earlier accommodations request in which I was granted the accommodations of working from home, I would like to request that for the next ____ days I work from home" (and come in for meetings or work from home with weekly contact with my supervisor to insure business is processed normally or whatever the agreement is and whatever your plan is).

 

[desiderata310]

ok. thank you. Yes... ADA right. I said accommodations for disability but not ADA. I'll try again...

 

[Justmehere]

You got this @desiderata310!

 

[desiderata310]

@Justmehere
Just really overwhelmed by EVERYTHING right now. I mean EVERYTHING.
I can do my job just... not at work, if that makes sense.

 

[Justmehere]

Makes a ton of sense to me. It's like the PTSD stress cup example. There I days I can handle working with people, and other days where I can do the work, but everything is just too much, and I absolutely need to do it at home. Or I'm toast. My cup spills over. Working at home helps the cup not spill over. That's how it is for me anyways.

I hope things get easier soon for you. Grieving the loss of a parent is hard enough without PTSD and a trauma history and how that complicates family relationships and grief. My heart goes out to you.

(If I am writing anything stupid or not helpful, please disregard.)

 

[desiderata310]

(If I am writing anything stupid or not helpful, please disregard.)

All helpful and not stupid. I've been crying all morning because I thought I was losing my mind and being just a huge useless lump because I was asking to work from home.

 

[Justmehere]

I tend to feel like crap when I ask for accommodations too...

Asking for what you need (and have a right to) in order to do your job the best you can - this doesn't make you useless. It makes you a great employee.

Even though it doesn't feel that way...

 

[desiderata310]

Actually had an employee tell me "next time" this happens would I please call them and let them know how long I was going to be gone. NEXT TIME? Really? I didn't know from day to day how long I would be gone. I went 4 days at one point and realized that I had somehow missed all four of those days. Literally I have no idea what happened. I was working on my mom's house and doing things and time was passing and I lost track. It's like a really bad surreal nightmare.

Work was not on my mind at all. I also reminded him that the phone works both ways. They could have called. I just agreed and said hopefully there isn't a 'next time'

 

[desiderata310]

It's all crazy and complicated right now because my boss recently retired so there is someone else who is doing oversight of our department. I sent him just a horribly pitiful email yesterday asking to be allowed to work from home for the next two days.

He granted it this morning after I came in. I sent a return email thanking him, explaining what I was doing and clarifying that this was an ADA accommodation that I was seeking.

I'm going to print out a couple of things, email myself a couple of things and GO THE f*ck HOME.
I have to be back to do settlement tonight but that'll be easy for me. I just have to be there incase someone wants to argue about charges.
Everything else I can do from my house for the moment. If someone wants to have a conversation about things I will happily do it on the PHONE.

Just want to curl up in a ball and die right now. Not even sad just feel so f*cking fragile. It's like I'm made of really thin glass or something. Sheesh.