Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Employer is pushing me into a corner

I need advice. I'm a typical AS sufferer, if there is such a thing - near-constant pain, fatigue, brain fog, IBS, depression, etc. etc. As my condition progressed, my employer initially was very understanding with me. I was approved for FMLA and, rather than losing all that money from my paycheck when I couldn't make it in, they permitted me to work from home on my bad days (I'm a graphic designer). I found that I was able to do quite well in completing my job duties from home, my customers weren't even aware I wasn't in the office, and everything was fine. Over time, it became more and more difficult for me to sit in an office chair for any length of time at all, so I worked from home more than I was in the office. My employer was still very accommodating, asking only that I try to make it to the office 2-3 days a week for a couple hours each time, which I did.

Recently, things have taken a turn. My employer has told me that, if I can't be in the office more than I am home, he does not want to assign me any design jobs since there are 4 other designers in the office who can do them. On top of that, he now wants a "call report" of what I'm working on when I'm at home - which would not be unreasonable if he gave me any actual work to do. How am I supposed to work from home when there's no work to do? I feel as if they're forcing my hand here. I also feel they're not making reasonable accommodations for my disability, since I've already proven that working from home does not cause any hardship for the company.

Am I wrong? As you all know, this isn't a situation where I can just "suck it up" and start going to work 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. My body will not allow that. I feel as if I'm being discriminated against, but I don't know how to proceed. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

Hi Rob. It sounds like your employer is trying to help so that's good. I guess I would have a conversation with them and explain exactly what is happening with this disease and the medical steps you are taking to lessen the pain and inflammation. Do you have a Rheumatologist? If not, I would get one as quick as possible and have a consultation about your situation.
The more your employer knows the more they can help.

Hi Rob, I'm guessing you are not in the UK. Do you have what we call here a Human Resources Dept. Basically a section within the organisation dedicated to managing recruitment, sickness issues, disciplinaries etc. If you have something like this I would go straight to them with your concerns.
I now don't work but had a very demanding job until recently and spent a fair bit of time working from home. In every place I have worked I do sense a slight tinge of resentment from those who don't work at home as much as others. Not everyone will understand what you are going through like we do. No one understands the exhaustion element that accompanies AS. Have you or can you get a doctors note or have a disability working assessment that gives weight to the real symptoms of this condition and how necessary the accommodations to your working hours/ location are? All this was done whilst I was working recently. I know they had to make these adjustments for me by law once they were supported by doctors assessments of my conditions.

I see from your log in you are in the US.Sorry didn't see that bit. Hopefully your organisation has something like HR. Good luck :-)

If they want you there more, which I know is illogical if you are more productive at home, then have them get you the exact same chair (even if its a recliner) that you use at home. Do what you do at home, at work. If you need to get up and take walking breaks, get an accommodation for that. If you need to lie down in between, then have them get you something so you can do that. Its all "reasonable accommodations". Here is a chair that looks really great:

http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/28/technology/altwork-chair/

but yes, it does sound like they are pushing you out. so also talk to HR.

or can you do graphic design as a free lancer.