I have a medical issue with a doctors recommendation that I be allowed to work from home but management wont allow it.

20 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 20,2023 at 7:23PM UTC

   You're not in this alone!

2. AnonymousApril 20,2023 at 8:10PM UTC

   That stinks! I know there is age discrimination out there and its unfortunate but thats reality. If you have any type of network that might be your best way to land a remote gig - have you tried reaching out to people you know at companies that offer remote work? A personal referral is always put at the top of the list.

3. AnonymousApril 20,2023 at 8:30PM UTC

   Unfortunately companies have a lot of discretion on this topic. I'm sorry you are finding them so unsympathetic.

   Good luck

4. Nicola BanksApril 20,2023 at 10:58PM UTC

   Hi there

   How about a mix? Maybe you could approach your direct supervisor and ask if you could work 3 days at home one week and 2 days the other?

   Is there some reasoning behind the decision? Perhaps there are others that will see you being able to work from home as having "special privilege's" that they are not allowed.

   All the very best of luck!

5. AnonymousApril 21,2023 at 11:50AM UTC

   Sorry about the health challenges but it's the right of the company to not allow and you really can't fault them as it is their business and have it structured it a certain way. As for no hardships, you may not be aware of how this actually could affect the company and for other employees to be fair. Companies will most likely be moving to a hybrid workplace and not fully remote, which is ok. Can't fault them. If you are no longer able to perform your position as hired for is the actual issue here. I get the health part, that's not fun and definitely a financial hardship. What about considering as you figure out your med needs you take an intermittent leave to get that figured out and then go back when that's leveled out? I think you need to put health first and make that a priority. I think you got this.

6. Renee PhillipsApril 21,2023 at 8:59PM UTC

   I do fault them because my previous manager allowed me to work remotly during the height of covid as I am high risk. I also have mobility disability. They simply have no valid reason to not allow it. I asked and was never given an answer

7. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

   The reason is they don’t trust their employees. It’s sad.

8. Renee PhillipsApril 22,2023 at 8:02PM UTC

   I agree.

9. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 6:39PM UTC

   Hope your health gets better, but COVID was a chance to allow businesses to not fail as much as possible as a fix for that time not a forever plan and that has no bearing on 'getting back to business' now. I see you say no valid reason, it's their business and their reasons are valid as it is their reason. May not be valid to you but to them it is. If they aren't able to provide an accommodation go through your LOA partners to see what they may suggest for the company to allow?

10. AnonymousApril 25,2023 at 6:10PM UTC

    I completely understand the at will and the finding a way to grt rid of me but if they had a reason they should be able to say what it is. My productivity was the same if not better working remotely and my doctor letter was from yheir doctors. (I work for a large health care org). Anyway you slice it they get away with treating disabled employees wrong

11. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

    It’s dependent on the manager, it’s the business and a private company and ultimately they can do as they wish. Please understand that if you are at an at will state, that even if you force them into an accommodation, they will probably find a way to get rid of you. Yes, that’s not right and illegal, but they will find a way and good luck proving it, it can be hard to prove in certain circumstances. Perhaps it makes sense to look elsewhere for a job now while you are employed? You can hopefully find a company that is okay with WFH.

12. AnonymousApril 24,2023 at 10:31PM UTC

    I don't agree with your position here - there is no reason the company cannot make the accomodation.

13. AnonymousApril 21,2023 at 1:04PM UTC

    Did you look into this:

    https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-reasonable-accommodation-and-undue-hardship-under-ada

14. Renee PhillipsApril 21,2023 at 9:11PM UTC

    I did. I also s/w a few attorneys but it seems like i need to show some loss of income in order to have a case. Thank u

15. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 2:25AM UTC

    If your doctor has supplied a recommendation to work from home and your employer won’t allow it, your employer may be in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. You may want to call the EEOC hotline to learn your rights.

16. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 11:12PM UTC

    Does your company have HR? Have you gone to them and requested accommodations due to your disabilities and gone through the interactive process? This isn't something that would have just been a "My manager said no" situation.

    If you haven't gone to HR, do that now.

    Also, check out askjan.org. JAN (the Job Accommodation Network) is the place to go for all things ADA accommodations, and you can reach out to them for help on your specific situation.

    Good luck

17. Renee PhillipsApril 24,2023 at 5:28PM UTC

    HR wont respond to me. They passed the buck to management

18. AnonymousApril 23,2023 at 5:28PM UTC

    Find a good local employment attorney who can draft up a document with the doctors note to help protect your role. This is called an accommodation and if you have a reason and the doctor has sanctioned it and the only thing is the WFH and you are otherwise performing within the job description it is illegal for them to not honor it.

19. AnonymousApril 24,2023 at 5:25PM UTC

    Thank you. That is what i thought. But after speaking w several attorneys they said I had to actually lose income by not physically being able to come to work and having to retire early or go out on disability which I am nit eligible because i am able to do my job. I just can no longer do it in an office rnvironment because of the medications side effects

20. AnonymousApril 25,2023 at 12:06AM UTC

    Call your state’s disability service. It’s amazing how a company can accommodate once a state government is looking at them.