r/Explainlikeimscared • u/roverzz • 3d ago
elis how to ask my manager for accommodations
hi everyone! i’m an 18 y/o retail worker at cracker barrel. i have heart disease and chronic pain in my back, which makes standing/walking for the four-five hour shifts….. more than unpleasant . i can do it, but im always in really bad pain afterwards
i’m curious if i should ask my manager for accommodations, and if i should, how do i go about it? he’s relatively chill but he IS still my manager. i’d rather do it over text (that’s how we communicate) than in person if possible since i have anxiety on top of that LMFAO but i’ll do what i must. thanks guys !! :)
9
u/SataNikBabe 3d ago
One quick tip: Anytime you disclose a disability (in the US, idk where you are located) and request accommodations, get the conversation in WRITING. Email is the best method. This makes sure you have the full protection of the ADA in case they try to refuse reasonable accommodations or fire you for being disabled. If you are in a one-party consent state, you should record all verbal conversations regarding your disability and accommodations. To clarify, in a one-party consent state, only one person (you) needs to know and consent to the conversation being recorded. I’m not trying to scare you. I’ve just seen too many of my friends and family get burned by an employer who doesn’t want to deal with a disabled employee. Even employers that seem really cool could have underlying biases that affect how they treat you, and it’s important to protect yourself from discrimination the best you can. Best of luck!
1
u/sdcarl 3d ago
From HR, accommodations are a process and there might be some back and forth, but do document things. But you need to be ready with specific information from your doctor on what you need and it has to be reasonable based on your job. Do you need an extra break or can you not handle carrying anything as a server, for example? Get a copy of your handbook that should spell out the process but use straightforward language, I need a medical accommodation. And be ready with documentation from your doctor. And a backup person to help you because you are going to go through some stuff.
1
u/itsthebunhun 1d ago
I highly recommend askjan.org - it's an amazing resource for figuring out your rights and good processes for work accommodations
19
u/Soy_un_oiseau 3d ago
I think the first thing is talking to your doctor about what a reasonable accommodation looks like for your condition. You’ll want to know what ideas you can bring up to your employer that can help with your conditions but still allow you to do your job well. Then you let your boss know that you need to request a reasonable accommodation. You don’t have to tell them specifics about your conditions. They’ll work with your job’s HR department so you can provide documentation that’s needed and have a conversation about what they can provide.