Employee Accommodation Request Form

I never bad a Dr write about going to the bathroom too much. Although I was. All the time. No particular time of the day. But I did have my Dr write for no forced overtime. 40 hours. Period.  I work under a union contract also.  Where I work they can force up to three hours overtime every shift. 

I had to do this cause I live 25 miles from work and the drive home was dangerous as I was completely exhausted from no sleep and bathroom visits. Which they dealt with cause I could still do my job even after and during up to 40 visits to the can. 

Now as for requesting certain hours. I would never be allowed to do that. Although I would like to. There is no way they or the union would back me on that.  

Reason being is others would want there hours altered for themselves. 

Good luck.

Richard  

I would get the letter from the doc and submit it.  Make it clear that you are not refusing to work within the specified working day, but your revised hours have  made it easier for you to be significantly more comfortable and productive at work and you feel strongly that this arrangement (as recommended by your doc) should be allowed to continue for both you and your employer's benefit.  If possible highlight any further advantages of your working later in the day (extended levels of customer service, ability to clear daily backlogs or greet out of hours contractors or whatever).  

Basically you want to approach it 2 ways, firstly there is a business case and your are able to be productive in your customised hours, and secondly that it's medically necessary and you are happier and more productive working these times as endorsed by your doc.

To be honest this would be better if endorsed by a manager buy at least this way you are not burning bridges. And paves the way for an appeal of your concerns are not listened too.  If for any reason you are then dismissed, you would then find it easier to demonstrate unfair dismissals.

I wouldn't take it too personally though, this sort of thing is usually driven by the 'cloud' managers (the faceless bureaucrats that no-one ever knows who made the decision or why).  The number of people in a large organisation that have special requirements is surpassingly high and this probally takes its toll or HR processing times or security availablity etc, so they want to minimise it.  At my place I know people who works term time and short days to cover school times, but both kids have left home and gone college/joined army.  Those are the people that need clamping down on as still claiming work/life balance contarct clauses that aren't needed.

*Disclaimer* I'm from uk and have no idea how the USA operate, I reckon it's the same the world over though

Oh.. And just did a bit of googling.  In the UK we call it reasonable adjustments.  You guys call it reasonable accommodations and it's part of law.  So if possible I'd reference that subtly.  Something like 'so far I have greatly appreciated the reasonable accommodation you have made based on the advice of my surgeon'.  You get the idea

https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html

Hth

Working in a union environment or having a union back you is good.

But it's completely different than a non union environment. 

Where I work everyone is paid and treated equally under the contract.  Nobody has special hours and that flexibility is absolutely not allowed.  Now if it were a non union shop I'm sure rules could be bent. 

You could get the president to write a letter and it would make no difference in what hours you could hold where I work.  We have set bids and hours and it goes by seniority. Now your at a university.  You may be able to find or get a shift without going through all of this to get the hours you need. Where I am we are open 24 hours a day and many shifts are available.  It all depends on how much seniority you have to what bid (hours) you can hold. Maybe you can go that angle. I don't know.

A union will protect you and your job. But uc is not a disability.  And neither side is gonna see it as one. Sad to say but it's true. Protect yourself always.  And keep records to back yourself up.

When my uc was at its peak my supervisors and Co workers knew what I was going through.  No accommodations. As long as I did my work in between running to the can all was good. And I did. It was one of the roughest times in my life so I don't take any of this lightly.  It wasn't weeks or months. It was years. And it certainly is not easy to work and have this. 

I wish you the best. Sit with management. HR. And a union rep and steward. Along with a witness and discuss. I see having this in the open and being honest the best approach. If your good at your job. (not saying you are not) they will accommodate you.

Good luck. 

Richard 

P. S. 

I did sit down with all the above. Not to get hours I needed. But to just keep my job while I could get this uc figured out. I have it figured out now. I hope you can do the same.