Hi List,
Can I please pick your clever brains today about this case:
A young diabetic secretary ( works 3 days a week )claims
that her typing errors (significant amount) are attributed to the visual
disturbances that she has as a result of her retinopathy. She is an insulin
dependant diabetic who has difficulty controlling it. The employer claims that
right from the start of her job( 12 months ago) , she has been making
these errors which were tolerated whilst she was being mentored and
inducted . She has declared her condition 6 months ago since when she has
been given reasonable adjustments in the form of , reduction in workload, another
colleague proof reads her work and close supervision. There are no
alternative /redeployment jobs within the office, though the employer is a big organization.
Under the capability policy she has not been able to improve her performance
with the benefit of the adjustments which are no longer sustainable.
She is now stating that she is stressed as she worries about
the prospect of her job which in turn makes her tired and fatigued ,further affecting
her performance. She states that her GP thought that she had depression ( what
is new !!!!any fatigued patient is diagnosed with this!!!?- with due respect to
Alan…). However she has not accepted treatment and counselling from her
GP. A workplace assessment has been carried out. I am not sure if it is appropriate
to consider the use of a voice activated software as the main part of her job
is to type the dictated reports! We have advised her to use the features of
font/contract/brightness/ line space to make the proof reading of her work on
the screen more user-friendly. She has even been advised to print out the
reports and proof read them. Basically she does not seem to be bothered and responsive
to these advices. She also works 3 days a week in her parent’s pub and
claims that she does only day shifts for them .The employer wants her to self refer
to Access to Work for further assessment. I have considered writing to her
specialist giving all details of her errors in typing and to find whether
her retinopathy would result in such errors, and is it likely to
improve.
How do the rest of the list this case?
Is it likely that we are at the end of the road for her, now
looking at capability in spite of the RA.
I have convinced her to take up counselling via EAP, which I
think should also be given some chance.
Would appreciate all comments and thanking you in advance.
Noushin