Dealing with health issues in-person -- or Medical Accomodations

[Anonymous]

I have a wonderful job and supportive work environment, including a great supervisor. I have confided to the supervisor about my recent health issues, and he is very understanding and supportive.

However, I am feeling some anxiety with an upcoming request for all in the office to join an in-person retreat. Typically, I am a very social, positive, helpful colleague and love these kinds of get togethers- like anytime there's a staff meeting with lunch provided, I'm there.

But lately, I have had some recurring/worsening health issues, and now dread going to the office, having to show myself in the state that I'm in.

Here are some of my latest issues, in order of how embarrassing they are to me, not necessarily how medically serious!

- Eye irritation - redness, watery eyes, eye gunk... It's disgusting! No type or amount of eye makeup will help and would only worsen it. No eye drops have helped. Allergies are ruled out, so antihistamine eye drops don't help.
- Sleep deprivation and daytime tiredness -- making it hard to be my best self, I may be a little scatterbrained.
- coughing and congestion -- obviously annoying and gross

So anyway, I intended to write this post to garner feedback on how to deal with returning to the office and hiding/explaining medical issues... But I think writing all this out helps me see more clearly that I should not feel guilty about opting out of the in person meeting.

I have another round of lab work and a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so wish me luck that we find some relief...

And I am finally at a point where I think I need to start talking about reasonable accommodations. These issues have been affecting me for about 7 months and are only worsening. I'm supposed to be in the office at least once a week but it's been a couple months now since I've been able to stick to anything regular. I am considering pursuing a reasonable accommodation to work from home until these issues are resolved.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

I guess my question now would be - could anyone share tips on how whether or how best to pursue reasonable accommodations in the federal government?

I have been able to delay for so long because I have such a supportive supervisor. I don't even know if I should pursue RA, and instead just rely on communication with my supervisor and using sick leave. But in a way it may feel like a relief to not have any pressure or expectation to work in the office, plus from formal understanding of my increased use of sick leave.

Would there be any negative ramifications for pursuing a reasonable accommodation, basically with working from home and typically 5-10 hours of sick leave just until I finally am better?

[Anonymous]

If it's optional, and your supervisor is supportive, and you really don't feel comfortable going - then it seems to make sense not to go.

But if it's mandatory for others and higher ups who aren't your supervisor might notice or have an issue (or if you have peers who might be making noise about this) - you probably want to have a doctor's note and to pursue an accommodation. (You probably should do this anyway if you're not following the RTO expectations.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's optional, and your supervisor is supportive, and you really don't feel comfortable going - then it seems to make sense not to go.

But if it's mandatory for others and higher ups who aren't your supervisor might notice or have an issue (or if you have peers who might be making noise about this) - you probably want to have a doctor's note and to pursue an accommodation. (You probably should do this anyway if you're not following the RTO expectations.)

Thank you. This makes sense to me. I've been able to avoid it so far but I don't want to be seen as a slacker - I really want to be better and make an appearance at the office like everyone else. But it's the latest eye issue that's making it worse for me - I get by right now by wearing a hat and sunglasses at school pick ups and stuff, but can't imagine being in the office and trying to look normal.

I am thinking of starting the official conversation on reasonable accommodations tomorrow at work and with my doctor.

[Anonymous]

You should definitely pursue a formal RA if these events are mandatory. It protects you, and it limits the flow of information. The way it works in my office, the EEO office receives all of the medical information, and they discuss the limitations with your supervisor, but do not disclose your health conditions.

It would be easier to receive an RA just for travel, if travel is not a big part of the job, rather than being exempt from RTO completely. It sounds like your skirting the requirements right now, and if there's an audit where they notice you take PTO every time you're supposed to be in office, you need to get ahead of this with intermittent FMLA or an RA.

I really doubt that "gross" eye stuff, tiredness, and "annoying" coughing and congestion will be enough to exempt you from any RTO. They aren't required to grant the RA you seek, but to engage in an "interactive process" with you and they may offer alternative accommodations, like a private office, or an alternate schedule like late hours.

However, if you are currently experiencing symptoms and have great anxiety about travel and have immune issues, you might have enough to get a doctor's note to exempt you from traveling to the retreat (which is probably a BS retreat anyway). This has to be focused on your symptoms, not being "embarrassed to be seen in such a state."

You have to really drill down with your doctor on what exactly your disability is and what symptoms you have and how they related to your job duties. Ie, is there any cause to believe that the coughing and eye irritation is due to an allergen in the office? Are you saying you can't drive to the office? Do you not drive and go other places? Do you mask up and avoid social interactions in your personal life as well? If that's your case, document that with your doctor, that you don't go anywhere and are being treated for anxiety, etc.

You should call the EEO office and ask some general questions about the process and what type of documentation you need, be it a letter from your doctor, or specific forms.

[Anonymous]

Until you have a diagnosis of something, how do you get accommodations? Basically, you have red eyes and congestion. Lack of sleep is not something that deserves accommodation in and of itself. It sound like you are embarrassed about how you look and it is stressing you out, leading to lack of sleep, which exacerbates the problems.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks, both of the above are helpful.

One diagnosis I do have is sleep apnea, so there is that. I have been using a CPAP machine for 2+ months with no relief.

Symptoms are affecting my personal life too; this weekend DH is taking care of the kids so I can do everything I can to feel better.

If I weren't going to pursue RA, and for example if I did go to the retreat,-- this leads to something I was going to originally post about, which is how to show up and talk with/avoid coworkers when you are dealing with medical issues. In my regular life, I basically go around in a hat and sunglasses and avoid talking with people. I do what I need to do. But how ridiculous would it be to go to the office wearing sunglasses? I mean... I would feel like such a weirdo.

I can't not wear sunglasses. My eyes are all red, watery, with itchy discharge. So I could do everything I could to make myself look professional, while wearing sunglasses all day... But it just sounds ridiculous to me.