Any feds recent experience EEO complaint for reasonable accommodation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not seeing a medical condition here. Doing your job has cratered your performance? I haven’t seen any RAs approved for remote work at my office. I have seen a lot approved but it’s usually different schedules or screen readers.

Even my physically disabled coworkers haven’t had RAs for remote work approved. One got a parking space though! (Which never happens unless you’re SES normally)

You are conflating being physically present in a specific location with “doing your job”

No I think the OP has conflated the two.

??

[Anonymous]

I got an RA with telework and schedule flexibility in March after a cancer diagnosis. I just finished treatment and started back to work this week. I'm not sure what the expectation is about being in the office as I ramp back up as I don't think RAs expire.

[Anonymous]

I have had a telework RA since Covid for recurring cancer and treatments, a heart condition, and a physical injury affecting mobility and ability to walk/drive. I should be able to telework for any of these disabilities, and I have been doing so successfully for several years. My disabilities haven’t changed. My doctors’ recommendations haven’t changed. In February, my request to renew my RA was essentially denied. My agency HR actually claimed they “granted” my RA by allowing “telework on days I have medical appointments” but otherwise reporting in full time in person, which is our agency policy anyway. So, denied. I requested reconsideration and submitted additional medical documentation and doctors’ notes to show recent status of disability. Reconsideration also denied. I don’t know who is processing the requests bc correspondences are all anonymous, but I can guarantee they don’t have the medical expertise my doctors do. I am now resubmitting the request again to start the process all over while I seek EEO counseling. But I suspect those are all now DOGE bros too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's adversarial, and they'll probably find a way to push you out of your job - knowing that you won't have the funds > $100K or time >=10 years to fight back. BTDT

I used to work in an EEO office. I tell people often that, given the current state of affairs, even if you win your complaint, your grandkids will see the money. That's how long litigation will take. You will be long dead. Complaint filings in this environment require stamina and resources, which many people lack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had a telework RA since Covid for recurring cancer and treatments, a heart condition, and a physical injury affecting mobility and ability to walk/drive. I should be able to telework for any of these disabilities, and I have been doing so successfully for several years. My disabilities haven’t changed. My doctors’ recommendations haven’t changed. In February, my request to renew my RA was essentially denied. My agency HR actually claimed they “granted” my RA by allowing “telework on days I have medical appointments” but otherwise reporting in full time in person, which is our agency policy anyway. So, denied. I requested reconsideration and submitted additional medical documentation and doctors’ notes to show recent status of disability. Reconsideration also denied. I don’t know who is processing the requests bc correspondences are all anonymous, but I can guarantee they don’t have the medical expertise my doctors do. I am now resubmitting the request again to start the process all over while I seek EEO counseling. But I suspect those are all now DOGE bros too.

Sounds like it’s time to medically retire. Get that 60%/40% and go get a job you can be successful at.

I do think we’re going to see a massive increase in disability retirements due to the current policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got an RA with telework and schedule flexibility in March after a cancer diagnosis. I just finished treatment and started back to work this week. I'm not sure what the expectation is about being in the office as I ramp back up as I don't think RAs expire.

You will most likely need to recertify annually.

[Anonymous]

They have routinely been denied at my office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had a number of TW RAs approved at my agency. Someone with chronic back pain, another temporary one with post partum issues and another temporary one for someone recovering from a cardiac surgery.

These temporary ones were not RAs. It was likely temporary approved telework. RAs are not given for transitory issues.

I had a temporary RA and the accommodation was to work from home. I fell and broke some toes / tore some ligaments (while 6 mos pregnant) and worked from home the remainder of the pregnancy. At the time, we were only allowed to work from home 8 of 10 days a pay period and 100% telework was against policy unless it was due to a RA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had a telework RA since Covid for recurring cancer and treatments, a heart condition, and a physical injury affecting mobility and ability to walk/drive. I should be able to telework for any of these disabilities, and I have been doing so successfully for several years. My disabilities haven’t changed. My doctors’ recommendations haven’t changed. In February, my request to renew my RA was essentially denied. My agency HR actually claimed they “granted” my RA by allowing “telework on days I have medical appointments” but otherwise reporting in full time in person, which is our agency policy anyway. So, denied. I requested reconsideration and submitted additional medical documentation and doctors’ notes to show recent status of disability. Reconsideration also denied. I don’t know who is processing the requests bc correspondences are all anonymous, but I can guarantee they don’t have the medical expertise my doctors do. I am now resubmitting the request again to start the process all over while I seek EEO counseling. But I suspect those are all now DOGE bros too.

Sounds like it’s time to medically retire. Get that 60%/40% and go get a job you can be successful at.

I do think we’re going to see a massive increase in disability retirements due to the current policies.

What is the “60%/40%” and how can someone “medically retire” if they have not met the requirements? I am in my mid-40s and have about 5 years before I can retire. But I also was denied for renewal/recertification on my telework accommodation. They took away all of my accommodations that have been in place for years. It’s terribly illegal but there’s no recourse. It’s like anyone with a disability is “DEI” and being tossed aside or forced out. Next step handmaids tale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had a telework RA since Covid for recurring cancer and treatments, a heart condition, and a physical injury affecting mobility and ability to walk/drive. I should be able to telework for any of these disabilities, and I have been doing so successfully for several years. My disabilities haven’t changed. My doctors’ recommendations haven’t changed. In February, my request to renew my RA was essentially denied. My agency HR actually claimed they “granted” my RA by allowing “telework on days I have medical appointments” but otherwise reporting in full time in person, which is our agency policy anyway. So, denied. I requested reconsideration and submitted additional medical documentation and doctors’ notes to show recent status of disability. Reconsideration also denied. I don’t know who is processing the requests bc correspondences are all anonymous, but I can guarantee they don’t have the medical expertise my doctors do. I am now resubmitting the request again to start the process all over while I seek EEO counseling. But I suspect those are all now DOGE bros too.

Sounds like it’s time to medically retire. Get that 60%/40% and go get a job you can be successful at.

I do think we’re going to see a massive increase in disability retirements due to the current policies.

What is the “60%/40%” and how can someone “medically retire” if they have not met the requirements? I am in my mid-40s and have about 5 years before I can retire. But I also was denied for renewal/recertification on my telework accommodation. They took away all of my accommodations that have been in place for years. It’s terribly illegal but there’s no recourse. It’s like anyone with a disability is “DEI” and being tossed aside or forced out. Next step handmaids tale.

Federal disability retirement is an option if you are medically unable to perform the duties of your job. If your job now requires you in the office everyday and you have a medical condition that would prevent you from being able to abide by that and be successful you can put in for disability retirement. Pre-DOGE they used to hand it out like candy and I wish they'd audit some of the abusers. Post-DOGE I have no idea if they are even entertaining it anymore, although they are required to. After you submit your paperwork your HR has to try to find you a comparable job where your disability would allow you to be successful. If they can't you may be able to get approved for disability retirement. You'd get 60% of your salary the first year, then 40% every year after (and keep your health insurance). It would revert to a normal retirement once you reach retirement age.

I've known a woman on a term position who was able to get disability retirement. She spends her days hiking. I know a guy who got it because he could no longer do shift work. There was a lawyer a few years ago who charged 10% of your salary to navigate the process and he did not care at all what your disability was, he touted himself as the guy to hire if you wanted disability retirement.

[Anonymous]

Re disability retirement. That’s fine and good but you can’t get another job and keep it. Right? And not feasible to live off of 40% of a government salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re disability retirement. That’s fine and good but you can’t get another job and keep it. Right? And not feasible to live off of 40% of a government salary.

I could easily live off 40% if I move to low COL area and especially once the kids are grown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re disability retirement. That’s fine and good but you can’t get another job and keep it. Right? And not feasible to live off of 40% of a government salary.

As long as your new job allows for you to work with your disability (allows remote work in this case) you absolutely can work. Once you hit 80% of your prior salary they’ll stop your disability payments. So most people just find a job that suits their needs that pays around 60-70% of their prior salary so they can do both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I've known a woman on a term position who was able to get disability retirement. She spends her days hiking.

To be fair, the hiking doesn't demonstrate that she lied or exaggerated the disability. I have Parkinsons and hiking is something I've been told to do as much as I can - it helps with strength and balance.

Because of the Parkinsons, I have a RA pre-dating this administration that allows me to stay hybrid. That comes up for renewal in a few months - if they force me to come in full time I will have to medically retire (and spend much of that time at the gym or hiking).

It will be a waste - I have several years of good work yet to offer the government, and I would much rather be fully employed and contributing to society than living off of the government. But I have no confidence that a 50+ year old with Parkinsons, even one with impeccable references and multiple awards, will be able to find remote or hybrid white collar work in the current economy. And blue collar or retail work isn't a viable option, due to the Parkinsons.