How to handle not being able to do certain tasks at work (employee, applying)
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I'm in the process of looking for a new job and hope to find one soon. I have no doubt that I could do the job well but there is one thing that I'm a bit worried about and don't know how to handle if/when it comes up.
A little over a decade ago I injured my neck and shoulder. I had a lot of pain and was unable to move my neck for quite a while. Since then it has gotten much better but it has never healed completely. For the most part I'm just fine except some lack of movement in my neck and some minor pain here and there. It does, however, become a problem when I have to do repeated movements with my arms for a longer period of time and I know that it something I would be required to do at a job from time to time. It's not that I can't do it, physically, but after a while it becomes so painful that I just can't continue.
How would I handle that with an employer? Should I mention it at the interview? If I don't, what should I say if I'm asked to do a job that I know I can't do?
I will of course do all I can to make it better so I can hopefully do all my assigned tasks at work. But what if I can't?
What type of job are you looking for? If I were you I would look for one where this would not be an issue. Is that possible or is this condition going to be impacted by most jobs?
Have you considered going to your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. This is a federal program and is geared towards assisting folks in finding jobs that take into account their needs, physically and/or mentally. Look in your local phone book.
Here is a link to the Govt's main Vocational Rehabilitation page. It would be a benefit to you to have this agency behind you in looking for a great job that meets your needs re your past injury. And, don't let the intial title fool you, it is NOT just for Vets....It is for anyone w/ any sort of disability that needs employment or to be re-trained after job loss, lay-offs, injury etc. Get an appointment and ask the Voc Rehab Counselor what help you may be qualified for. They usually provide an assessment, testing if needed etc. No cost. Lots of great programs, including school and retraining and job assistance may be available.. if you meet the criteria..Worth a look. Don't mix this up woth those private Vocational Rehab joints, they cost money....This is a Govt Voc Rehab....Out taxes keep it running. Good luck to you. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service Home Page Govt Page Each State has a main page, and most cities have a local agency.
Don't apply for a job you know you can't physically handle. Under the ADA an employer needs to make reasonable accommodation, but that would mean you could take a few minutes each hour to stretch, not leave at 2:00 every afternoon when you are supposed to stay until 5:00.
Have you considered going to your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. This is a federal program and is geared towards assisting folks in finding jobs that take into account their needs, physically and/or mentally. Look in your local phone book.
Here is a link to the Govt's main Vocational Rehabilitation page. It would be a benefit to you to have this agency behind you in looking for a great job that meets your needs re your past injury. And, don't let the intial title fool you, it is NOT just for Vets....It is for anyone w/ any sort of disability that needs employment or to be re-trained after job loss, lay-offs, injury etc. Get an appointment and ask the Voc Rehab Counselor what help you may be qualified for. They usually provide an assessment, testing if needed etc. No cost. Lots of great programs, including school and retraining and job assistance may be available.. if you meet the criteria..Worth a look. Don't mix this up woth those private Vocational Rehab joints, they cost money....This is a Govt Voc Rehab....Out taxes keep it running. Good luck to you. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service Home Page Govt Page Each State has a main page, and most cities have a local agency.
Dude you linked to the VA VR&E page. This 100% is for Vets. Link to a different page!
Don't apply for a job you know you can't physically handle. Under the ADA an employer needs to make reasonable accommodation, but that would mean you could take a few minutes each hour to stretch, not leave at 2:00 every afternoon when you are supposed to stay until 5:00.
Correct. The ADA requires the employer make reasonable accommodation, as you mentioned, But to also take it one step further, the ADA only requires that the employer make an accommodation, it does NOT require that the employer make an accommodation that the employee chooses. So, that should be take in into consideration. I once had an issue with a woman who needed a special phone. She decided she wanted the top of the line one at a cost of about $1000 (mind you she spent about 5% of her day, if that, on the phone). The company purchased one for her at a more reasonable price. She tried to say that because it was not the phone she wanted the company violated the ADA. Nope.
Don't apply for a job you know you can't physically handle. Under the ADA an employer needs to make reasonable accommodation, but that would mean you could take a few minutes each hour to stretch, not leave at 2:00 every afternoon when you are supposed to stay until 5:00.
What? Who said anything about stretching or leaving early? Where did you get that from? I never said or indicated anything of the kind. And if you were familiar with the ADA you'd know that it doesn't apply.
What type of job are you looking for? If I were you I would look for one where this would not be an issue. Is that possible or is this condition going to be impacted by most jobs?
I'm a vet assistant and I can do the job just fine. I'm concerned about doing one particular procedure that assistants normally don't do but apparently many smaller clinics do have the assistants do it and in this employment market one can't be picky. I can do everything else so I'll be just fine 98% of the time. I just want to know how I should deal with it if it comes up.
If it is a part of the job and you are not able to do it, then you should not be applying for the position if that is an expectation of the position. If it is the practice in smaller clinics for the vet assistant to do the procedure, there is no protected ADA accommodation as it will be an undue hardship/.
do more study on how to finish healing. THE FOUR HOUR BODY, by Tim Ferriss, and TRIGGERPOINT MASSAGE THERAPY, by Clair Davies, which your library can get for you, free.
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