Eating at your desk workplace policy conflicting with a medical conditions?

Question

I was ordered by my doctor last week to eat every couple of hours because of a medical condition causing extremely low potassium. So I have been bringing fruit, raw vegetables, and juices to work and eating them at my desk every couple of hours. I've always eaten lunch at my desk because my job does not allow for a lunch break. I received an email from my boss on Monday informing me that I will no longer be allowed to eat at my desk. I emailed back and pointed out that some people have medical conditions that require them to eat often and that I cannot leave my desk most days in order to go elsewhere to eat. I never received an answer back so I assume that policy stands. I am also in a work environment where others eat at their desk including my boss. I am not serving the public and my desk is the only one in the far corner of a basement office, far away from the front door and customers. I am not in a union environment so what are my rights in this case?

Answer 1

Get documentation from your doctor explaining your condition and that he wants you to eat something every few hours to treat the condition. Once you have it documented, legally your employer is obligated to make "reasonable" accomondations for someone with a medical condition. Explain to your boss that it is more reasonable for you to eat at your desk than to take mutiple breaks throughout the day to accomplish what your docotr has ordered. In fairness to the boss, ask if there have been any concerns that you should keep in mind that prompted the no eating at the desk policy in the first place...possibly people who were eating at their desks were creating unpleasant odors, being messy or leaving dirty dishes out.....if the boss gives you a specific reason for the new change, then assure your boss that you will take extra steps to make sure that those concerns will be promptly addresses (such as you will not bring limbuerger cheese to work).

Answer 2

First of all, get documentation from your doctor that you have a medical condition and outlining your dietary needs. The doctor's office should be able to fax that over to you within a few minutes if you call and ask them. Make a copy of the faxed note from your doctor and give it both to your boss and to your hiring manager. DO NOT ASSUME that just because your boss did not reply to your email that you are ok to continue eating at your desk. You must document your medical needs. That is the law.

Answer 3

1. If you work full time, not only is it the law that you must get a 30 minute lunch break, it must be given within 5 hours of your starting time. In addition, you must be given a 10 minute morning and afternoon break.

2. Why would you want to work for a jerk like that? Get another job.

3. You could always keep on eating and see if he fires you. If he does, and you apply for unemployment, you can tell them about the company's illegal practices. This will cause your boss the grief he deserves.

Answer 4

I would suggest you go talk to your boss face-to-face as this is a medical issue and to me this would be the same as having to take medication at my desk. For my low potassium like you I drink a natural liquid supplement. To see what it is, check on this link but don't pay too much attention to name of the link. Good luck with your chat with your boss and hope your problem will resolved. http://www.Raymonde.72hours2success.com

Answer 5

purely a word, i'm surely English, no longer American. I actual think of that in case you reside in a rustic you ought to have the skill to communicate the language, fantastically in case you artwork (and in the adventure that your no longer, you should be). i've got faith notwithstanding that's good to constantly keep your guy or woman language and use it whenever you like whilst speaking to others that still talk it no remember if that be at artwork, interior the abode, on the line, everywhere, as long as you're able to be able to hold a communication interior the rustic's language. yet another component is that i've got faith that while you're working someplace the place you're speaking/coping with human beings - retail, speedy-foodstuff and so on. then you definitely ought to have the skill to communicate and hear English of course, or you mustn't get the job. no longer in view which you're from yet another usa or something yet in view which you're lacking between the main significant skills in that section and so are no longer as suitable to the job as many others.

Answer 6

Get a doctors note and give it to your boss