The employee assistance program (EAP) set me up with a telehealth visit with a therapist. We talked about my anxiety about returning to office after being a teleworker for so long. We talked about the end of June notification about moving to a different city. She said that if I am reclassified from teleworker to office worker, she will fill out job accommodation approvals. She said it was good I called now, before the notification, to establish the anxiety existed before the event. Sharing for those in a similar situation. EAP was free to use, too. It’s on HR OneStop.
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I can’t state the real reasons why I don’t want to RTO because I’ll get blocked from ever posting again.
On applying for a Job Accommodation- remember two things under the law which are: You must be able to perform the essential functions of your job and (2) the accommodation request must be reasonable and not cause undue hardship to the EMPLOYER. This is from the ADA government website. The Job Accomomdation Group will forward your job accommodation request, IF medically supported, to your department where your manager makes the decision (meet as is, modify or deny). Just getting your doctor to complete the paperwork and state a WFH need doesn't guarantee anything. IF you are an employee, you can read this yourself on HROS.
Just because you file for a job accommodation doesn’t mean they have to grant it.
I don’t like my office building, that’s another story, but my big problem with RTO was having to see all the time wasting going on. I work with some useless people and it eased my stress greatly not to have to see them while we were home. Mgt will do nothing about it. Our work isn’t hard, to be ki-ling 7.5 hours doing nothing would be.
Sad that modern humans are so weak they get anxiety about something so little. Good thing you weren’t born in 3rd world country with REAL problems.
“ Managers are contacted immediately after employees make contact with EAP personnel. Don’t make yourself a target.”
EAP is protected by HIPPA. If your manager finds out you have any health issues like cancer or stroke and tells others like their boss or a coworker without your written consent, that manager can be fired. My manager got fired because they had told me that a co-worker has anxiety and is seeing a shrink and I called COBC. My manager said I was lying, but the investigator believed me over them.
Managers are contacted immediately after employees make contact with EAP personnel. Don’t make yourself a target.
F their RTO...it shouldn't be on the people to keep the corporate real estate game afloat. And Martha Stewart can kiss my a-s too.
Does EAP stand for extra anxious person?
"I’ve heard calls to EAP and ERM are exploding since the announcement."
Adulting is hard, isn't it?
I’ve heard calls to EAP and ERM are exploding since the announcement.
A coworker tried this. We are union employees. I don’t know the exact specifics but they were able to remain wfh for about 6 months until they made them come back in. Good luck but it’s true this company DGAF about us as humans.
This thread is really sad. Hard to believe it is on a forum representing T employees. It says so much about the current state of the company.
You would have been better off calling California Psychics about your future.
All of corporate America is returning to the office. Have you been sitting under a rock? Ge-z
RTO not only affects my mental health due to anxiety. It also affects my pet. My darling pet will get separation anxiety. This is animal cruelty. I don’t think T cares about my family.
"We talked about my anxiety about returning to office after being a teleworker for so long."
Not to sound harsh, but guys and gals like you are likely the primary reason we're all being punished now. Sure, everyone likes working from home, but because of the office workers pushing back about returning for so long, the company finally snapped and implemented this RTO plan that forces everyone, everywhere, including those who were always remote, to go to one of the hubs. May not be the real reason they're doing it, but it sure gave them a perfect excuse. Now thousands are losing their jobs all together, because a few hundreds had "anxiety" about going to an office they already worked at before.
life is too short to be sitting around being miserable.
To the OP, check out the Job Accommodations FAQ page. You may be covered if you get a note from the treating physician. Please note, you will need to get recertified every 6 month by the physician. This is to verify that the work impacting condition are still present. You do not need to disclose your condition to anyone at AT&T. You do not need to tell your supervisor. The Job Accommodation process is private and will protect your confidentiality. The Job Accommodation team will review and inform your supervisor that you have an approved Job Accommodation. It is the same for people who are in wheelchair, visual impairments, hearing or those getting treatment in a unique medical location.
Good luck for all who will be seaking job accomodation due to anxiety. You are naive thinking that T cares.
If this is true, you probably just moved yourself to the top of the surplus list.
Doesn’t really matter though. Days are all numbered anyway.
You will be an easy cut if unable to meet the physical requirements for a position.
Yes they can make accommodation, but there are also physical requirements to do the job. Having anxiety about being around other people to do a job seems like you may no longer be qualified for the position.
Sorry, but it sounds like you're just looking for an excuse.
If you are reclassified?… not if but when! CRE will change everyone to FTO.