In a “help wanted / seeking jobs” group that I follow in my local area, people commonly laugh-react posts from job-seekers who need accommodations. Whether from a disability, or childcare issues, or what have you.
Today I saw the post below:
Looking for part time work between hours of 630am and 2pm any day of the week. Limitations: can’t lift heavy things or do physical work requiring strength or endurance, need the ability to sit or stand when I need, not interested in being a caregiver for elderly, children, or animals. I am allergic to most animals. Also need a quiet workspace. I need frequent breaks from conversational/social interactions due to my Autism or a quiet and low social job overall. Part-time office work maybe between 8am and 2pm? Currently no positions available unless someone knows of something?
My response:
Honestly these conditions do not sound unrealistic at all. It sounds like the majority of office jobs I’ve ever worked. What the people laugh-reacting this post might want to consider is that these conditions might not be unreasonable, period. Even if a person doesn’t have disabilities.
Could it be that (for example) even retail workers deserve a chance to sit down when they need it? In some countries, cashiers actually get to sit on a stool their whole shift if they want. It’s no impediment to working the register and interacting with customers.
We are moneymaking units for the owners! Workers make the profits for the owners. Something to ponder!
Next time anyone is tempted to put down a person with disabilities for being up-front about their needs & constraints, consider that their requests might be helping us all. Maybe all of us need to stand up for more reasonable working conditions that don’t result in blowing out our backs and hips and knees, unnecessarily interrupting our mental processes, and so on.