Hi guys 🙂 I'm not an experienced redditor, it's 3am, so excuse me in advance if this ends up being way lengthier than required!
Before I start I need to explain what may be my problem: I'm not LEGALLY disabled (on SSI), but I do have documentation my condition(s) explicitly saying not to stand for a long time, and self-proclaimed myself as disabled on my application.
I work at a mall retailer adjacent with Spencer's and PacSun, I make minimum wage for my state. We've been understaffed for months so I truly feel close to my coworkers. Not that corporate family bs but I have always felt mutual respect and from most, an understanding of my condition. About a month into the job I had an emergency hip surgery resulting in my absence for a couple of months. When I came back, my store manager assured me she would find me a tall stool to use while I cashier, but upon return there was only a small box/stool we use to let customers try on shoes that we'd had forever. Since I couldn't sit that low and ring at the same time, I tried to sit periodically. But since we're supposed to “always be busy,” I was usually met with some comment about how the SM doesn't like people sitting, and feeling too awkward to remind them of my condition, I would just go back to cleaning.
Due to my physical pain worsening, I've been working only 2-3 days a week. Yesterday, I finally purchased and brought my own tall stool so I could comfortably ring. I learned that the day before, ironically a day I called out due to an ER visit, the district manager came in for a visit, saw the box behind the register, and promptly threw it in the dumpster since he doesn't like people sitting. Herein lies my problem. Since having a chair is a VERY reasonable accommodation, I never made it an official accommodation I needed to be provided, the stool was there so I sat on it. However, my coworkers were present for the visit and mentioned nothing of having a disabled employee. I get that the dudes scary, but if I hadn't coincidentally brought my own seat, I would've been fucked for that shift. Why are pencil pushers so obsessed with making minimum wage workers destroy their bodies when we don't receive health benefits? My able-bodied coworkers deserve to sit too for gods sake
thank you if you read this far!
THE REAL QUESTION: is this worth taking up with HR, or do I just send a text explaining that I can and will work for a living wage somewhere that doesn't actively try to worsen the wellbeing of its employees?