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Antiwork

State is lifting mandate now HR wants me back in the office

I have ADA-reported disabilities and a letter from my doctor recommending I work from home until released. HR does not care. They are apparently sick of accomodating me. Worked there for 14 years this year. My doctor initially read the bullet point “accommodations” below and laughed out loud and stated, “they have no idea how aerosolized transmission works, do they?” I received the below email today from HR, suddenly the downgrade of the mandate means I will be safe at work! No regard to my health conditions or doctors' advice at all. Mind you IL is still rated “Very High Risk”…. Email from HR: Your response was due to Covid, you were unable to safely return to work.  Today the State of Illinois has reduced Covid mask mandates.  This is due to Covid positivity numbers being reduced, vaccine booster/vaccinations increased and hospitalizations reduced, so we expect your full return to…


I have ADA-reported disabilities and a letter from my doctor recommending I work from home until released. HR does not care. They are apparently sick of accomodating me. Worked there for 14 years this year. My doctor initially read the bullet point “accommodations” below and laughed out loud and stated, “they have no idea how aerosolized transmission works, do they?”

I received the below email today from HR, suddenly the downgrade of the mandate means I will be safe at work! No regard to my health conditions or doctors' advice at all. Mind you IL is still rated “Very High Risk”….

Email from HR:

Your response was due to Covid, you were unable to safely return to work.  Today the State of Illinois has reduced Covid mask mandates.  This is due to Covid positivity numbers being reduced, vaccine booster/vaccinations increased and hospitalizations reduced, so we expect your full return to work.  We are asking that all employees working from home due to Covid return to the office effective February 28, 2022.  We will again offer the accommodations listed below.  Please ask your physician to respond to each of our offered accommodations, if you feel you are unable to return. 

  • We can provide a desk that has a distance of 6 feet between desks (recommended CDC space for Covid) and possibly up to 10 feet between desks for you. I will need maintenance to evaluate the area and they are off until Monday.
  • We are able to provide cubicle style walls between desks also for added barriers.  I believe the walls are 6 feet high as well.
  • We can upgrade your monitor to a large size.  This will allow for the ability to have someone view your computer screen, but still discuss work with you.  You will be able to manage work discussions without being close to co-workers and still allow viewing of your screen. 
  • We have plexiglass that we can install at your desk similar to what Personal Bankers have on their desks that you could utilize. 
  • We have the requirement of individuals to wear a mask when working within 6 feet of other individuals or moving in common areas, so that will not change.  
  • We are also willing to purchase an air cleaner that cleans air including Covid viruses up to 99.9%, if you physician recommends this.

At this time we expect your return on February 28, 2022, when the state downgrades the Covid mandates.  If you have updates regarding our accommodations offered for your safe return to work, please forward the physician responses to each of the accommodations listed above prior to February 28, 2022 for our review.  Any communication from your doctor can also be faxed to me at the number below.

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