I think by now my misery at work and problems over the past few months with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and some other health issues regarding my hands is pretty well known. Today I officially was discharged from Occupational Therapy under the grounds that there isn't much more that can be done for me. I have the tools I need to try and improve on my own, and the only thing left is making a job change.
For those who don't know, I'm a Directory Assistance Operator. It is a very physically demanding job in my position. Along with the Carpal Tunnel, I have Cerebral Palsy which gives me it's own set of minor hand issues, and I have slight Scoliosis which is causing problems with my posture that affects my Carpal Tunnel. My job is very typing intensive. For atleast 2 hours until my first break, I have to have my hands on the keyboard, either typing, or being poised ready to input the next bit of information. Calls drop in literally a quarter of a second apart from each other at their busiest and about a second or two at their slowest. This doesn't give my body enough time to relax. Add to that our workstations. They are not ergonomic at all. The keyboard trays we have are adjustable, but they have little in the way of wrist support. Our chairs are lousy..most being hand me downs from other offices, so my back will hurt, or I'll get pain in my shoulder or collar bone.
So my OT insisted that I find another job...easier said than done. I really only have two options, quit and lose the pay and benefits that I get now, or try and get a job in another department, which is next to impossible. Jobs are given based on seniority and you're in competition with everyone in your district for them who wants to bid.
Finally today I had enough and I talked to my office manager (My boss's boss) and told him that I can't do the job any more. I'm on part time restriction for a few weeks, but after that I don't know what to do. Well I got some good news from him. That is that I can potentionally be deemed unable to physically do my job and moved to a different department that is less physically demanding for me.
But, like everything I've dealt with through this company so far, it's not easy. First I have to be evaluated by an independent ergonomic specialist who will watch me work for a few hours probably the week after next. He will then suggest modifications made to my work station to make it more comfortabl for me. I already know this isn't going to work. It's the job demands, not the ergonomics. So after that I then have to fill out a ton of paperwork, be evaluated by other specialists, have my doctor fill out a ton of paperwork, and then wait to see if I'm deemed unable to physically do my job so they can replace me.
I seriously need everyone's vibes on this. My office manager says that he's only had to do this for one other person and she wasn't approved. I don't know her situation, but it just makes me nervous, knowing that other people are going to tell me how I feel and whether or not I can do something or not. I know how I feel, and I know the strain the job is putting on my conditions. I'm hoping that with the CTS, the CP, the Scoliosis, all those things stacked up, that it will be in my favor, because I need this.
For those who don't know, I'm a Directory Assistance Operator. It is a very physically demanding job in my position. Along with the Carpal Tunnel, I have Cerebral Palsy which gives me it's own set of minor hand issues, and I have slight Scoliosis which is causing problems with my posture that affects my Carpal Tunnel. My job is very typing intensive. For atleast 2 hours until my first break, I have to have my hands on the keyboard, either typing, or being poised ready to input the next bit of information. Calls drop in literally a quarter of a second apart from each other at their busiest and about a second or two at their slowest. This doesn't give my body enough time to relax. Add to that our workstations. They are not ergonomic at all. The keyboard trays we have are adjustable, but they have little in the way of wrist support. Our chairs are lousy..most being hand me downs from other offices, so my back will hurt, or I'll get pain in my shoulder or collar bone.
So my OT insisted that I find another job...easier said than done. I really only have two options, quit and lose the pay and benefits that I get now, or try and get a job in another department, which is next to impossible. Jobs are given based on seniority and you're in competition with everyone in your district for them who wants to bid.
Finally today I had enough and I talked to my office manager (My boss's boss) and told him that I can't do the job any more. I'm on part time restriction for a few weeks, but after that I don't know what to do. Well I got some good news from him. That is that I can potentionally be deemed unable to physically do my job and moved to a different department that is less physically demanding for me.
But, like everything I've dealt with through this company so far, it's not easy. First I have to be evaluated by an independent ergonomic specialist who will watch me work for a few hours probably the week after next. He will then suggest modifications made to my work station to make it more comfortabl for me. I already know this isn't going to work. It's the job demands, not the ergonomics. So after that I then have to fill out a ton of paperwork, be evaluated by other specialists, have my doctor fill out a ton of paperwork, and then wait to see if I'm deemed unable to physically do my job so they can replace me.
I seriously need everyone's vibes on this. My office manager says that he's only had to do this for one other person and she wasn't approved. I don't know her situation, but it just makes me nervous, knowing that other people are going to tell me how I feel and whether or not I can do something or not. I know how I feel, and I know the strain the job is putting on my conditions. I'm hoping that with the CTS, the CP, the Scoliosis, all those things stacked up, that it will be in my favor, because I need this.
