Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training

If you need to negotiate work-related adjustments, doing some research and planning is advisable before you speak to your employer. This will help you determine the type of work-related adjustments you may need and when you may need them: in the job interview; initial work period; and/or once in the job. This section covers what you need to research, and provides tips on talking to employers.

Know what work-related adjustments you may need in the workplace

As a person with disability you have already made adjustments to get where you are in your education and personal life, it is simply a matter of re-focusing them into a work environment. Your employer, on the other hand, may not have had any experience. Employers don’t want to discriminate; they need you to tell them what needs to be done so that you can get on with your job.

You are the expert in living with yourself, and therefore the best person to identify what work-related adjustments you may need. This is your responsibility. If you are not sure what your needs are in a workplace, spend some time thinking about it.

• List adjustments which suited you at school/ university and during any work experience or voluntary placements.
• List adjustments that have not worked and why. Consider whether they may work under different circumstances.
• Read about work-related adjustments and how people with disabilities successfully negotiated the changes to the workplace.
• Talk with other people with similar disabilities to find out what type of adjustments work for them. Perhaps you could visit them on the job?
• Meet with people who have helped in your life so far, eg. lecturers/tutors and/or university disability officers, to discuss what work-related adjustments you may need. They may be able to refer back to your experiences at home, school and university.
• Talk with disability employment service providers and disability community and advocacy services. These people are experienced in identifying and negotiating work-related adjustments on behalf of people with disability.
• Visit a company working in this field so you can visualise how the job is done.
• Contact someone who has a similar job for an ‘informational interview’.

Write down what you need

• Prepare a list of your preferred work-related adjustments, such as a ramp, hardware solutions, office furniture, as well as a number of alternative options.
• Get an estimate cost for the adjustments you require. Where possible consider cheaper or alternative options.
• Identify funding sources which may cover the cost of implementing these adjustments and the process for accessing these funds. The Workplace Modifications and Technology Assistance Schemes are two examples of government funding. You may discover other resources by approaching disability advocacy groups or even through community groups such as a local Lions or Rotary club.
• Consider what is ‘reasonable’ for your employer as well as you. For example, if you need to schedule a medical appointment during work hours, perhaps you could work later that day to make it up.

Creating a plan to negotiate adjustments

You need to be prepared about what you want to say to an employer if you require workrelated adjustments, so use the information gathered in step two to develop a plan.

It is helpful to an employer if you can:

• provide a clear statement about your disability
• explain why you have chosen to disclose your disability
• demonstrate how your disability may impact on your ability to do the job
• provide information about work-related adjustments and supports you may need
• outline how work-related adjustments would assist you to demonstrate your skills in the interview and/or on the job
• provide alternative work-related options to demonstrate flexibility and ability to negotiate
• give examples of how work-related adjustments have benefited you in previous positions of employment, education environment and/or other experiences
• present information in a clear and concise way and make sure that the information is relevant to the role.

Talking to your employer

When discussing adjustments, always use clear statements which focus on your ability first; an assertive approach works well, whether you are discussing something tangible such as access, or personal matters such as toileting and hygiene.

Some examples of what you may wish to say: “I have some personal needs, these are…” “To ensure my safety and the safety of others it is important that…” “I work most effectively when…” “I am skilled in training someone to assist me to…” “I have systems in place that enable me to…”

Identify the correct person with whom to negotiate work-related adjustments. It is important to identify the right person in the business or organisation with whom to negotiate work-related adjustments. The most appropriate person may be the convener of a job interview panel, a member of that panel, your employer or supervisor or the Human Resources department. Some organisations may have support services, such as equal employment opportunity or equity/social justice units or employee support staff that can provide advice, support and assistance in identifying and implementing adjustments.

External supports such as union organisations, disability-specific programs and/or friends may assist you to identify the best person. Work colleagues may also assist with this.

Plan when you are going to say it

When to negotiate work-related adjustments is dependent on when you need them to be implemented.

• Adjustments for a job interview: Negotiate this after the interview has been confirmed but before it is due to take place.
• Job offer: After you have accepted.
• When you have been employed (accepted the offer and signed a contract): Negotiate either before you start the job or soon after. Make sure you give the employer enough time to implement any changes you will need immediately.
• On the job: Negotiate if and when you think it is appropriate. Be sure to give your employer sufficient time to instigate changes.
• If you are at risk of losing your job: Discussing your disability and adjustments which may help can form part of discussions about poor performance, and should only occur with the person who highlighted that performance, usually this would be your supervisor. Appropriate times may include disciplinary meetings or performance appraisals. Once you have raised the issue, your employer has a responsibility to implement negotiated changes as part of a plan to improve your work performance. Of course, it is always better to negotiate adjustments earlier to prevent your job being at risk.
  (Source: Education to employment – http://pubsites.uws.edu. au/rdlo/employment/uni/info/negchangesworkplace.htm)

Record the plan

It is a good idea to keep a written copy of the agreement you make with your employer about which adjustments will be implemented. This can be as simple as an email saying: “Thank you for the meeting yesterday and agreeing to make the following changes to my workplace: [List]. I understand/look forward to starting my new job and working with you.”

Difficulties in Negotiating Workplace Adjustments

If you have asked for work-related adjustments to be made and these have been refused with no reasonable alternatives proposed, you have a number of options.

• Ask the relevant person to reconsider and remind them of their responsibilities under disability legislation.
• Find out what complaints processes exist in the organisation, such as an appropriate person located in areas such as the Human Resource department, or equity-related departments such as the Equal Employment Opportunity, Equity and Diversity Centre.
• Make a complaint about discrimination to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.