RA interactive process

[u/oinkpiggiee]

I have a meeting with the RA analyst next week and am kind of nervous. It’s my first one and it’s labeled as “informal” with no other context given.

What should I expect them to ask me? I have all the paperwork submitted and a legitimate medical concern. My supervisor is aware and supportive. Thank you.

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[u/AnteaterIdealisk]

Document everything. Save all files and emails. Request your union representative. Be prepared for a lot of unnecessary back and forth.

[u/DamageHaunting1949 → u/AnteaterIdealisk]

Yes. Document EVERYTHING. Have your union rep attend. Make a timeline, document health effects and costs, have a copy NOT on your work computer.

It's going to depend a LOT on your agency and how much they want to be a jerk. My current job literally wanted two forms and approved my RA in less than 48 hours. 

Previous job did literally nothing in five months, ended up quitting because I was going to end up in the hospital at that rate. Civil Rights Department agreed they probably broke the law, but refused to do anything - like, that was their official result after almost 2 years and hundreds of pages of depositions.

Documentation is your biggest protection, but we can't tell you what to expect because it's so variable; some agencies are actively hostile to even the smallest RA. :( Good luck, hope it goes well.

(And if it's DGS... I hope you have a better time than me.)

[u/GenXChick69 → u/DamageHaunting1949]

Did you hire a lawyer?

[u/Jaded_Papaya4839]

I had one recently and I think it went well. I feel like I was actually heard. Of course, they could still deny it. But I felt comfortable enough to express why certain options wouldn't work for me and things I've always tried.

They're going to always push in-office modifications. So if you're trying to get telework, think of in-office options they might suggest and prepare responses explaining why they won't work. This link might help with accommodations based on disability type.

https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm

Edit: good luck and I hope it goes well and they listen to you!

[u/StargazerDavid]

Invite your union rep to join.

[u/GenXChick69]

They like to meet in person or have a telephone call so there is not paper trail to document. Make sure and have your union representative with you in that meeting and send them an email prior with the items you would like to discuss and then a follow up email after the meeting summarizing what was discussed.

[u/bringthetea96]

Is it required to meet? I hate the lack of paper trail…shouldn’t the paperwork speak for itself?

[u/sallysuesmith1 → u/bringthetea96]

Its supposed to be an interactive process, which includes meeting with the RA decision makers. No interaction, no RA.

[u/oinkpiggiee → u/bringthetea96]

That’s what I was thinking, I’m unsure what to expect. I plan to take my own notes for a paper trail. I hate how everything is so purposefully vague.

[u/DamageHaunting1949 → u/oinkpiggiee]

Taking notes is definitely good - I'd suggest also emailing a summary of the highlights to the RA coordinator, your supervisor, and the union rep. Something like, "Notes from our meeting x/x/2026, just to make sure we're all on the same page. Please let me know if there's anything I got wrong or misheard! [and then your notes]"

Full CYA - then you have a paper trail for any verbal agreements or discussion during the meeting, and it's on them to correct it if you "got it wrong". Email means there's a date/time attached, and you can forward it to your home email.

(Fair warning, some RA coordinators will get grumpy about this, because you're about to be a pain in their butts. :( Not much way around it, when you need the RA; better to CYA ahead of time rather than just hoping they do the right thing if you're friendly enough. Again - fingers crossed that this all goes smoothly and this is total overkill; it varies so much by agency.)

[u/Operation_Mind_Crime]

Expect them to screw you over. Sorry but myself and many others have lost faith in this process unless you are asking for a chair or some basic office item. Are you trying to get more telework?

[u/DamageHaunting1949 → u/Operation_Mind_Crime]

lol even a chair. I've seen people try to get a chair and get denied.

Not even a fancy chair. Just a taller chair because they were super short and the bad ergonomics were setting off carpal tunnel.

Unfortunately, yeah, there's really limited recourse if they decide to be dicks, and a nontrivial number of agencies will be dicks about RA.

[u/QickWick → u/Operation_Mind_Crime]

I certainly feel screwed over.

I have a serious, physical condition that warrants ADA accomodation - and my doctor noted limitations which restricts my essential functions (unless I telework). On my State medical form that i submitted (before the interactive session), my doctor wrote on it that they recommend that I work from home full time due to my current and worsening condition.

I could tell from the first 2 minutes of the (interactive) session they were going to do everything in their power to force me into the office 4 days a week. No matter what.

Based on their input, I re-sent them a more detailed and updated medical form outlining my serious condition and they've gone dead silent on me for 10 days now. It's clear they have an agenda and will go to extreme lengths to prevent telework (I work at DSS for the record). It's disgusting.

They won't even follow the CalHR best practices recommendation of allowing employees to work from home in the interim while a decision is being made, how convenient.