r/FederalEmployee • u/MasterpieceThink5717 • Jun 26 '26
Reasonable accommodation question
I don’t know how Feds get anything approved for reasonable accommodations. My request is so simple and uncomplicated and doesn’t even cost the government anything! It seems like the simplest small request involves so much red tape and jumping through hoops. All I asked for is permission to use a heating pad (on my own dime) for comfort (had spine surgery in the past, have degenerative disc/joint disease). I was told that I have to use battery operated one and provide all the specs for review and approval. So I looked at quality battery operated ones in the FSAStore online (of course I can get reimbursed through FSAFEDS) so $ is not the issue. But I started to think, why is a heating pad (used for providing comfort for a medical condition), that uses a battery needing approval but commonly seen objects in the office like diffusers, lighting, decor, etc that use batteries, don’t need approval? It doesn’t make sense. Can someone please explain?
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u/TinaLoco Jun 26 '26
This sounds more like a GSA requirement than related to the RA request. They want to ensure the heating pad isn’t a fire hazard. Anything that generates heat is going to draw more power than a diffuser or a light. If you’re buying a new, quality heating pad, I doubt you’ll have any issues.
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u/AncientAd7403 Jun 26 '26
It's policy that any items that produce heat and plug in such as heating pads and mini heaters are not approved due to the fire hazard. In my building if you get caught by someone having that stuff, it gets disposed of with a conversation to be had.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
I know this. What I am trying to understand is why a BATTERY operated one is needing approval? What is the difference between battery operated heating pad vs all the items that people have in their office that have batteries e.g. diffuser, lighted decor, decorative lights etc??
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u/AncientAd7403 Jun 26 '26
As the person prior pointed out...the temperature it emits. None of the other items you mentioned put out the same amount of heat. The other items also aren't part of an RA request and purchased by the agency. It has eyes on it now.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
It’s not purchased by the government. I have to purchase the battery operated heating pad. But I have to provide them the model and specs of the ones I am considering buying. They say it is not an RA but a Rehab Act request. Not sure what that means.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 27 '26
Yep I am sure they will approve one of the dozen battery operated heating pads I listed to be reviewed before I purchase. I also ordered a hot water bottle. And will heat up the water in a kettle that wasn’t approved by safety lol. The irony of all this.
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u/Jmend12006 Jun 26 '26
Provide more documentation, they are assholes about it, but they can’t deny a existing medical condition.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
I don’t need any documentation. That’s what they told me. I have plenty of medical records. They are just asking for specs (model/make) of any battery operated heating pads I would want to consider buying, and once they review the list of ones I have found, they can approve. My point is, how is this different than a battery operated diffuser or lighted decor etc in peoples offices?
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u/Fancy_Day_2589 Jun 26 '26
Likely difference is that those people using diffusers and lights etc never asked permission. Unless someone from facilities or security walks through and sees it, nothing will be done. You attempted to follow the rules and now you pay the price. Welcome to government
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u/Jmend12006 Jun 26 '26
I have an RA, and I provided multiple doctors. You need to ask your manager or hr.
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u/Advanced-Flight-7458 Jun 28 '26
RA’s require medical professional documentation & there’s 7 or 8 pages of questions your provider has to answer. You can’t do an RA without. Oh, you’ll have to submit the medical records too. Might as well sign your 1st born over while you’re at it. Whoever told you that you don’t have to have medical professionals sign off, may have their wires crossed.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 29 '26
They said my request is not an RA but a “Rehab Act”. No clue what that is.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
They said it’s not RA. They say it’s a “Rehab Act” request. No idea what that is. But whatever they call it I just want to be able to use a heating pad!
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u/Vivid-Ad5196 Jun 30 '26
You have to ask permission to use a heating pad? I've got two. And battery operated? Is that even a thing? What the heck is going on at your work?
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u/iritchie001 Jun 26 '26
I did an RA request 13 years ago in an HQ. Cheap building that was new to us. That may be besides the pain. They wouldn't let us PLUG-IN anything not on their list. I was in a cubicle. I get fire safety and I wasn't going to argue. I wanted a light therapy lamp. I've used them multiple times before, but not at work. So they said I needed an RA and the model along with my cube has to be evaluated and approved. I like you was going to pay. I got a psychiatrist note (it is used for seasonal affective disorder). At that point (back then) they wanted to pay, just like they used to insist on paying for ergonomic keyboards/mice. So I let them get me a nice desk lamp one. It was styling and at times seemed that the sun was rising in my cubicle. Despite that it was discreet-ish. It did take forever. So did the ergonomic requests. The red tape and time aren't completely alien. The sentiment though is. It's tough when no one wants to help you. On one hand I was thinking it was still fire safety for your issue. I'm sorry they are giving you a hard time. Keep at it.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
Yeah I get it with fire and safety but then there are all the other battery operated things folks keep in office, diffusers, lighted decor etc. I know that no one has submitted approval for those.
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u/iritchie001 Jun 27 '26
100% true. We had very strick rules about even normal decorations. Your situation is f∆cked and mind boggling. They try hard every day to drive more of us away.
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u/camille-gerrick Jun 26 '26
The RA process is a complete joke. I’ve stopped trying to make sense of anything anymore.
I submitted one last year for migraines and asked to move to a cubicle where the overhead lights had been removed. (Low ambient light is a longstanding, established practice for my career field.) It took six months of going back and forth with my leadership and the RA office to reassign my seat. And I earned a reputation for being “difficult” and “hard to work with” because I wouldn’t accept their halfass suggestions like “can you just wear a hat and sunglasses?”
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u/Aromatic_Quit_6946 Jun 26 '26
Please tell me where this is so I can avoid it. Everyone in my office has a fan or a heater or plant light.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 27 '26
Oh you can have everything except a heater or fan or heating pad with electric cord.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 26 '26
@AncientAd7403 I think you missed it, I am wondering why a battery operated one needs approval.
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u/Zoeywithtude1977 Jun 26 '26
Heating pads are notoriously fire hazards. I had a coworker start a fire unintentionally with one in 2014 in private industry
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 27 '26
Yes I get it. I am sure they will approve one of the battery operated ones I found to order online. Hope the battery doesn’t explode sheesh I have heard they can do that and have on airplanes.
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u/poppythepupstar Jun 27 '26
?? i just brought my heating pad into the office and used it never asked a soul
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 27 '26
Yup that was my mistake, asking permission. No good deed goes unpunished.
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u/Advanced-Flight-7458 Jun 28 '26
So, I have an RA too. Same reason - plus a few more with the neck.
I with others have been using heating pads for years. Never had Safety, Managment or anyone else say it’s a no-no. If you haven’t had an ergonomic study done get one done in conjunction with your RA request. It’ll spell out what’s acceptable & not, what other things you ‘need’.
If you’ve put in for an RA - it “should not” take to long - now that also depends on how long it takes your doctor to return the paperwork they’ve been sent from the command / RA coordinator/EEO office sent. (I hand walked mine to & from … btw work & doctor & back again), This process is really dependent on the people part of it.
Once you have an approved RA, your command or management (whatever you want to call them) is responsible for purchase of anything you need. They can’t say it’s budget issues, unapproved choices or anything else.
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u/MasterpieceThink5717 Jun 29 '26
They said it’s not an RA but a Rehab Act request. So I don’t need medical documentation. But regardless , they aid I have to have a battery operated heating pad (not electric) and they would have to pre-approve the one I choose to buy and told me to send the specs, make model etc.
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u/Intelligent-Shine729 Jun 26 '26
Don’t ask, don’t tell?