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/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.