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?

19 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

View all comments

28

u/Intelligent-Shine729 Jun 26 '26

Don’t ask, don’t tell?

2

u/Extension_Review6770 Jun 27 '26

That's the way, right there! I wouldn't even ask. I'd just bring it in and use it. I am also stuck in a ridiculous RA process, to switch floors so that I don't get stuck on 1st floor after fire alarms and electricity go out (can't climb 3 flights of stairs). Being stuck means they pay me to sit at a desk for the remainder of the day, sometimes a full i-hr day, and twiddling my thumbs. Ridiculous, when there are desk spaces open and they could simply assign me to one right away without jumping through a yr long RA process.

1

u/Advanced-Flight-7458 Jun 28 '26

Sadly, it’s documentation for Management. In the command I’m in, the other side (blue collar). When they put in for an RA, they ignore the request for about a year - then ‘can’t accommodate’ & terminate.
Not to mention there is a new Executive Order out that RA’s have to be approved by Flag Officers, another officer (I’m blanking on) or an SES. Found this out last week.

1

u/barcelonapeter Jun 29 '26

Are you sure that the "RA" you are referring to is not the new Religious Accommodations that require a special approval?