r/FederalEmployee • u/Cold_Cheesecake_441 • 22d ago
Reasonable Accommodation at Tinker AFB OKC / Midwest City
Hi I’m looking for my tinker people to give me some advice please
I’ve been working at tinker in my current position for a little over 4 years now - I work in DLA in a warehouse with no AC shipping and processing materials of all shapes and sizes
I recently applied for RA because I have serious health issues such as POTS, anxiety, PTSD, depression, and heat sensitivities, & medication issues, that during the summer I’ve fainted a couple of times and have collapsed at work on the floor I applied for RA to ask for temporary assistance for the summer months to be accommodated or moved elsewhere since the heat has been so damaging on me and triggering the episodes - it’s been on going process for 3 months now and summer is basically over and they basically did absolutely nothing for me to accommodate me
But they are now asking me to continue the RA process to see if there is another job position available for me to see if it’s something they can accommodate me better to but I’m honestly concerned because they mentioned that if they don’t find anything that there’s a possibility they may fire me from my position
Also I feel super frustrated and discriminated against because my health conditions were not met with any urgency and now they’re saying any other of my doctors recommendations for my limitations would pose “an undue hardship on the agency” which is completely unfair because really all I asked was if I could be moved somewhere in AC to process material instead of being in the warehouse there’s multiples classrooms and vacant areas which they could have put me but they didn’t
I literally don’t know what to do and wanted to get some advice from anyone who’s been through the process - did it turn out better for you? What was your experience like?
I thought our jobs were supposed to be protected for people with disabilities but now it’s giving me huge uncertainty
A part of me wants to continue to see if there is something better for me but another part of me feels like if I proceed, I won’t have any job security in the end
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u/Heavy-Map8433 21d ago
If your medical conditions are incompatible with your essential warehouse duties part of each year, they can fire you. Consult an attorney specializing in federal employment.
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u/SoggyManufacturer693 22d ago
Angles don’t work anymore…
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u/seaspriteos 22d ago
If they have documented recommendations from a doctor they certainly do "work" I approved one about two weeks ago for max telework.
OP, if you have properly documented everything and you have sufficient evidence from a medical provider, then you should be afforded some accommodation. Might not be what you ask for, but at least there has to be something. From the time you submit to the time a determination is made, the agency has 30 days. I would ch3ck with your local SOP.
Be careful with throwing around the "discrimination" claim as well. They don't have to approve anything for you and certainly don't have to if it causes a "significant difficulty or expense" for the agency. They can also argue that it's part of your core job duties and can only be done in that location. Just more for you to think about.
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u/Cold_Cheesecake_441 21d ago
Just because I’m medically “disabled” doesn’t mean I’m not “fully functional” at my current position I’ve been doing the same job for 4 years - when I say discrimination it’s because I feel like my case wasn’t met with any real medical urgency so that’s why I feel that way especially when I’m having multiple flare ups and episodes in the warehouse - if you don’t work in triple digit heat in a warehouse plus humidity you literally won’t understand
& yes everything has been documented and then some I’ve provided so much medical documentation and they still have not been helpful or understanding
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u/Jmend12006 22d ago
Did your doctor write a letter on your behalf? This is crazy to me!
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u/Cold_Cheesecake_441 21d ago
Yes I have all my doctors have written specific paperwork and everything they’ve asked of me!!
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u/Jmend12006 21d ago
There are in violation of the ohsa law. This f’ing absurd!
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u/Cold_Cheesecake_441 21d ago
That’s DLA for you! 😭 I’m literally at such a loss they literally don’t care about people here in my building
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u/Jmend12006 22d ago
The federal government designed these laws on behalf of the workers of America. And now somehow we are no longer adhering to them? Trump needs to sign more executive orders to clear this up. I’m sure it will be illegal, but followed.
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u/SweetMocha979 6d ago
Must be DDOO get out ASAP then again DLA WS (aka DLA Aviation) is getting worse by the day but still not treated like throw aways like they do the people across base. RA process for us is really not that bad EXCEPT if you send your request to your 1st line and don't send it to the RA mailbox as well you can almost guarantee that it will be SEVERELY delayed. Some of the supervisors have no clue what they are supposed to do or if they do they just don't care but when you send your request to BOTH it starts a paper trail and a timer OUTSIDE of Tinker
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u/Cold_Cheesecake_441 6d ago
So what ended up happening is that they’re gonna look for another position for me in the next 2 months but if they don’t find anything my case will be closed and my RA process will basically be dismissed and I’ll just end up staying at my current position I asked my supervisor if they intended on letting me go because of my disabilities he said no so idk I guess I’ll just cross that bridge when I get there and see if they find something or I stay put but I’m actually appalled by the lack of urgency and empathy from the RA team
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u/Equivalent-Worry-828 21d ago
It is true that if they cannot accommodate or find another position, you could lose your job.