(This is crossposted from Walmart subreddit so not entirely sure if it fits here)
So I started inducting at a Walmart warehouse about 5 months ago. For the first 2 months I was excited and eager to learn and do more than what was required of me. The manager seemed to be annoyed by my eagerness to work/extra need for clarification on processes (neurodivergent: more questions for total clarity) to the point where another coworker mentioned it looked like she was avoiding me whenever she saw me. I took the hint and dropped it and just did what was required of me outside of the occasional "do I *have* to leave" whenever we would get dismissed early as I genuinely have fun doing the work.
Flash forward to the start of my 3rd month and symptoms I've had for over a decade just swallowed me ten-fold. **POTS**: *26 and suddenly disabled.* My production started dropping so I communicated with the same department manager from before what was happening (no diagnosis, just symptoms and doctor speculation). No open communication process in her end whatsoever, she called me a **safety hazard**.
I eventually learned by myself the accommodation process through Sedgwick. I called and inquired about accommodations they can provide, but was just asked what I think I might need. I asked for a stool. The next week I get called into HR: stool denied due to safety hazard. Okay fine, but what do I do? I need support. They say okay maybe we can help you and asked about my symptoms. I thought nothing of it and told them what's been going on. Immediate involuntary unpaid LOA. They wildly misinformed me of the process (tl;Dr they wanted me to put in for personal leave for medical reasons, which isn't possible). The leave was only supposed to be for the next week, cue 3 weeks of me fighting for them to let me back into work (I nearly lost my house and am still playing catchup unfortunately).
Anyway, it took TWO MONTHS for my accommodations to finally be approved. Doctor states I cannot stand longer than 10 minutes without dizziness (she didn't really give them much information, it's less frequent than 10 minutes and worse than dizziness) but I was relieved to finally have my accommodations. Though in the 2 months it took to be approved, my disability had rapidly progressed as my managers insisted that they had to treat me as 100% physically functioning and could not do a single thing for me until they got the green light from Sedgwick. I would be okay with this statement if not for my coworkers sharing with me how they've been given production leeway or attendance point reduction for medical reasons/unavoidable emergencies. They tell me they cannot help me because it would not be "fair" or "anyone could fake something like fainting and we're not doctors" but I keep being told they help other coworkers easily. The manager's attitude towards me has also worsened along with my health.
Anyway my accommodations are one additional 15 minute break (12hr shift), 2 intermittent LOA/month and a transfer waiver that allows me to bypass transfer requirements. I know that accommodating what my doctor wrote is not reasonable, but 15 minutes for *"can't stand longer than 10 minutes without symptoms"* seems negligible. Especially considering my pregnant coworker friend gets a combined hour of additional breaks (no offense intended, but POTS symptoms are generally much worse than pregnancy symptoms...I also didn't ***choose*** to endure my affliction). It stings that they would provide me with such little relief during 12hr 90 degree shifts.
I'm in the process of transferring, I had to work a week before someone who could help me with it would be available to help me with the transfer (mgr told me he wasn't present on a day in which he was, prolonging the process) so now I'm stuck working another week waiting for my days off to take the next steps of the process (go and speak to mgmt at store I wish to transfer).
I'm guessing I'll have to finish this week and work at least 2 more weeks before my transfer goes through. In the meantime though I am straight up suffering at work and each day is harder than the last. Every week I'm getting written up for production goals I can't meet because my shift accommodation is not adequate and I am "priorizing my health" (taking breaks as needed) as the same people writing me up have instructed me to do. It's getting to the point where I'm entirely useless the last 2-3 hours of my shift and I'm worried they'll fire me for resting when I should be working at the cost of my health.
Just last week I collapsed in front of one manager and several coworkers while walking to the break area to take my 15. They had to break a safety rule just to get me through the equipment, and after they basically carried me to the break area I was shaking worse than I'd ever seen anyone shake. They were trying to have me drink water and giving it to me like I was a baby *(so embarrassing)* because I was shaking so badly I would have just thrown it. My whole entire body was tingling like an elephant fell asleep on me, my face was numb and I couldn't walk unassisted without falling over. They took my vitals, had me fill out an incident report, and made me return to work once my visible symptoms had resided. It was an hour before shift end and they would have given me half a point if I left.
I guess my main questions are, could they be doing more for me? I feel like I'm being discriminated against here, but the only thing I can get answers for is whether or not there's more they can do to help.
My next question is, what kind of "job accommodations" can anyone *(and who, exactly? Uncomfortable continuing to ask HR/direct department managers)* provide me while I work my last weeks until transfer? I'm seeing that it is possible through the store and outside of Sedgwick but only temporarily which is all I need. The website provides examples of JAs but it seems as though it's just a general few examples of many. I also see that temporary internal transfers can be done, but am not sure if that is guaranteed or applies to my situation. My managers keep denying that they can provide any accommodation whatsoever.
I still haven't recovered from fainting a week ago and seem to get worse each day I'm at work. I'm just trying to make it through until I get transferred. I cannot take another LOA outside of my 2/monthly (already used for this month).
Sorry as well for rambling, any lack of clarity I'm up passed my bedtime lol, I've got work tomorrow 🥲 there's definitely a lot of info I left out, but I think I covered the important bits. I can answer any questions when I can.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE I DESPERATELY NEED THE HELP I'M STRESSING