update: how long should it take for HR to tell me if my accommodation request will be granted?

Remember the letter-writer wondering how long should it take for HR to tell her if her accommodation request would be granted? Here’s the update.

I wrote you a couple of weeks ago wanting to know how long it should take my employer to get back to me about an accommodation request. I have an update: My request was granted!

I decided to talk to my boss (even though HR said not to – don’t know why) after a commenter suggested asking my boss if we could do 2-days-in-office as a test while I was waiting to hear back from HR. He didn’t agree to the test idea, but after I told him what was going on, he said he would tell HR that they should give me whatever I need. He’s very supportive, and I really appreciate that.

The day after you ran my letter, I emailed HR using your suggested wording. I heard from them the next day, and they set up a meeting. They apologized for the delay and said that it was because people who needed to weigh in on the letter they gave me outlining the accommodation (which is a common accommodation for people with ADHD and also exactly what I asked for) were out of the office.

They seemed very concerned about confirming that in case there was some sort of emergency, I would come to the office more than 2 days in a given week. I had already offered that, so I confirmed it.

I’m very relieved that I can go back to the schedule that worked for me for 2+ years, but at the same time, it’s difficult to get excited about it. I’m resentful about how long I had to wait for an answer or at least a discussion about my request, while I struggled and worked really hard for longer hours to keep up my work quality. I just realized that I’m also offended by their worry that I might not ever come in >2 days/week, even if there was an urgent need. The people involved know me and my work well enough to know that I would never do that.

I’ll eventually get over my sour feelings about this (just writing this out actually helps a bit). I really like my job, and I’m very glad that I can go back to doing it without added stress.

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