So, the guy who called me with the surprise job interview was also quite irritated about disability accommodation stuff.
He asked if there was anything stopping me from working certain days or times. I responded that there wasn't, aside from the fact that I'm only cleared to work 15 - 22 hours a week by Centerlink.
He asked if that was counted across a week, fortnight, or month.. so could I work 40 hours in a week and have 3 weeks rostered off. I said that I thought Centerlink would allow that, but it's not something I was physically able to do.. which is why I'm only cleared for that many hours.
He explained that shifts run from 7.30am through to 1pm, and then 1pm through to 6pm.. and asked if I'd be able to work a double shift if someone didn't turn up or if they needed the extra help. I explained that I wouldn't be able to do that as a regular thing, but possibly could very occasionally. It depended on the type of work that it involved.
He said that while it was a receptionist job, it was 'very physically demanding', and that it involved being on my feet most of the day. I asked what "on my feet" entailed in this context. I explained that I could walk around for hours but that standing still for extended periods (honestly, standing still for more than a couple of minutes is painful) causes my back to lock up because of injuries sustained when I was a nurse. I have bulging and herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and vertebral compression fractures.
I asked if sitting was an option, he said that there was a stool, but that using it meant that I wouldn't be able to pass clients the eftpos machine over the reception desk and wouldn't be able to get their details or greet them properly. He said that there was a fatigue mat to stand on.
I explained that I had a disability support officer at my employment service provider, and that I'd be happy to get her to call him. He said that he'd call her and never took her number.
The icing on the cake for me is that he's a chiropractor, and this was a job as a receptionist at a chiropractic clinic - so they're meant to know about disability and pain management, as well as know how damaging standing still for long periods can be.
This is the attitude when dealing with disability and disabled people.
He's legally obligated to provide "reasonable accommodations", but he'll just find another reason to not hire a disabled person.
*yes, I know that chiropracty is a dangerous sham. I need to apply for jobs because I'm poor, disabled, and on benefits that don't cover even a fraction of my living costs.
#Disability #fibromyalgia #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Medical #Disabled #Centerlink #Unemployment #Unemployed #Poor
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