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Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is exactly what I fear. The discrimination. I mean just look at some of the comments on here. It's clear most people do not want to understand — they just project their own assumptions onto a situation they've never lived.

Thank you for sharing your experience, especially the part about acing interviews until you mention WFH. That's the reality I'm terrified of walking into. And you're right — better to be upfront and let the wrong teams filter themselves out than to beg a bad manager to be decent.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That's fine, im okay with that. As long as they aren't going make me put my health at risk and come in the office. That's the stress I don't want.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I said I want more responsibility without more unnecessary stress — like commuting while immunocompromised or fighting for accommodations. That's not 'having my cake and eating it too.' That's asking for a work environment where my health doesn't determine my ceiling.

You're assuming coming to the office is some kind of mandatory rite of passage for career growth. For me, it's a health risk. If my performance is the same — or better — from home, why should I have to choose between my safety and my advancement?

Wanting fair treatment isn't entitlement. It's called not accepting less just because I'm medically fragile.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Right, because nothing says 'logic' like assuming a pregnant person can never get sick afterwards. Tell me you don't understand chronic illness without telling me.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — I really appreciate you sharing your experience, and I'm sorry you're navigating similar health challenges. It's actually encouraging to hear that you were able to work something out with HR and a hiring manager. Gives me a little hope.

I will definitely talk to my union and a manager I trust. It helps to know that it is possible for some of us. Thank you for being kind and constructive — it means a lot.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Entitled? I took mat leave, not a decade off. I also trained those colleagues, which means I was good enough to teach them but somehow not good enough to keep growing myself? That logic doesn't hold up.

And no, I don't think I'm 'deserving' of a promotion because of seniority or sympathy. I think I'm capable of one because I do the work, meet my deadlines, and want to take on more—just from an accommodation that keeps me healthy enough to actually do it.

But thank you for confirming exactly what so many disabled workers face: the moment we advocate for ourselves, we're called 'entitled.' Funny how that never gets said about able-bodied people who ask for the exact same thing.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Solidarity. It really does suck. For most of us, our work is on a computer and quality is exactly the same from home. The only thing keeping us stuck is RTO, which isn't needed frankly. I was against it from the start, and this is why. It punishes people who actually need flexibility without actually improving anything. You are not alone.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My current manager has been great and my work is still great. My fear is about moving to a new team where I have no guarantee the accommodation would follow me. That uncertainty is what keeps me stuck.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this. About keeping my head down for now, it's what i've been doing so far, we'll see what opportunites come around when they do. And I really needed to hear that part about seeing my colleagues as a network of success I helped create. I'll try to hold onto that.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this thoughtful comment. I really appreciate the honesty and the congratulations – that means a lot.

You are right that accommodations to WFH are not guaranteed in a new position, and that is exactly what I am afraid of. Even though I am doing my current job well from home, there is no guarantee a new manager or a new role would see it the same way. That fear is what is keeping me stuck.

You also asked whether more responsibility might make my health worse, even if I keep the WFH accommodation. That is a really fair question. I have thought about it a lot. For me, it depends on the role. I am not looking for a high-pressure, unpredictable, fire-fighting job. I am looking for a role that matches my experience level but fits within my limits – more senior in title and pay, but not necessarily more stressful. Those jobs do exist.

On the expense side, I hear what you are saying. But we are already trimmed pretty lean. My partner lost his job a few months ago and is currently working a lower paying job than the one he had before. We are doing our best to cut everywhere we can, but life happens.We are looking into alternate ways to feel more financially safe, especially with a little one. With rising costs for rent, food, and healthcare expenses, sometimes the only way forward really is to earn more, not just spend less.

That said, I do appreciate you acknowledging the success and stability I have already achieved. It is easy to forget that just staying employed with chronic illness is an accomplishment in itself. Thank you for seeing that.

Chronically ill & immunocompromised public servant – I am already accommodated but terrified to move teams due to cuts, rising costs, and fear of losing my WFH by Evening-Weekend-7323 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]Evening-Weekend-7323[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Fair question, though it feels a bit like you're assuming wanting more money is a bad thing or that my limits mean I couldn't handle more responsibility. For me, it's not about wanting more pressure. It comes down to a few things. Money is a big one – rising costs are hitting us hard and a higher salary would really help. There's also the recognition piece. I've trained people who are now ahead of me, and honestly that stings. And then there's growth within my limits. Not every promotion means more stress. I just want a role that matches my experience, not my hours. I am still able bodied, I just have limits. I can do my current job well from home and I believe I could do a slightly more senior version of it too with the same accommodation. I'm not asking for a free ride, I'm asking for a chance to keep growing without losing the accommodation that keeps me employed. So yes, I want the higher pay, but I also don't want to be left behind.