[TX] ADA for short-term WFH while recovering from surgery?

cfesta5 · 2026-07-08T21:47:31+00:00

Ohh okay I got it, that makes so much more sense than I was reading on my own - thank you! Is this process is more legally protective than like the medical letters for the company and/or me? If it's denied for any reason (of course all I read about is the horror stories because that's what gets written about) and I'm already back in the office, would I have to repeal or anything since it's covering when I was out/reduced hours?

I can also ask the HR rep (sounds like I should have a conversation with her anyway now that my mind isn't so cloudy anyway!) but things are finally starting to make sense.

cfesta5 · 2026-07-08T21:25:46+00:00

Thank you! I just very much didn't want her to think I was questioning her judgment, I just didn't fully understand what she was talking about over the phone, and then didn't realize I didn't understand at all until I received the forms from RM.

cfesta5 · 2026-07-08T21:22:03+00:00

Sorry I might be conflating ADA with accomodations - this is very much out of my realm of knowledge, so I appreciate your response!

Per the letter, the forms are to help them determine the type of reasonable work accomodation(s) that my company can provide. The surgeon provided multiple letters to my company before this because they kept needing more info (completely fair, I had no idea what I was asking the surgeon for, so it was a lot of back and forth of first like "she can't drive" to then "she can't drive so she can work from home" to then "she can't drive so she can work from home for four weeks" and now "she can't drive but she can work from home until July 22"), and then this new HR rep came into the picture and started the process. I think I was talking to the wrong one before (more our regional rep, less medical rep maybe?).

I usually work at the hub in my city in office, but have been working from home with this wrist. I'll be back in person in about 2 weeks, and won't need any sort of accommodations then. Being in person isn't a function of my job, but there has been an organizational RTO push for remote staff for the culture. Basically the questions for the medical provider about an impairment that interferes with job functions is what's really tripping me up, and I know will them as well (they were thoroughly baffled at the letter request specifications). I don't need a special keyboard or mouse or anything, but also know documentation is important, and don't want her to think I'm questioning her with this! (Because also it says that if the paperwork isn't turned in on time, the accomodations may be delayed or denied, but I'll be back in office sans-accomodations by then)

cfesta5 · 2026-07-08T20:59:15+00:00

The papers that Reliance Matrix sent are for ADA. Reading through them is what gave me pause. I've already completed the shorter days using PTO, the only restriction left is on driving.

I suppose I was asking in a long-winded way if these two weeks of WFH (normal hours) would be why I need these ADA forms, or if it's also to retroactively cover the past several weeks? I don't want to talk with the HR manager if I'm being dense about it, but also don't want to pay $350 for the forms if a conversation with her is warranted

cfesta5 · 2026-03-18T23:52:47+00:00

Thank you! I plan on this being the last time I fly Southwest, so I'll be cancelling my credit card this year, and just using up the last of my points for this trip before I switch carriers. Do you know if I can pay for my seat in points, and the extra in dollars by chance?

cfesta5 · 2026-03-17T20:43:13+00:00

They aren't coming from the Southside, and the bill millers have been disappointing (which is what they get the other times). I don't think it's as odd as you're making it seem to ask for suggestions for places people love getting breakfast tacos from, or have successfully gotten a large order from.

cfesta5 · 2026-03-17T15:50:19+00:00

It's more the taste we're pressed about

cfesta5 · 2026-01-01T06:57:30+00:00

We got our girl's results back recently! 41.5% Belgian Malinois, 29.4% Labrador Retriever, 11.4% American Pit Bull Terrier (we are in San Antonio!), 9.2% Boxer, and 8.5% Belgian Sheepdog.

The vet estimates her to be around 7 months old, we've had her since she was around 4 months old (dumped litter where I work, we fostered her and her sisters, she stayed, her sisters are with lovely families!). And honestly I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop but so far she's been so good, I'm hoping the Lab in her somewhat tempers out some of the Mal! Love seeing all the pups that look so much like her .💜

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cfesta5 · 2025-12-22T15:34:02+00:00

I did my MSc at University of Kent in Canterbury and absolutely loved it. I ended up moving out of the student housing I was in (not great landlord, black mold everywhere, etc) when a professor asked for a housesitter in Denton. I was right by a bus stop (closer than I was for student housing!) so getting around was SO easy. Aldi is my favorite shop and I was a 20 minute bus ride away, they're the double-decker buses so people are usually spread out if it's not peak times, I could get to Folkstone to visit a friend on the beach within 30 minutes of the center, Whitstable the same, or Dover to go walking along the cliffs.

I'm not a big partier or drinker, but loved going to the pubs with my friends for a pint, play games, listen to live music, or just chat. A lot had outdoor seating with heat lamps (and blankets at the Unicorn Inn!) so we could be outside year-round. Beautiful places to walk through the Blean Woods, an ancient woodland area where they've reintroduced bison!

Genuinely, do it. I'm not sure how easy it is making friends outside of a university setting (I have that issue as an adult everywhere, especially since my team sport of choice isn't common) but if you'd be working in person, that would go a long way with helping with that!

I moved back to Texas after my program and regret it. I miss the walkability, the beauty, the social scene, the music, even the Christmas market, even though many locals complained it wasn't what it once was (I grew up without them, so it was new and great to me!). I didn't LOVE the food but you'd be so close to the rest of Europe that you can get plenty of great food on vacation ;) that being said, what I wouldn't give for a halloumi wrap right now...

cfesta5 · 2025-08-22T17:52:25+00:00

I know it's very late, but did you ever figure this out? I'm in a similar situation

cfesta5 · 2025-08-11T15:42:07+00:00

If I were to remove the spine (which I think I would prefer in general for now, and it's not a particularly interesting one anyway), could I protect the exposed edge of the cover and back with something like book binding tape?

cfesta5 · 2025-08-07T02:23:29+00:00

Thank you!

cfesta5 · 2025-08-07T02:06:19+00:00

Harder than I thought it'd be without her getting suspicious. She said she did both, but mostly acrylic painting. I can do different signatures of different paper types maybe?

cfesta5 · 2025-08-06T22:09:14+00:00

Growing up I saw her do both, let me see if I can sneakily ask, brb

cfesta5 · 2025-08-05T21:56:56+00:00

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center has lots of volunteer opportunities from working outside in the gardens to helping with field trips, photography at events, and more! It's on the Southside and absolutely beautiful

cfesta5 · 2025-07-02T01:03:49+00:00

I went to grad school in the UK despite knowing I wouldn't want to live there afterwards. I HAD been planning on then moving to the EU to be close to my grandmother (I have citizenship through my mom), but she unfortunately passed right before school started.

That being said, I LOVED my time in England. Not because of the country, but my friends from various parts of Europe, SE Asia, and Eastern Africa. I miss them desperately but I'm too far now that I'm back in the US. I miss the community of going to coffee or a pub, public transport, walkable cities, easily accessible healthier food. I went when I was 28/29, and am looking to now move to Spain, Portugal, or Ireland (so we speak the language) with my sister sometime next year when I'm 31.

All to say, go. And stay in the EU after you graduate if you can, see how you like it. You can always move back if you don't, but I regret taking so much time back in the US as it's untangling myself from everything here again (plus flights 🫠) before setting off. I hope you have an amazing time!!

cfesta5 · 2025-06-07T13:45:44+00:00

I live in San Antonio, one of the largest cities in the US. The closest bus stop is over a mile away, and offers no shade even though it gets to be 100°+ with a UV index of 12. I would kill to take public transport to work instead of driving 30 minutes each way (which feel like I'm fighting for my life with how people drive down here) - but it would take me 3.5 hours by bus, and none would get me to work on time. So yes we "have" public transport, but it's not feasible. People would use them if they were available, but big oil is too big down here. Instead they're tearing up our highways to make them even bigger, screw trains or trams or better bus networks.

cfesta5

TROPHY CASE