so i finally did it. sent the email to HR asking if i could take 15 minute breaks during the hottest part of the day since heat just tanks me. Uhthoff hits different when you’re in a poorly ventilated office in June and you can’t afford to have a relapse spiral start mid-week… i kept it professional.
explained it’s a heat intolerance thing related to MS, explained that even 20 minutes in a warm room and my fatigue spikes, my thinking gets fuzzy. asked if it was possible to take breaks around 2-3pm when the office gets brutal. their response: “we’re not sure what you’re asking for. can you clarify what a heat break means in terms of your work schedule?” like…
i wasn’t asking to work from an igloo… i was asking to step outside for 15 minutes. but suddenly they needed me to spell out the exact mechanics of how i’d be taking this break. where i’d go.
what i’d do. whether it counted as work time… i know they understand accommodations… they just don’t want to be inconvenienced.
anyone else get this? where you make a totally reasonable request and suddenly HR’s vocabulary shrinks and they need you to translate everything twice?