Hi
New to this group and looking for some support / guidance over coping with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis in the workplace. I work in an office job and am on the phone for much of the day. I've learned to manage this pretty well; my left ear is by far the most affected and so I use my right on the phone, volume low etc. I've been lucky in that up till now I've worked in hot desk environments which also allow me to position myself away from loud noise.
I've recently moved to an new job and on first day discovered they have a radio / music stereo on all day.
I would say not excessively loud but it is constant and generally playing up tempo poppy music, quite trebly and compressed.
I sit close to it with my left side facing the radio and have noticed my tinnitus spike since working there. It's to the point the whistling in my ear is so bad I can't concentrate on what I'm working on or when someone talks to me. Was reluctant to say anything at first being quite new, but have now spoken to my manager about the issue who was surprised it was affecting me but hasn't agreed to any solutions eg the option to move desks (there are spares further away and would also mean my right side is facing it instead)
Not sure what to do as it's not excessively loud that it breaches any kind of noise at work policy but it's definitely affecting my condition.
Do they have an obligation to allow an adjustment to my seating or not? There is no HR dept as it's a small business and if I go to the business owner about this I feel I may offend him as music playing in the environment is part of the culture he wants to create.
Has anyone ever had a similar situation and what have you done.
Thanks in advance.
New to this group and looking for some support / guidance over coping with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis in the workplace. I work in an office job and am on the phone for much of the day. I've learned to manage this pretty well; my left ear is by far the most affected and so I use my right on the phone, volume low etc. I've been lucky in that up till now I've worked in hot desk environments which also allow me to position myself away from loud noise.
I've recently moved to an new job and on first day discovered they have a radio / music stereo on all day.
I would say not excessively loud but it is constant and generally playing up tempo poppy music, quite trebly and compressed.
I sit close to it with my left side facing the radio and have noticed my tinnitus spike since working there. It's to the point the whistling in my ear is so bad I can't concentrate on what I'm working on or when someone talks to me. Was reluctant to say anything at first being quite new, but have now spoken to my manager about the issue who was surprised it was affecting me but hasn't agreed to any solutions eg the option to move desks (there are spares further away and would also mean my right side is facing it instead)
Not sure what to do as it's not excessively loud that it breaches any kind of noise at work policy but it's definitely affecting my condition.
Do they have an obligation to allow an adjustment to my seating or not? There is no HR dept as it's a small business and if I go to the business owner about this I feel I may offend him as music playing in the environment is part of the culture he wants to create.
Has anyone ever had a similar situation and what have you done.
Thanks in advance.
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