Re: 911:: <snip> Find another seat.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/4/03 17:43:28 Eastern Standard Time,

jnoonan@... writes:

> Any recomemdations as to how to tactfully approach this type of

> situation

>

The tactful approach would be to address the issue of substandard chairs for

your use, and NOT the issue of the person sitting in them. Management must be

cognitive of the needs of its employees, especially when such employees could

fall under the auspices of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Raffa

Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY

www.FDNewYork.com

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/4/03 18:08:17 Eastern Standard Time,

wsblevins@... writes:

> Wouldn't the purchase of the " heavy duty " equipment

> indicate that management has been cognitive of those needs? The question

> is, how do you willingly get them to use the equipment purchased for

>

Forgive me for not reading through the entire post. I missed the part about

the " extra strength " chairs, which presents another problem.

How do you think your over weight employee feels about having his or her own

" special " chair? It's bad enough they may have to put up with ridicule about

their size, but to have that situation amplified by their employer may be too

much for them to bear.

It sounds as if your coworker wants to be treated like everyone else and not

like a side show freak to be put on display. Get the " extra strength " chairs

for everyone. Besides, you never know when you'll hire another person of

similar girth, or, if you're like me and some of my dispatchers, when you'll

grow into them.

Raffa

Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY

www.FDNewYork.com

[Guest guest]

can't we all just get along?

How about a nice (caring) closed door chat with the weighted one? Just

(kindly) spell it out and make sure that your chubby buddy doesn't have other

issues like hating the " big chair " (have you sat in some of those older

models, my achin ass) or whatever. You can also frame it in such a manner

that the heavy honey knows you love him/her by saying " we are trying to make

the center as comfortable for you as possible while maintaining the smaller

chairs "

hope this helps

shamu's lil brother

[Guest guest]

On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 17:59:14 EST, FD347@... said:

> In a message dated 2/4/03 17:43:28 Eastern Standard Time,

> jnoonan@... writes:

>

>

> > Any recomemdations as to how to tactfully approach this type of

> > situation

> >

>

> The tactful approach would be to address the issue of substandard chairs

> for

> your use, and NOT the issue of the person sitting in them. Management

> must be

> cognitive of the needs of its employees, especially when such employees

> could

> fall under the auspices of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

I don't recall the brand name off hand, but I do know that they aren't

cheap. Under the limits they are designed for, they seem to hold up

really well. It's when they are abused that the problem starts to occur

(and in numbers). Wouldn't the purchase of the " heavy duty " equipment

indicate that management has been cognitive of those needs? The question

is, how do you willingly get them to use the equipment purchased for

their needs with such blatent disregard for the obvious?

[Guest guest]

Although I would agree that the subject line could be

offensive to some, the question is a good one. ADA or

no, the employer has purchased chairs for them, they

need to use them. Why is it that we can only be fair

to the overweight? Why is it OK for them to sit in

chairs that were not made for people of their size and

therefore leave damaged chairs for people of a smaller

size?

I probably would tell anyone sitting in an

inappropriate chair that he/she needs to use the

chairs designed for them. It shouldn't be considered

insulting--they know what their bodies are like and

they know that the smaller chairs can't handle the

weight. So, they should be reminded that there are

chairs for them to use. If they still refuse or cause

problems over it, it's time to call in a supervisor.

It's kinda like the guys at the base saying they are

going to use our bathroom when it's done because it's

nicer. I don't want my toilet seat peed on, they need

to stay out. That bathroom was built for the women

and the men have their own bathroom and it's not nice

because they trash it. Not exactly the same, but similar.

=====

Kim

I make a difference

Tulsa, OK

[Guest guest]

At 06:32 PM 2/4/03 -0500, you wrote:

>It sounds as if your coworker wants to be treated like everyone else and not

>like a side show freak to be put on display. Get the " extra strength " chairs

>for everyone. Besides, you never know when you'll hire another person of

>similar girth, or, if you're like me and some of my dispatchers, when you'll

>grow into them.

We had a couple of men that needed the bigger chairs, so the dept got two

of them. They look just like the " regular " ones, except they are wider in

the seat and offer the larger person more room to maneuver and they are

designed for the extra weight. They were very happy that the dept did this,

as it was more comfortable. I'm surprised that the employees that were

mentioned would want to sit in a chair that isn't as comfortable for them,

unless, it's like has pointed out, it makes them stand out. At our

dept, until a person stands up, you wouldn't really notice that they were

in a larger chair. Have you considered that the chairs that have been

provided are just plain uncomfortable and not up to the same standards as

the " regular " chairs?

Annmarie aka Mickey

wench@... ~ mickeym@...

http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage

[Guest guest]

My honest opinion is that management needs to be the ones dealing with this

issue. There is no way a line dispatcher is going to come out okay with this.

I am heavy myself, not to the degree that I require a special chair, but I do

have one person in my department that does require special seating. When we

redid our communications room, we purchased 2 regular duty chairs and one

specifically for heavy weights. We have had none of the problems you are

encountering. As the supervisor over Communications..if the problem was ongoing,

I would be expected to deal with it. It is not an easy one, anytime you deal

with people about something as personal as weight, they tend to be immediately

on the defensive.

I can only recommend that the situation be taken up with the offenders

individually and in private. Heavy people know they are heavy, just an honest

talk about the need for them to utilize the available heavy duty chairs instead

of those not rated for use by heavy persons would be the only way I can actually

see to handle the situation and hopefully get the desired results.

[Guest guest]

Can't use the extra strength chairs for everyone. I am heavy but short. I don't

meet the requirements weight wise for the extra strength chairs. I have sat in

the one we have. The seat is WAY too deep for me. If that is what I had to sit

in day by day, I'd be in agony from no support to the back etc.

Now, as a person who has ALWAYS been heavier than most everyone in my family, my

work and my day to day life, I do understand that being heavy is hard on the

emotions and the feelings. However, I am also aware of where my body fits and

does not fit. I do not try to fit into areas/things that are not made to

accomodate my weight and girth. I would never attempt to sit on a dainty, pencil

thin chair. In the same manner, when it is obvious that a certain chair is

indeeded for the " Queen/King sized " among us...to choose to sit in a chair that

must be uncomfortable is actually a bit silly. Come on, do you honestly think

the person squeezing into a small chair instead of the nice large one is less of

a picture of ridicule than the same person opting for the chair that is so

obviously meant to accomodate him/her? I think not. I would not try to fit into

a size 8 jeans, nor would I attempt to fit into a chair that was obviously not

of a size to accomodate me.

Just my $.02 worth

Freida

La Vergne, TN

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 2/4/03 18:08:17 Eastern Standard Time,

> wsblevins@f... writes:

>

First time poster - Seems this has hit a cord with me as well. Makes

100% since to get everyone the same type chairs. Why hurt a partner

over something as small as a chair. Guess we could go all kinds of

ways with this, this chair is only for ???? And this chair is for

this type person. We are all on the same team. And we should act

that way. No on should come to work and feel unwanted or this type

pressure - Just my 2 cents I could be wrong, But doubt it !!

Kirt

>

> > Wouldn't the purchase of the " heavy duty " equipment

> > indicate that management has been cognitive of those needs? The

question

> > is, how do you willingly get them to use the equipment purchased

for

> >

>

> Forgive me for not reading through the entire post. I missed the

part about

> the " extra strength " chairs, which presents another problem.

>

> How do you think your over weight employee feels about having his

or her own

> " special " chair? It's bad enough they may have to put up with

ridicule about

> their size, but to have that situation amplified by their employer

may be too

> much for them to bear.

>

> It sounds as if your coworker wants to be treated like everyone

else and not

> like a side show freak to be put on display. Get the " extra

strength " chairs

> for everyone. Besides, you never know when you'll hire another

person of

> similar girth, or, if you're like me and some of my dispatchers,

when you'll

> grow into them.

>

> Raffa

> Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY

> www.FDNewYork.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jim Eggeman may be able to shed some light on this. If I recall correctly,

the dispatchers at Columbus PD each has their own chair. I would love to do

it at my center but don't have enough room for as many chairs as I would

need to have.

Randy Mace

[Guest guest]

<<<Jim Eggeman may be able to shed some light on this. If I recall

correctly,

the dispatchers at Columbus PD each has their own chair. >>>

Well sorta. We have about 30 chairs in the dispatch room. Each night we

come in we choose what chair to sit in, and we take that chair with us every

time we rotate (3 times a night). They are not our own chairs, however our

chairs for the night. We have different style chairs so we sit in what we

like 99.9% of the time. Some highback, some low back and so on.

Jim

Columbus Police

Columbus Ohio