Work advice - Working with certain colleagues

[WhatABore]

Posting this for some advice for my Sister.
I can't really find much online.
Had no idea what to put the title as.
Trigger warning as it mentions sexual abuse.

Spoiler: TW/ SA/PTSD

Both me and my Sister were sexually abused as children. We both suffer with PTSD, however, she has never been officially diagnosed.
One thing we both seem to struggle with is people who look very similar/remind us of the person. I haven't spoke to her in depth about it but if it is anything like my own, seeing a person who reminds me of him, triggers major flashbacks and I freeze.

My Sister has told me that she had a new person start at work who reminds her of them. And she just doesn't think she can work with them.
Her shifts are 14 hours long, in an ambulance, long drives, just the 2 of them so it isn't someone she can avoid.
She has had a meeting with the manager at her work where she was in tears throughout, explaining why she feels she can't work with them.
Her manager at the time said she'll happily accommodate this.
However, now they're insisting she works with them.

Is there anything that my sister can do?

 

[I’mThankyou_]

Posting this for some advice for my Sister.
I can't really find much online.
Had no idea what to put the title as.
Trigger warning as it mentions sexual abuse.

Spoiler: TW/ SA/PTSD

Both me and my Sister were sexually abused as children. We both suffer with PTSD, however, she has never been officially diagnosed.
One thing we both seem to struggle with is people who look very similar/remind us of the person. I haven't spoke to her in depth about it but if it is anything like my own, seeing a person who reminds me of him, triggers major flashbacks and I freeze.

My Sister has told me that she had a new person start at work who reminds her of them. And she just doesn't think she can work with them.
Her shifts are 14 hours long, in an ambulance, long drives, just the 2 of them so it isn't someone she can avoid.
She has had a meeting with the manager at her work where she was in tears throughout, explaining why she feels she can't work with them.
Her manager at the time said she'll happily accommodate this.
However, now they're insisting she works with them.

Is there anything that my sister can do?

I'd definitely take it straight to HR, I'd also get to the Drs and ask them to complete a PTSD screening measure on her, something like the IES-R so she has it on record for HR and occupational health, also to get a sick note so she can avoid the shifts with this individual.
Once it's on her medical records and HR & Occupational Health are involved her manager will have to accommodate this where they can obviously within shifts.

She could also take this to her union rep, provided she was comfortable with obviously disclosing this with a number of people x

 

[WhatABore]

I'd definitely take it straight to HR, I'd also get to the Drs and ask them to complete a PTSD screening measure on her, something like the IES-R so she has it on record for HR and occupational health, also to get a sick note so she can avoid the shifts with this individual.
Once it's on her medical records and HR & Occupational Health are involved her manager will have to accommodate this where they can obviously within shifts.

She could also take this to her union rep, provided she was comfortable with obviously disclosing this with a number of people x

This is part of the issue, I don't think she would go to the doctors. I've tried to convince her to go for counselling ect but she says she can't talk about it.

I don't know if their work have a union.
She works for a private ambulance service with only 20 people or so working for them.

I did say to her before that im not sure it can be enforced if she hasn't got the medical 'proof'

 

[I’mThankyou_]

This is part of the issue, I don't think she would go to the doctors. I've tried to convince her to go for counselling ect but she says she can't talk about it.

I don't know if their work have a union.
She works for a private ambulance service with only 20 people or so working for them.

I did say to her before that im not sure it can be enforced if she hasn't got the medical 'proof'

Adjustments can certainly be made, proof or not, though the diagnosis aspect would have good weighting.
I'd definitely get in touch with HR & Occupational health, things can be worked to accommodate her even with such a small group of employees their shif patterns don't need to run side by side.
Would she atleast seek a sick note for work related stress at the very least? That way she has something down with a GP and Occupational health and HR can use that without the PTSD diagnosis formally?

She also doesn't need to disclose full details she just needs to make them aware that working along side this individual doesn't meet her or the companies best interest as she feels uneasy

 

[WhatABore]

Adjustments can certainly be made, proof or not, though the diagnosis aspect would have good weighting.
I'd definitely get in touch with HR & Occupational health, things can be worked to accommodate her even with such a small group of employees their shif patterns don't need to run side by side.
Would she atleast seek a sick note for work related stress at the very least? That way she has something down with a GP and Occupational health and HR can use that without the PTSD diagnosis formally?

She also doesn't need to disclose full details she just needs to make them aware that working along side this individual doesn't meet her or the companies best interest as she feels uneasy

I'll have a word with her.
She won't really talk to me about it.
It just happened that she was with me when she was put on her first shift with him and she got upset over it.

And then I couldn't really find anything on Google so thought I'd ask here

I have told her that if they don't change her shift that she's been put on with him, then I'd personally be calling in sick as I wouldn't be able to do it.
She's already spent all afternoon crying about it


Edited to update...
Told her to speak to HR.
Her company have no HR

 

[Sunflower91]

ACAS have some really good resources/ advice for things like this. Mental illnesses and conditions are protected under the Equality act and as everyone has mentioned here- her workplace should make reasonable adjustments but she would probably have to speak to her GP/ get a diagnosis first I think. If it helps, I’ve spoken to my GP about something similar- I have ptsd from an old workplace and an SA that happened in my early 20s that led to me basically being unable to function and addicted to SH, making and going to the appointment was the hardest part - but once I spoke with them there was no judgement, just care and compassion and it’s changed my life massively for the positive.

Hr or not, they have a legal obligation to protect their employees well-being.

I really hope things go well for her.

 

[WhatABore]

ACAS have some really good resources/ advice for things like this. Mental illnesses and conditions are protected under the Equality act and as everyone has mentioned here- her workplace should make reasonable adjustments but she would probably have to speak to her GP/ get a diagnosis first I think. If it helps, I’ve spoken to my GP about something similar- I have ptsd from an old workplace and an SA that happened in my early 20s that led to me basically being unable to function and addicted to SH, making and going to the appointment was the hardest part - but once I spoke with them there was no judgement, just care and compassion and it’s changed my life massively for the positive.

Hr or not, they have a legal obligation to protect their employees well-being.

I really hope things go well for her.

I'm hoping they listen.
I know how I'd feel if I was in that position and I know I just wouldn't be able to work.

I will try and convince her to speak to the GP.
I got my own diagnosis years ago and they were really supportive but she struggles to talk to anyone about it.

Thank you for your advice!