Introduction
Sometimes the decision to leave a job is not about capability, but about the feeling that no one understands the challenges you face. For employees with visual or hearing impairments, a lack of understanding and support can lead to frustration, stress, and a loss of confidence. Occupational health professionals have the power to change that story — often with a single, well-timed referral.
This case study shares how one employee went from the brink of resignation to thriving in their role, thanks to a specialist workplace assessment.
The Situation
Aisha, a marketing coordinator with partial sight, had always been a high performer. But as her workload increased and her eyesight gradually declined, she found herself struggling to meet deadlines. Reading long documents on-screen was exhausting, and navigating complex design software became frustrating and time-consuming.
Her manager began to notice mistakes in her work, and Aisha received her first-ever “needs improvement” rating. She felt embarrassed and isolated, fearing she was no longer capable. The thought of resigning became a daily consideration.
The Breaking Point
One afternoon, after yet another stressful meeting where she couldn’t follow the presentation slides, Aisha emailed HR to say she was thinking of handing in her notice. Instead, HR referred her to occupational health for advice.
Initial Occupational Health Assessment
In her OH meeting, Aisha admitted that she didn’t want to leave but felt she had no choice. She explained the specific challenges she faced and how they were affecting her confidence and mental wellbeing.
Recognising the potential to resolve these issues with targeted adjustments, the OH professional recommended a specialist workplace assessment rather than accepting her resignation or signing her off work.
The Specialist Workplace Assessment
The assessment revealed several key barriers:
– Screens were not set up with accessibility features enabled.
– No screen magnification or text-to-speech tools were in use.
– Lighting caused glare that made reading even harder.
– Presentation materials were often inaccessible, with small fonts and low contrast.
The Recommendations
The assessor proposed:
– Installing screen magnification and text-to-speech software.
– Adjusting monitor settings and applying anti-glare filters.
– Providing accessible versions of presentations in advance.
– Offering short training sessions for Aisha and her team on accessibility best practices.
The Outcome
Within weeks, Aisha reported a dramatic reduction in eye strain and stress. Her productivity increased, and her error rate dropped. Most importantly, she regained her confidence and decided to stay with the company.
Her manager commented that Aisha was “back to her old self,” contributing ideas in meetings and meeting deadlines consistently.
Lessons for Occupational Health Professionals
This case demonstrates that:
– Employees often leave not because they can’t do the job, but because the workplace doesn’t enable them to succeed.
– Specialist workplace assessments uncover solutions that can completely change an employee’s trajectory.
– Early intervention can prevent the loss of skilled, experienced staff.
Conclusion
Occupational health professionals can save careers — and valuable organizational knowledge — by recommending timely workplace assessments. These assessments not only improve practical working conditions but also have a profound impact on mental wellbeing and retention.
If an employee expresses intent to leave due to workplace barriers, consider a specialist workplace assessment before accepting their resignation. This ensures all reasonable adjustments have been explored.
Find out more at https://visualisetrainingandconsultancy.com/workplace-assessments
