Managers can act on specific requests and flounder on general ones. This is a menu - pick the two or three that matter most for you, and ask for those. Two or three, not ten: small specific asks succeed.
Reading & writing load
- Meeting papers and agendas 24–48 hours ahead
- Text-to-speech and dictation software approved on work machines
- Long documents accompanied by a summary or diagram
- Spelling/grammar treated as an editing pass, not a review criterion - proofreading buddy for external-facing docs
- Ticket and report templates instead of free-text expectations
Focus & time
- Blocks of no-meeting focus time in the calendar, respected
- Camera-optional meetings
- Written follow-up of verbal instructions ("can you drop that in chat?")
- Deadlines set explicitly, never implied
Environment
- Fixed desk (no hot-desking), ideally low-traffic corner
- Noise-cancelling headphones accepted as normal
- Lighting adjustments / not under the flicker
Process
- Interview and exam materials ahead of time; demo-based assessment options
- Onboarding buddy for the unwritten rules
- 1:1s with written agendas
- Feedback in writing, with specifics
How to ask
"Two things would make a real difference to my output: [X] and [Y]. Can we try them for a month and see?"
The one-month trial framing lowers the stakes for everyone and creates a review point where you can adjust the ask.
Cost context (for the manager reading this)
Almost everything above is free or under £100. The most expensive item on most lists - an assessment via occupational health - costs less than replacing a trained engineer. Adjustments are retention spend, and cheap retention spend at that.
Tried it? Improved it?
Tell the forum what worked and what didn’t: real experience beats recommendations, and the best answers get folded back into this guide with credit.