Bipolar Disorder Support Group
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I just got in huge trouble at work. I had told my boss I have bipolar a few weeks ago (apparently a huge mistake) I work my butt off at that company. I am the only person in my department so I work overtime when things get crazy. I pushed myself too hard and got super depressed yesterday. I took the day off today and got a call this afternoon saying the shareholders think I'm unreliable and decided I have to be evaluated by a doctor as to my competence for my job. They need a doctor to f**** tell them I can do my job? The person who takes care of an entire department by herself? Who busts her a** for the company? Want to know why they are upset? Because "I'm not available to the client". Apparently since THEY haven't had anyone else trained to do my job it is a HUGE issue when I'm not there. All they care about is money from our client. They don't care about their employees well being.
What's the difference what kind of a sick day it is.
Then there's that Family Medical Leave Act......print that out for them if you need to.
Don't let their attitude throw you off your game. They've just admitted how valued you are and with the recent "developments" they're uncertain as to how to "protect" their own interests.
Calmly walk them through it and show them, with some cooperation you can become a greater asset to both them and your own health.
The doctor thing...well if you have a lawyer friend or family member I would seek consultation as to which is the best way to proceed. I assume you already have your own Dr.(s)
Wishing you calm and success in getting past these new revelations and tribulations. It's up to you to show them they can still count on you.
They cannot fire you because of your illness.
http://www.ada.gov/
I didn't look at this just now, but I invoked it in the past.
If I'm remembering it correctly, though, one of the laws that has to be followed is that a copy of the ADA be displayed at your workplace. (Ours was in the break room.)
One thing I would advise you to do is to start keeping a written record of EVERYTHING going on at work.
A ;journal of EVERYTHING that anyone in management says to you and what you say to them and the day, the hour, and the minute that the conversation took place.
They will have to adapt your job so that it takes into consideration and accommodates your disability.
As long as that enables you to do the job.
I had a screwy schedule that was NOT conducive to my stability.
My doctor gave me a written statement confirming that and they had to give me hours better suited to my needs.
Quite possibly, if your doctor confirms that working overtime is not good for your well-being, they will no longer be able to demand it of you.
Working your ass off one day doesn't make up for you not being available at all, the next.
It's hard to resist doing so when there's too much work to do and you're the only one to do it, but I think you may very well be in a much better position if you don't push yourself so hard and rather shoot for better attendance.
I'd put THAT in the journal, too!!
A list of what I had accomplished each day.
That way, if they ever try to tell you that you're not doing enough, you've got a written history showing otherwise.
It may be just your word against theirs, but if it ever comes down to a legal dispute, your having a well-documented accounting of your day to day duties that you carried out does make an impression.
Good luck!!!
I hope that the ADA works the way it should and that your job will be secure and more 'doable' for you.
think maybe you'd should be wary about being 'evaluated' by a doctor in their employ too. Definitely take this up with your doctor too x
How many employees are there?
I think very small businesses may be exempt from the ADA.
It states:
(A) In general
The term "employer" means a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce who has 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, and any agent of such person, except that, for two years following the effective date of this subchapter, an employer means a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce who has 25 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding year, and any agent of such person.
As long as they fall into that category, then the rest holds true.
Be as angry as you want!!!!
But try your best to choke on it while you deal with them at work!!!
Losing it will only make things harder for you, long term!!
Save it until you get home and then beat the crap out of pillows or something!!!!
I used to work out a lot of aggression by beating a couch cushion with a baseball bat!!!
come on here and share your outrage with us!!!!
I know *I* share it with you!!!!!!!
I never told work that I had BP, but I left the company because they deemed me unreliable for so many sick calls. Kind of hard to do an ultra stressful job like nursing when you are feeling so poorly, I was having an awful time just taking care of myself let alone 4 pediatric patients with special needs.