Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I have been on a pretty rough patch of road recently, but this one might take the cake.
As I think I have mentioned, my job situation is precarious. The small business where I have worked for over thirty years is going through some changes. I've been cut to part time. Looking hard for a full-time position elsewhere, but it's a slow process.
So, I go in on Tuesday, and find a rather plain looking envelope on my desk, addressed to me. It has been opened, and closed again with scotch tape. I pull out the contents: an Orencia co-pay card. A further look shows that it was postmarked January 29th, and it appeared on my desk February 17th. Where did it spend the intervening 3 weeks?
As a few recent remarks have been made about my (perceived) inability to do things, I'm thinking this may lead to total job loss. While a couple of people there know I see a rheumatologist, I've tried to keep my diagnosis quiet.
I can't figure out why this was mailed to my work address. I called Orencia and threw a fit. They suggested my doctor's office may have given them that address. Seeing as they don't have it, doubtful. I also had words with the specialty pharmacy. While they denied everything, they do use my work address for shipping, so I think they probably screwed up. Big time.
As I think I have mentioned, my job situation is precarious. The small business where I have worked for over thirty years is going through some changes. I've been cut to part time. Looking hard for a full-time position elsewhere, but it's a slow process.
So, I go in on Tuesday, and find a rather plain looking envelope on my desk, addressed to me. It has been opened, and closed again with scotch tape. I pull out the contents: an Orencia co-pay card. A further look shows that it was postmarked January 29th, and it appeared on my desk February 17th. Where did it spend the intervening 3 weeks?
As a few recent remarks have been made about my (perceived) inability to do things, I'm thinking this may lead to total job loss. While a couple of people there know I see a rheumatologist, I've tried to keep my diagnosis quiet.
I can't figure out why this was mailed to my work address. I called Orencia and threw a fit. They suggested my doctor's office may have given them that address. Seeing as they don't have it, doubtful. I also had words with the specialty pharmacy. While they denied everything, they do use my work address for shipping, so I think they probably screwed up. Big time.
I hope you can find a more functional place to work. It would be difficult to feel like you are being targeted. This disease is stressful enough, without having to deal with gamers and shamers.
I hope it was not intentionally malicious that it was opened.
employer is too small for FLMA right or how do you feel about it?
I am thinking of you.
depot
I wore a wrist brace on my left arm a few days one week then had to wear one on the right. That's how RA hits - symmetrically. And they were red and swollen and ached. I feel badly for knowing this but the person that covers for me at lunch left her email open when I returned to an email ABOUT ME! It said "OMG. she's wearing that brace again! WTH is she wearing it on the OTHER hand?!" And the person replied, "I know! Guess she wants attention"
She panicked when she realized she left it open at my desk and I acted like I never saw it but I was so hurt - because I thought they were friends and because I just have to suffer alone now at work. It's obviously not understood.
I hope you find full time employment in a great place, or at least a better one with more empathy.
Bcatz, that is terrible that your co-workers don't have enough to do but gossip about you. Their behavior sound like my Middle School students. Somehow, I expect more from adults; well, I used to anyway.
Is empathy disappearing?
my boss insisted on making staff meeting a "touch knees affair" meaning a round circle of chairs in the lilliputian office with the heat blasting, the windows closed and folks who come to work sick coughing.
so most times when I heard others hacking I wore a face mask and gloves and wondered why I was always selected for these particular times to be the presenter of information.... i learned to not let it get to me. i got so many infections.
bcatz i used to wear splinting on both plus I wore ankle wraps on some days. women can be so catty, sorry. and I know I should feel that men can be that way, but I don't. i was less functional at work than before the RA for years, but I had good adaptive behaviors - and that's all the guys that I worked with looked for, was I doing the job, more or less, and I was. women are lookists, period.
I know this is going to set off a sh** storm :) and I don't mean it to.
Turning back to the poster of this thread:
Alto - what's the action plan from here? who are the folks being the gossip mongers? your supervisor or people in positions of authority over you or the water cooler idiots?
depot
Did you ask the pharmacy to send stuff to your work address? If so, do they mark it "confidential."
I assume it's addressed to you and not to your company ... so who opened it? I've honestly never considered whether the federal law governing the opening of another person's mail applies if it's sent to a business, probably not, but perhaps your state's labor board could advise you? Honestly, since they've made remarks about your physical ability and cut your hours, you should probably have an established relationship with the labor board anyway ...
Regarding the pharmacy, if they really did screw up, since this may very well impact your employment situation, you might want to consult an attorney about a possible HIPAA violation.
If nothing else, you're creating a record of incidents, should you ever need it.
And I'm sorry, cause this sucks :(
The business I work for is way to small to have FMLA, or even supervisors and water cooler idiots. Family-owned business, less than 10 people total, including owners. I've always had a very warm relationship with these people- we attend each others weddings and funerals, know whose dog is sick and whose car is acting up, etc. As things are changing, though, there is suddenly a lot of suspicion, back-stabbing, jockeying for position, etc. I hate that stuff.
My Orencia is shipped to work, as I do need to sign for it, and we all know the UPS truck would get to the house 10 minutes after I left to go the grocery store.
My action plan is to get the hell out of there, ASAP. I'm sending resumes and cover letters to anything that looks even vaguely interesting, have registered with two different employment agencies, and am networking like mad with anyone I think might hear of any openings. Bad time of year, though. One of the agencies told me that things just die over the holidays and stay quiet through tax season.
As I read Alto's issue, I got to laughing, belly laugh kind, almost teary ....
Started wondering how many times my privacy was invaded.
Sorry Alto, but for me, the posting took me a lot of places and what I did where I got ticked and I mean, REALLY ticked ....
If you have to stay there for any length of time perhaps a sign on your door or cube wall - something like "if you opened it, you can pay it" or "I'm wearing rubber gloves because I have Zika" - or something subtle -
Be well and smile if you can -
Bluedogs2
The fact someone took it upon their self to violate your privacy is BS.
The fact it was shipped to the wrong address is BS.
One would hope your dedication would be noted but who knows in the world of business.
I'm with Journey never understood how others could derive pleasure from another's pain or hardship. Then again I'm a firm believer in Karma.
Also believe women can be catty. Which I've never understood but it starts at a very early age.
My BF works in a small environment much like yours.
There's always one who causes mischief. Unfortunately my BF is the target 99% of the time. Most likely because she's brutally honest & respected. To top it off she works for a church.
Do you have any clue who would tamper with your mail?
30 plus years speaks volumes on a resume so that's a positive.
I know it would impress me.
Bcatz that is plain awful. Bad enough to work in pain. Again Karma, one day these people may very well reflect back on their treatment.
Alto We'll send some prayers out you hang onto this job till another comes along. Again I have to believe the years alone you remained with one company would be a huge plus.
I'm sorry you had to go through this. People who make such drastic mistakes need to held accountable. To dang bad it's so hard tracking that person down.
Hugs, Sammy
I know that people don't want to throw around the ADA but if you aren't being treated fairly because of your diagnosis it can sometimes remind them that you have every right to be where you are.