Full Disclosure to Employer
I work for a classified employer. I hold a certain level security clearance. This program no longer comes by every couple of years to certify you for your clearance. Now it is based on "life events," if you have one, then you must self report this fact. I didn't know about the change until I took some training on clearances (a yearly requirement). But that doesn't matter, what I have to do now is disclose my diagnosis, my treatment, my appointment schedule, my hospitalizations, and my current state all to my employer. I hired a lawyer who was an expert in clearances to write the letter that I need to submit. I will call first, but the disclosure will be via letter. I also need to tell my direct report, boss. I am not looking forward to this, and this has been an enormous source of depression for me over the past couple of weeks. I did get a support letter from TDoc. Waiting still on the PDoc, but I need to move this forward, so I think I will submit without his letter. Big disappointment for me. He said he would help me.
So what do you think? Full disclosure to an employer being a requirement is a rarity. I wonder how this will change how they treat me. Will I have a job at the end of this week?
Replies
My last boss just yelled at me for being quiet. I had not kissed her behind so I guess it made her mad. My life had had so many changes the last 3 years, it makes my head spin. She did not care to even ask if I had anything going on.
Sending good thoughts. I know this has to be very stressful for you. I hope it turns out well. FIngers crossed.
Big hug for you Thor
I went through some BS at my job however I became an advocate for mental health because of this.... I decided if I was going to have it I was going to use it for good and it helped me a great deal
Hold your head up high.... Screw people's hang up's based on ignorance..... You are a great guy don't buy into stigma..... We can continue to work on changing it sweetie
I hope that it goes well..... Big squishy hug.....xo
Thanks. I hope this is seen as a big nothing but I think there will always be a question in their mind about my mind. Stigma, I think is unavoidable as there is no shortage of ignorance.
Thor, it will be evident that there was a problem and you have taken all necessary steps to resolve it. You have your work record which shows you have been able to do your job regardless of your personal issues. I think you'll come out of this in an OK position. Hopeful hugs.
I hope it goes well. I’ve been through employer disclosure within several organizations, as it was unavoidable with medical leaves. Sensitive issue, but much is to be said about it and more work to be done by advocates because this is very very common. I sincerely hope you are met with understanding.
Fingers crossed for you Thor! I agree hold your head up high after all you are trying to heal from rather horrific PTSD of which many soldiers suffer. You are a hero in my book!
I can't imagine military life... Good luck to you.
If anyone wants to read the letter, PM me your email. I'm giving it to the Security Officer, all of the HRO, and my boss, I can give you'all a copy to. Sort of going to be public as soon.
Thanks everyone for your replies. They are very helpful and desired.
When I treated patients I had to Disclose my DX and that I was under Treatment, never had to Disclose actual medical records or specific meds, etc. My Pdoc at the time worked for the same hospital system and once a year he'd write a letter to reiterate that I was still in Treatment and doing all I needed to do and that was satisfactory.
My current employer knows I have BiPolar because I told him, we're a small company and we all pretty much know everything about each other. And I don't care if people know I have BiPolar, after they've gotten to know me, and realize that it's just another Disease and not what defines who I am as a person.
In your line of work, you don't sound like you have much of a choice, hiring the lawyer was a good idea, if you can I'd wait for the letter from the Pdoc, perhaps have the lawyer contact him asking for it and see if that gets him going.
Is there any Rule for your Employer having to keep what you give them Confidential since they are your private medical records?
Triple hugs of support Thor. Hopefully things will stay the same, as Simpson said. You show a history of problem solving and maintaining your ability to perform your job too. Good luck.
OlderCPer - They will have everything short of the actual medical records. They could request that if they wanted but I doubt they will. I have no faith that my info will be kept confidential after I disclose it. So I am assuming that the company leadership and HRO offices will know everything. Hence why I don't have a problem email it out now to friends on this board, after I send it into the company I will lose control of the information and the document.
This has just stressed me out to no end. I like my job and I am so depressed that I have to do this. I have agonized over the letter and my requirement to give up my medical privacy.
Will call the PDoc again. But the waiting on this is just increasing my anxiety greatly. I hate this waiting and not knowning. I just sit here and imagine the worst all night long.
Thor, my community college VP was a psych professor before he went into administration. When I went up for tenure in 2016 I had to disclose my publishing record (my book), my teaching evaluations, and my community service. My community service was, of course, working as Community Leader here at our Daily Strength PTSD support group. DS wrote me a letter for my tenure package as I submitted it.
I got tenure without a hitch, but I was wrong to think that there would be no change in my VP's behavior toward me once my connection to DS PTSD was disclosed. It's been night and day. I can only surmise that my VP is like a lot of us who went into counseling as a job (me as hospital chaplain) because our original interest was in counseling for our own problems. The difference is that I recognize that about myself, as we all do here at DS PTSD. For my VP it must be something he's still in denial about instead, because ever since 2016 he's been a difficult boss for me to work for.
Just speaking for myself, comply as you must, of course, but it pays to be prudent as to volunteering any more info than is required. Believe it or not, even very professional people, even those with psychology degrees, are human, and your disclosure can stir up their own unresolved issues at times. Remember, though, I did get tenure after all. We are professionally protected by the law. It's the intangibles that might shift in accordance with their issues, not yours.
Muji - Thanks. Good points. My boss is interested in my health as he has asked me a few times. He is especially interested in my "treatments" (ECT). I want to keep that private, but it is going to be tough.
I know. It seems that privacy is still the best policy over all, Thor.