Thread: Discrimination?
View Single Post
 
Old Jul 29, 2011, 08:42 AM
beautifuldisaster78's Avatar
beautifuldisaster78 beautifuldisaster78 is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Feb 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 133
Hi all. I have a question and/or want some insight. I work in an enviorment where I care for patients and have a few staff under my charge (like 2 or so a night). I do my job and I do it well. I am very detailed and organized. As far as my job description goes, I follow it to a T.

Here's the problem. I deal with depression- and other mental health issues. (been diagnosed with most of them at one time or another.). Anyway, most people I work with (small company, probably about 15 people or so on my shift. A couple hundred total including administration and such) I get along with really well. There are 2 that I can think of that we've had differences but still have a healthy working relationship.
There are several days where I've come in unhappy. But I still do my job. Despite my emotions I never take it out on patients, or treat them differently. Yes, with my staff, they may notice because I am not all smiles and jokes (as if they always are). I tend to keep more to myself.
Someone on a different shift who didn't like me told my boss awhile back that I have depression and I take Xanax. My boss called me aside and told me that I needed to get off the Xanax because it was a horrible drug. She also talked to me about my "attitude" at work. I got in an altercation with this person on the other shift, and I owned up to my part of it but it was wayyy over exaggerated.
Anyway the other day I got wrote up again. I was told that everyone on my nightshift said they'd seen me sleeping on multiple occasions. (I have NEVER slept at work... besides, I take Adderall and have been having insomnia, I couldn't sleep if I wanted to!!) She also talked about my "flat" affect and mood at work. said I needed to come in with a good mood and promote a good enviornment. First, I don't know why I have to fake a smile every day. If I keep to myself and do my job- and have a good attitude with patients, I should be allowed to have bad days. When my boss called me in she was all fake about how she was "just trying to help" me, but at the same time was writing me up... mostly for lies that had been told about me! People had told her they had smelled alcohol on my breath and that I'd come in looking under the influence. (First, I don't do drugs... I don't abuse my prescriptions either, second, I rarely drink and I would never drink when I had to work.) So anyway, she threatend my liscence and my job... She said I can deny it but she has multiple witnessess. She said she can't help me if I don't admit to it. I told her I was NOT admitting to something I didn't do!!
Im wondering if this is discrimination due to my depression? If something happened I probably couldn't take it to court because where I live is an at-will state and they can fire for no reason, but what about losing my license? what about harrasment and defamation of character? Discrimination based on mental health problems???

Sorry...thanks for reading this even though it was so long.
__________________
JayCee
"Why does the rest of the world put up with the hypocrisy,the need to put a happy face on sorrow, the need to keep on keeping on?..I don’t know the answer, I know only that I can’t. I don't want any more vicissitudes, I don't want any more of this try, try again stuff. I just want out. I’ve had it. I am so tired.I am twenty and I am already exhausted.”-Elizabeth Wurtzel

Last edited by beautifuldisaster78; Jul 29, 2011 at 08:44 AM. Reason: mistake