Soup Dragon, that is well said. Yes, it's complicated and not something to decide without a lot of forethought, which is why I posted this. Thanks so much for your input.

My employer knows I have a general health problem but does not know the nature of it. I've asked to keep my hours to two or three days per week, about 15 hours, no more. At the beginning of the year that was respected, but as the year wore on it wasn't, my immediate supervisor deciding I looked well enough and had recovered (even though he didn't know why I was hospitalized in January).

My impression is that the U.S. has laws prohibiting discrimination, but most corporations can get around them by having you sign an 'at will' employment contract, meaning they can fire you at any time for no reason, because the employment is in no way guaranteed. Most jobs do require you to sign this if hired.

Retail here is especially bad right now. Most large retail establishments pay the legal minimum and try to work you up to 39 hours as a part-time employee--no benefits at all.

So I'm thinking it through, playing it by ear.

I really appreciate all the good input, and you summarized the problem perfectly. I think a lot of people in the U.S. end up ill unnecessarily because our workplaces are so abusive and demanding right now. It's like, suck it up or buzz off. I guess that's why we have protestors in the streets now. (One of the many reasons...)