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ultramar · Aug 11, 2013, 02:05 PM

It is so hard to balance maintaining employment, taking care of ourselves, and maintaining our confidentiality as well. I choose not to tell my manager, I'm afraid of being considered a liability, and most people just don't understand bipolar disorder. But there are ways around this, while still protecting ourselves.

Check out this website, it was recommended to me at work by a disability specialist, has lots of excellent information: JAN - Job Accommodation Network

I can share what I actually just recently did. I have regular appointments with my psychiatrist, weekly psychotherapy, and a monthly appointment with a pain doctor. Obviously, if I get sick (i.e. flu, etc.) there are other appointments added on. I have historically gotten push-back from my boss about these appointments and wanted to find a way to have it documented that these were medically necessary.

So I went to my hospital's (employer's) EAP and there was a disability expert there. I found out about "Intermittent Leave of Absence." This means that you may, intermittently/off and on, need to be absent form work for medical reasons (the time off can include only hours at a time, for example in the case of appointments). It also includes other accommodations you may need due to your illness.

First, there's a very general form saying I need this kind of LOA (no medical info, etc.) that my boss and I sign. Then there are forms for each doctor whose care you are under for the medical condition(s) you're claiming for.

They answer questions like "Diagnosis" "Treatment Plan" frequency and reasons for appointments, absences (due to acute 'flare-ups'), referrals to other providers, treatments, etc.

So, in my case, they documented that I needed appointments ever x amount of time, it's possible I may need time off for 'flare-ups' (this is how it is worded on the form), if I need any accommodations at work (breaks, etc, which I don't at the time).

Strictly speaking, this doesn't change anything, in that any time off would need to be negotiated with my boss, I will need to continue to be responsible about my appointments (letting my boss know enough ahead of time, try to schedule them during lunch times, etc.). However, now all of this provides evidence for legitimate medical need -I have this backing me up.

I am not currently on a leave of absence from work (unlike you), but the form allows the provider to state that you may need this from time to time.

The process will likely be different at every employer, but at the hospital where I work, I fax all of the paperwork (including forms from my providers), to the Leave of Absence Coordinator at HR, she sends it to Occupational Health (to approve it) [non-hospitals will have some other way to get it approved] and then if approved, I am notified, as is my manager.

My manager would receive no medical information whatsoever, as it is confidential, just that for medical reasons I need x number of appointments with x frequency, possible time off, etc.

I haven't finished the process yet, but I'm very thankful I have found this. More than anything, it provides some protection for me.

I'll add, that you are not claiming that you are too disabled to do your job, only that in order to do it, you need certain 'accommodations' (appointments, days off, etc.).

Employees have a right to certain accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) --it's a federal law.

So maybe you can look into this. I get the fears regarding work and illness. We need to do the best we can (and that's all we can do) as far as complying with work requirements, but it helps to have some protection.

Hope this helps and good luck!!