Obsessions

Poor you Laura. I have walked in your shoes on this one. A number of years ago I was denied a very lucrative position, one that I had been dying for, when the management discovered that I had issues.
Of course it is obvious that once they hear the word "bipolar" it sounds off alarm buttons in their heads. You are carrying enough of a burden dealing with this illness, without the job stressing you further by placing you on leave, and failing to at least give you a chance to prove yourself.
As a dues-paying member of a union, my advice to you is to stand your ground, and fight this one aggressively. That's what the union is supposed to be there for. But, having been a member of a union myself when the dirty was done on me, I am a bit cynical on that score as well.
The other consideration, which is one that my husband raised, is that on the other hand do you want to work in an environment whereby they make life unpleasant for you in order to get you out? So you have some tough decisions here.

Hey Kathleen,

Ironic thing is my job is in Mental Health. They say they can't place me any where in my service which is a large service btw!! I don't want to go back there anymore but it's the principal in a sense that is making me fight to go back. My Union guy said I have loads of ground to fight on and we will fight so that's something I guess.

If I pull through this I will be happy as I have kicked myself down about my job since Novemeber 2009. Things can only get better right!!?!?!?

Laura, if I could do it over, I would have fought tooth and nail for my rights. But at that time I wasn't in a good place mentally, and I let it go. In retrospect, I should have challenged what was done to me. Perhaps I wouldn't have been in the right state of mind for the job, but I should at least have been afforded a chance to try.
You are definitely carrying a double burden there, and of course your morale and self-worth are all tied in to being given an honest and fair shake without discrimination. My fingers are crossed for you that you win this one; you go girl!

Thanks Kathleen,

I think I will contact work next week as hopefully I will have more balls by then. I am still a bit like oh they are gonna shout at me.... don't know why though.

Can't say they don't like to make my life hard huh!!