[Mollywisk]

I was just diagnosed on Monday and have told only a few people. I am on a medical leave right now, and am very afraid that my employer will find out. How do you handle work-related issues when the employer doesn't know of the diagnosis?

[benzenering]

Work cannot ask you why you are out...they won't know if you don't tell them. This should include coworkers, even if you consider them a friend. In my last job, I had two medical leave absences of 3 months each. They never found out, as I didn't tell them. Didn't share with anyone other than immediate family members. I've had a new job, and am stable, but I don't tell anyone there, either, about my illness.

[deelooted]

I had no choice... my boss was going to terminate me due to poor work performance, and my wife had had enough. It was actually my boss and wife that finally got through to me that I may have a mental illness. Still in denial but not wanting to lose my wife and my job, I went to a pdoc and was diagnosed bipolar 1 severe with psychotic features.

Once medicated, I did much better and my work performance came back up, too. Then I threw out my meds, back down I went. Then took them again after being diagnosed schizophrenic. Then threw them out again. Then took them again after a final diagnosis of bipolar 1 and BPD.

I wanted to describe this to give you an example of what not to do if you are working- take your meds.

As far as telling your boss and/or coworkers, I would keep it to yourself. Although my boss and coworkers have been very supportive, I am seen in a totally different light now, and it is not always positive. If I get a little energetic, I am manic. If I am focused and stern faced, I am depressed. Stigma goes hand-in-hand with mental illness, and does not work in our favor at all.

[jd6266]

As an HR professional, I can tell you that the employer can ask if your illness and time away is due to an FMLA covered illness. Even if you say no, they can designate your time away as FMLA. It is in your best interest to be covered by FMLA as it protects you from losing your job due to your illness. That said, you don't have to put a diagnosis on the FMLA paper work. They can direct you to fill it out and if you don't that it considered insubordination and they can discipline you.

I'm not sure how to answer your question about work related issues since I'm not sure which ones you are talking about. Whether or not to tell your employer is a big decision. If you are having symptoms that are majorly affecting your work, you may have to. You can ask for accommodations under ADA and also get more time off than FMLA covers. Otherwise, you may not want to tell them as you don't know what prejudices people have about mental illness and it will affect how they see you and treat you.

[wildflowerchild25]

All I said was I had a reaction to medication (because I suddenly had to go inpatient). They never pressed the issue. I would not tell them or your coworkers your dx just because workplaces have a way of turning things around on you ..... Legally you can't be fired for that but I've heard tale of people getting written up or fired suddenly for "poor performance".

[Margolomania]

Thanks for this thread! I was wondering about this too.

I'm glad that someone brought this up. I have yet to tell anyone about my dx. The one time time I had to leave work I just said my new meds were making me feel funny. I have no idea how to tell my boss, or even if I should.

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[ultramar]

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!!

[BipolaRNurse]

After my experiences earlier this year, I'm not sure I even believe in the ADA anymore because it sure as hell didn't protect me. If an employer doesn't want to make accommodations for you, they don't have to.....and they don't even have to prove WHY they don't have to. Unless of course you're willing to spend money you no longer have (because you don't have a job anymore) on an attorney so you can fight it in court.

[medicalfox]

I call out of work and tell them I'm "sick" and need a few days off when I'm manic and not doing well. I have a physical condition that I use as my excuse so I can get a doctor's note from my pcp to make it seem valid. When I got hospitalized ( 3 times so far) I used different excuses and got a note from the hospital claiming I was there, but it didn't specify why though for patient confidentially. I would recommend that you don't tell your boss anything about your mental condition, only physical conditions if you have any. Mental illness are taboo in the work field and may be viewed as a liability.

I am self employeed, but I know that if I worked for someone, there would be no way in hell that I would tell them. No. If anything, I would lie and create a lesser, more acceptable condition that would not impact my work life and create a stigma for me at work. work is hard enough without being dragged down constantly by a reputation for having a mood disorder!

[Mollywisk]

Thank you all for the responses! I'm not going to tell anyone. My career is in a field that's close-knit; everyone would know eventually.

I don't qualify for FMLA as I've been at my job for less than 10 months. I would love to be self employed as I'm a hard worker with skills in Operations. My husband carries our benefits.

[jd6266]

Mollywisk,

Even if you don't qualify for leave under FMLA you could under ADA as leave is generally considered a reasonable accommodation. The ADA doesn't require that you be at your job a certain amount of time.

BipolarNurse,
I don't know what your situation was, but it can be difficult navigating the rules at work and also how ADA and FMLA apply. As an HR professional, I can tell you that it isn't straight forward. You're right, the employer doesn't aways have to make an accommodation or the accommodation that you want. The employee has to be able to do the "essential functions" of the job with or without accommodations that are "reasonable."

I'd be happy to answer any HR-related questions.

[Mollywisk]

Thank you very much, jd6266. HR left a message for me this afternoon and I am calling them back tomorrow. They are east cost time and I am west cost so they were closed by the time I got the message.

I am concerned that they will refuse to accommodate. I have seen that happen time and time again in my business, which ironically is healthcare.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by Mollywisk

I am concerned that they will refuse to accommodate. I have seen that happen time and time again in my business, which ironically is healthcare.

You too??

You'd think healthcare would be much more understanding of folks with, shall we say, nonconformities, but I think it's probably one of THE worst fields to be in if you have one. We eat our young and our most vulnerable, and nobody gives a rat's @$$. So sorry you've seen so much of the same crap as I have.

[Mollywisk]

Me too. It's appalling. I work for one of the biggest healthcare companies in the US.

Lots of crap