[IsabelAmy]

I have been working with animals for 15 years. It has been my entire adult life until now. I started as a veterinary assistant at 19 and worked my way up to my dream job of managing a shelter. For reasons that are unclear, I was pulled into an investigation (I work for the local police dept) regarding a couple of benign mistakes I made and the claim was made that I am "mentally incompetent". The mistakes weren't even mine really. It was two employees who goofed up a job. No one was injured, no animals suffered for it, but I have been made a patsy or something. I was lied to when I met with my boss and told IA had been called and it would save me a lot of trouble if I just resigned. I could "preserve" my references. I later found out that doing that isn't permitted. You can't push someone to resign their job out of fear of consequences and that no one had called IA, my boss did it the day after our conversation. But here I am anyway. Working in another dept for the police awaiting a decision on my employment status, which is nil, since I won't go back there after what has happened. My boss knew I have BP because I disclosed it in the background check. I know I wasn't symptomatic at the time. I was doing really really well after a couple of years of hell. I was very well liked there. My employees were so happy I came on they told me they wish I had shown up five years ago. One decided to come on full time after working part time for a few years because I would be his manager. When I left I got several emails from volunteers and employees trying to figure out what happened. Many volunteers have left for other shelters because I don't work there anymore. I felt at home, like I finally found where I was supposed to be after all these years.

I have no idea what to do. I have no current references and they have smeared my name at the other shelters. My purpose in life is gone. It wasn't just a job, this has been my life and my community, and I have been exiled. I cant go to events, work for a reacue or anything because i would have to be involved with them. I dont think I have the guts to do that. I am still getting a paycheck for the moment, which is great, but it will end any day now. I will lose my insurance and I feel like I am close to breaking because of this. I want to get help. I feel like I should go to the ER, but I can't stand proving them right. So here I am. Stuck. I know this was long, but I needed to get it out.

Is there a disability rights advocacy org you can call? Or free legal services? I can't tell from your job description if you have low income or not, but there are free legal services for people who've been discriminated against because of a disability.

And don't keep yourself from getting help if this has caused you to spiral. It doesn't prove anyone right about anything other than you are under extreme stress. Get some help and take care of yourself. Then, consider whether or not you can get someone to look at this from a legal perspective to see if it's discrimination.

[IsabelAmy]

I'm not low income...yet. I think the legal aspect will be tough because regardless of what happens, whether or not they find fault, I won't put myself in a position to work for people like that. You are right though, it is probably worth a call. Maybe I will let myself "lose it" on Friday, if you know what i mean, so I don't let the people I work with now down. I think i can hold out until then. The good news is the urgent care is across the street. Thanks for the advice and for reading that long post b

[~Christina]

Im really sorry that you have been put through such hell I know you feel scattered right now.... But sit down and write out your options, and what options you have as far as income and insurance etc. Can you see your T sooner rather than later (if you have one) maybe get in to see your Pdoc and maybe a med change or an adjustment or addition could help you with all this over the top stress.

There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help when needed even if that means going inpatient..

[littlemiss1970]

This sounds horrible...how long had you worked for this organization? It smells like discrimination to me. I'm so sorry. It's just not fair to be treated like this. If you feel like yr not safe go to the er right away. It sounds like you were doing yr job and you really enjoyed it. I hate it when employers act like this. They are on a power trip and they picked you to pick on. I would seriously consider talking to a lawyer. Especially since they said yr not mentally able to do yr job. They need solid proof that you screwed up which it sounds like you didn't. Again I'm very sorry. Good luck to you and stay safe

[Crazy Hitch]

I am so sorry. The way your situation has been handled sounds sus to me. I can't offer any legal advice but I want to share my story to let you know you are not alone in work place "disputes" due to lack of a better word.

Around 3 weeks ago I received a letter from my employer suspending me from work due to a single student allegation against me that was so far fetched. The allegations were minuscule but UNFORTUNATELY I disclosed my illness to my employer last year.

"Out of duty of care" for students I was told I would need to undergo a psychiatric assessment for fitness to teach.

All be it the allegations were ridiculous the fact that the school suspended me and demanded an independent evaluation (not my own pdoc) - threw me into the darkest place I don't want to write about it right now.

Due to the darkest place it threw me in, I am, at this current state, completely unstable.

Long story short, but I resigned with lawyers/ union help as by the time they wanted the psychiatric evaluation I had completely fallen apart. Due to the suspension and ridiculous allegations and the school deciding this was a "mental health issue".

Our Deed of Separation means my employer is silenced into any discrimination remarks to be made about me and absolves themselves of any future liabilities or claims.

I also don't need to go to their independent psychiatric evaluation.

So now I don't have a job.

And legally if any future employer phones the school and may wish to speak to the employer who is aka the Principal- whilst HE can't legally disclose discrimination remarks or the contents of our Deed of Separation he CAN transfer me through to the Head of the Senior School who wrote me the letter and suspended me from work.

I'm just taking one day at a time. I can't cope beyond that.

Hugs to you.

[IsabelAmy]

Wow! Our stories are very similar. I am sorry that happened to you as well. I can't believe how often this happens to us. It seems like they wait for an excuse and jump on the smallest thing. Do you think they are afraid of us or just jump to the conclusion that we are off our meds or something if we plmake a mistake? There are way too many people here this has happened to. I had only been there close to a year. That is the probationary period, so it is much easier to terminate employment before that period is up. I am not permitted the appeal process, unless I feel discriminated against, which I do, but I don't know if I can drag this out anymore. I want to close the door. Even if I hire a lawyer and do all these things, my career is still over. I was very lucky (or so I thought) to get this position. People at my level stay forever, so the jobs are few and far between and I couldn't bear going into private practice again. Im burnt put on that permanently. My psy upped my seroquel so I get to sleep and added Ativan, which helps when I'm at work waiting for the call, which is killing me. Everyone here knows that giant ball of stress that lives in your sternum that sort of perpetually throbs. I don't feel suicidal, though the thoughts are there. It feels more like what happened before I had a psychotic break two years ago. I feel like I was set up to take the blame for other questionable things that had been happening there. Fortunately I have emails that dispute their claims. But if course, I have BP, so I have to wonder if I am being paranoid

[Bpfroggy]

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to both of you. I have been lucky to work for someone who has similar issues in his family so he is very understanding. What I find really ironic about all this is that you are the people that are aware of your condition and are getting help. The people that they should likely be more worried about are those who are in denial and ignore their symptoms.

IsabelAmy, as you know working in animal rescue is not easy; it isn't a high paying career and has a lot of stress associated with it, so I admire your passion for the work. The animals certainly need people like you! It smells to me like there is some ulterior motive involved and they are just using this as a convenient excuse. I've seen this happen too many times, not just to people with mental illness but for other reasons as well.

Perhaps you can go meet with people from other shelters and see how they respond - perhaps you can volunteer for a while and they may hire you once they see how great you really are? I know that's not an ideal option, but at least you'd have the opportunity to show the real you rather that what your boss may be saying about you.

I hope everything works out for you! I'm sending good thoughts your way!

[lilypup]

I was encouraged to resign for similar reasons. None. I saw an attorney. I was offered my old job back but since I was "outted" I was too embarrassed to go back and work there. I just took some time off and found another job.
I'm so sorry this happened to you.
I don't think it's right at all, but it is so sad we have to be super cautious about who knows.

[Curious651]

Sorry this has happened to the both of you. I don't think I can say anything that has not been said already. Thoughts with both of you and hope it turns out better.

[IsabelAmy]

Thanks BP froggy. I don't know if I can do it. I am in a bad place and it is going to be worse once the pendulum drops. I would love to volunteer, but everyone is in the same bed here. Animal Welfare communities tend to be pretty small. I have started thinking that maybe after I broke down completely at the end of 2012, that this type of work maybe is not good for me, and I need to focus on caring for myself for a change. Maybe I need a break from the intensity of this field. It is just terrifying to lose it. It used to be what kept me going, what got me up in the morning, what made my life matter. I did something to better the life of an animal every single day. It's easy to forget about yourself when doing that. I'm just bracing for the worse andam going to take it day by day like Hooligan. The storm is coming, better batten down the hatches!

[Love&Toil]

You have to mourn the loss of this significant part of your life. Rebuilding life, finding a new path, what makes you excited to be living can be challenging for all of us.