[rom831]

A coworker often makes reference to my bipolar disorder and makes derogatory comments. My work is impeccable but the comments do not stop. Has anyone experienced this? I need advice because the emotional abuse is starting to break my spirit.

[boogiesmash]

It sounds like an eeo violation.

[faerie_moon_x]

At my job very few people know of my dx. I used to get written up a lot for problems I had due to my BP and the write ups happened after I disclosed to HR in an attempt to get accommodations. It was a very hard situation and what actually resolved it was when I almost died from pancreatitus and my direct supervisor realized how much work I actually do during the time I'm here.

People are jerks. Can you report this person to a supervisor?

[Azvixxen]

Go to your Human Resources RIGHT NOW and report a hostile work environment and let them know your ADA rights are being compromised. MI is a protected class, and you do NOT have to put up with this, the law protects you.

PS - I am in HR, so trust me...I would love this one to come walking through my door.

[Azvixxen]

Sorry, I just realized I may have thrown in a few too many acronyms...ADA is American with Disabilities Act and that covers US! IT would fall under EEO (Equal employment Opportunities) if you were applying for a job and the statement was made, but since you already work there, it is a hostile work environment.

[faerie_moon_x]

Oh, another thing, document everything you can. Example: save any hostile e-mails. Proof.

[Azvixxen]

Also, document dates and times that any comments were made, and what if anything you said in repl. If you have ever asked the person to not make these comments, be sure to document this. You could actually have grounds to sue the company if they do not make this stop immediately - and they can't move YOU from YOUR position.

[Mrs. Mania]

I had comments made at my last job. I was great at my job, if I was irritated- "did you take your meds?" I wasn't allowed to be angry even if it was completely justified. I was also let go after going to HR for accommodations. Discrimination happens

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I had comments made and weird things happen (like a supervisor kept every post-it note I wrote, even if it said "Smith evaluated, recommend 50 min tx") and eventually (days after an OT who had evaluated me for voc. rehab and had insights into how to make work more productive for me came in and talked to them for 90 minutes) things happened that were all set-ups (a patient came to me in tears b/c they'd tried to get her to say I wasn't doing a good job and she'd kept trying to say I was and they'd re-word what she said and try make her agree and she got so confused that she had no idea what they thought she was saying but she and her husband were both telling them they thought I was great; she put this in writing and it disappeared and there were other things) and I was fired. Just before I was fired I found out more ways my supervising had been doing things to "get me" and tried to use the chain of command to report the abusiveness of her treatment but it was too late and the wrong path; I should have gone to HR. From the day I explained my diagnosis in order to get accommodations that they never came through on I was treated differently, including once I signed a note "grrr, Jen" after a difficult evening and I was pulled aside by management including someone from corporate and told that was a threat and that if I felt suicidal or homicidal I had to tell them, among many other humiliating things in that lecture. Never mind that others constantly would say "I'm going to kill _______!"; they weren't psycho like me.

A bad work environment is a very bad environment indeed. I had 2 of them and wish I'd left both of them sooner.

[newtothis31]

How big is your company? If your company has an HR department- by all means- go to them. Prior to going to them- I'd write up what specifically the other person has done & see if there any relevant e-mails.

If your company is not large enough to have a HR department, then you're going to weigh your options. What type of reputation does the other employee have? Does the other employee have the same job as you?

Completely understand what you're going through- it is terrible. But the important thing is not to lash out & figure out a good strategy to get yourself out of this situation.

[rom831]

Thanks everyone for your concern. I talked to HR today. Not only did my boss not support me, HR did not support me. They made reference to me getting my feelings hurt. Reference was made to the fact that I might be too sensitive. Emphasis was placed on moving on and forgiving. I said that I believe in forgiving but that the present situation must be dealt with before one can move on. My boss told me she does not trust the bully, and she said she is evil and manipulative. When a boss believes that, why are they keeping her? I truly am broken and disheartened. I was also told not to tell anyone about this because it would make our dept look bad. I work for a company of approximately 1000 people.

[newtothis31]

I'm sorry, Rom831! So your boss gave 2 different stories- 1 to HR and 1 to you?

At least you have it on the record. What's your interaction like with the evil co-worker? Are there any work arounds possible?

I had a co-worker who was extremely abrasive with me, and I ended up switching offices. Had to create a new reason- as that person was better connected than me at the time.

[Azvixxen]

Time to look for an employment lawyer. Hostile work environments are not a joke, and remember I mentioned that mental illness is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. You are not asking for an unreasonable accommodation, rather a very reasonable one asking that you not be harassed while at work. It is not the manner in which a message is deliver, rather than in how it I perceived and that does not mean that overly sensitive or not that your feelings don't matter. Uugh, this makes my blood boil. People cannot act like this, and the fact that a trained HR representative thinks it is okay is beyond my comprehension. We must have attended different schools lol!

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I actually blacked out from a panick attack on the job. I never went back. I was treated horribly and got a lot of comments like "you need to calm down and go on meds". Every day they would point out how anxious I was. Which made me more anxious. It was small family run business so there was no HR but if I were you I would complain. What this person is doing to you is so wrong and sad. ThiNgs like this is a rage trigger for me so I don't know how I would of handled this. All I know is I wouldn't be able to work there

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[~Christina]

The ADA barks a good bark , But seldom really does help any one ,Useless its a big wig and lots of publicity and will give them great free press.

Personally, I would keep my eye open for a new position . Often I see people that go to HR or a boss about these kinda situation only to be let go 3 months down the road for a lame reason ,, like coming to work 2 mins late clocking back in 1 min late from lunch , stupid lame reasons , but its probably somewhere in the company handbook.. and to be honest if an employer wants someone gone they can and will find a way.

I'm sorry this has happened to you

[xxblackrosesxx]

I remember at my old job I didn't tell my boss I had mi until later on and she commented "you could of killed someone" yeah it was pretty bad and she fired me anyway

[RomanJames2014]

Yes.

I used to have a boss that threw the term bipolar around. She also used to label pretty much everything that wasn't "normal" as bipolar. HUGE HUGE HUGE HR issues with that one. She moved up and out of my store but still, she just showed her ignorance by trying to label things when she didn't even know the meaning behind the labels.

My work was awsome and nobody could ever hold my bipolar against me when it came to work. I brought the drive as well as the creativity to my job while others lacked both of those things.

Screw your boss. They'll have to find out the hard way.

Have a good week.

[Capriciousness]

OH MY GOD. This thread has gotten me all fired up. If I wasn't trying to calm down and go to sleep I would so go post on my blog about this kind of ****. UNfcukingbelievable!!!!!

I am SO sorry Rom!!!

and Blackroses...she said "you could have killed someone" WTF are you fcuking serious???