[Jennyanydots]

I just came back from intermittent leave due to stress/anxiety in the workplace and before I left for a short 2 week leave, I left my boss a VM telling him that the set quotas (for processing - I'm actually a business analyst but due to "business need" they are having me process payments) are causing me stress/anxiety and if we could do a step program.

While on leave, I decided to file an ADA Accommodation to protect my job. I don't know what an ADA Accommodation would look like for a processor so I asked for flexibility in quotas that would allow me to work at a self pace rather than racing against the clock to meet production. They threw me into the fire with seasoned processors giving me the same quotas.

I returned to work last Thursday and was assigned processing queues that were easier so I had no problem meeting production. The past couple days, however, they assigned me to process refunds on credit/debit cards. The quota is 80 per day and you have to check your work at the end for all CC/DB card transactions to make sure they weren't through so it came out to that you can spend 4.5 min on each work item (not taking into account bathroom breaks outside of 15 min break time). Well, for each refund, you have to research, reconcile the account, leave a comment and track in two different databases. It takes me 4-5 min to complete each one. I'm racing the clock all day long.

Today, being the third day working these dumb refunds and working through breaks and lunch, I started crying cause I couldn't keep up the 4-5 min per piece....I was getting emails and my coworkers wouldn't stop yapping (not working processing). Meanwhile, I was messaging HR rep in our dept regarding my ADA Accommodation and I didn't know what reasonable looked like for a processor and that I was afraid I would be discriminated against.

The supervisor who sits next to me pulled me into an office and talked me through it and said that meeting quote was 93 percent and anything over 93 percent was exceeding. Here i am busting my balls to meet 100 percent. NOBODY communicated this to me.

HR rep was sent in and she told me to take the day off and not worry about using PTO, they would take care of it. I told her how I'm new to processing and the quotas are causing me stress/anxiety and she suggested we do a step program! I also told her that I'm not sure what ADA Accommodation looks like for meeting daily quotas and she said that was something I had to talk to my Dr about. Really? Working from home is considered accommodating, should I ask for that?

Since I disclosed that I'm bipolar to HR and my manager and I'm putting in a request for ADA Accommodation, will they discriminate? I'm so worried. But I had the supervisor run my production numbers yesterday and I was at 105% for all work types combined since I work through lunch/breaks. I guess they can't fire me on grounds of exceeding expectation. I'm just afraid that my manager will never give me more responsibility since I took disability leave (Nov-Jan for Manic episode), the month of April (depression) and two weeks off in June for anxiety and depression. I told the HR rep that I didn't want to take time off but that the job I'm doing now is causing me stress/anxiety and a step program would work so I can get used to the steps/order that works best/saves the most time when processing. That sounds reasonable, right?

Has anybody else with Bipolar have ADA Accommodation and what types of things does it cover?

Seesaw would be a great person to ask! I wish we could take people on here but if you check out her profile or her posts on Work threads, you'll see what I mean.

[Tucson]

I wrote what follows to help you. You apparently are willing to knock yourself out for your job despite what this effort of yours has done to you. I am hoping that your boss is able to see it this way. However, even if this is the case, he has a boss that he has to answer to. They may not be as amenable to such an arrangement for accommadations, particularly in your case. After all, you have taken off months at a time from work.

Now I understand that you needed to take time off for your mental health. I understand the necessity that this was to you. I probably would of done the same thing if I was in your situation. However, when does this get to the point where you become a liability to your company? Would you blame them for thinking this way? I hope this new arrangement works out for you. I am happy they are trying to work this out with you. If it does not work out, I think it is in both of your interests, you and your employer, for you to find a job that you can manage much better that is in a relatively stress free environment. Then you would be able to be there and be productive while you are there. This type of situation would then work for both you and your new employer. You may not make as much money, but you need to understand it has to work for both you and your employer. For that matter, I cannot see me living in such a work situation of high stress and anxiety just to survive. Such a new job would meet these requirements. You would no longer have to feel bad about your inability to mentally function on the job. You may be able to go back to your chosen profession at a later time.

I feel for your situation. I would never want to find myself in the situation that you are finding yourself in now. I hope this works out for you. Take care.

[Pookyl]

I’m confused. If you’re finding the current work requirements stressful, why do you want more responsibilities?

[unaluna]

Youre exceeding expectations. Why are you rocking the boat?

[bassrunnin]

Keep doing what you are doing....making sure you are in communication with HR is crucial. They don't want a lawsuit and has long as you are honest and a good worker you shouldn't have a problem. Even with time off that should be covered under FMLA when you show up just try your best....it sounds like your company wants to work with you and that is a good thing...when they sent you home did they tell you to come back the next day? What was their expectation?