[Crook32]

I am filling out my paperwork for my new job. One form you can self identify if you have a disability. Depression and bipolar fall under this. Would you ever self disclose?

Well, didn't your last employer give you a hard time when you disclosed?

Even though the ADA exists, it doesn't mean your new employer can't come up with a fake reason to fire you. For example, if you're manic or depressed, they may not be able to do anything about it legally, but they CAN make up some BS excuse like, "Crook32 goes to meetings 1 minute late! Unacceptable!" Then you have to prove that other people don't get in trouble for showing up late. It's your word against theirs at that point.

Just my opinion though. But some employers let you say "I do not wish to answer." That is the option I go with.

[MickeyCheeky]

I am not Sure, Crook32. On the one hand, I agree with @bluebicycle. On the other, I am not sure if you may run up into some problems if they find out that You DO suffer From Bipolar afterwards. Is there anyone you can talk to about this? It seems important! I wish You the BEST of Luck in any case! Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Crook32, your Family, your Friends and ALL of Your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[sarahsweets]

Never tell you employee you have a mental illness or ADHD. It will be used against you and you will not be judged fairly

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Crook32

I am filling out my paperwork for my new job. One form you can self identify if you have a disability. Depression and bipolar fall under this. Would you ever self disclose?

Is this optional?

Does not disclosing now preclude you from requesting accommodations in the future?

Do you need accommodations now?
Have you needed accommodations in the past?
Do you anticipate maybe needing accommodations in the future (at this job)?

If it's optional and not disclosing is just fine, as in not considered fraudulent, I'd not disclose.

If it's entirely optional; yet, still leaves my future options open, I'd not disclose initially.

Does your state have any laws around this?
You could call your state department of labor to clarify the employment and disclosure laws. If you call, you might ask if the state laws override the federal laws/provisions? if nothing else the DOL will should direct you to the correct info.

Best wishes!

I think the results of such disclosure varies from employer to employer. It can be detrimental, but then again it can be quite helpful. I ended up disclosing to my last employer when they threatened to fire me for manic behavior. They were going to give me a chance to fix the behavior. At that time, I had not been accepting treatment, and frankly, had not yet really accepted my diagnosis. I had been formally diagnosed the year before.

The day after the threat, I was hospitalized. After the hospitalization, I was in a PHP then IOP for a full six months. My employer held my job that whole time. When I returned to work, I was given an accommodation. I had several more hospitalizations. They welcomed me back and at one point I even was allowed to work from home 3 out of 5 days.

Eventually it became obvious that I was too disabled to work, so I applied for SSDI. It was only at that stage that they terminated my employment (not fired). Three and a half years after my first hospitalization. So, I can't say anything bad about my past employer.

[Skeezyks]

I don't really know anything about this specifically at this point. (It's been quite a few years now since I was involved with this sort of thing.) But back when I was, if a person did not disclose a disability prior to starting a new job, the employer would not be required to provide reasonable accommodations should they later on be needed.

If there is some sort of governmental employment services office where you live, it might be worth a quick call to them to clarify exactly what the current requirements are. On the other hand, if you're confident you won't need or want any sort of accommodations at some later date, then there may be no reason to disclose & you may be better off just keeping the information to yourself I would think.

[Merlin]

I do not initially disclose. I may disclose if I need leave or I may not cite specifics. If my behaviour is unreasonable, such as no-shows, I’m more likely to disclose bipolar.

[bpcyclist]

I disclosed as a faculty member at a big academic department. Upon my return from hosptial, systematic and programmatic discrimination ensued. It was disgusting. I considered suing, a case I no doubt would have won, but felt that for my recovery, the best move was to simply put them in my rearview mirror. Best professional decision I ever made, as my career just really exploded--in a good way--once I left those scumbags and losers behind.

[sarahsweets]

Hey @Crook32
Another thing I thought of is how your performance will be judged. If you make a mistake and you did not share your issues with anyone- its just an employee who needs to make improvements. If do really great then you are an employee who deserves recognition.
Now lets say they do know of the issues and you do a really good job at something . I feel that your recognition could be less genuine or jaded almost like" I cant believe Mr X worked that out considering he has this XYZ disability". Or "For someone with XYZ he really kept it togther".
Or if an employee is doing a terrible job and they have disclosed their issues and you work with that employee and have an issue with them so you report it to your boss. The boss would normally intervene and redirect an employee or even reprimand them but they are aware of an issue and treat them differently so you then have to suffer an accept it and probably end up fixing their mess. Do you know what I mean? I want you to be evaluated becaue YOU did a good job. I wouldnt want your success to be tarnished in anyway or invalidated because you have a disability.
But to be clear if you absolutely require modifications to work or you will have zero success with the job or cant do the job with out modifications then you have to say something. But I speak from experience that when I have disclosed certain things thinking I was protected or sharing something in order to do a better job- Ive been let go or overlooked or thought of as incapable and all the employer has to do is make up another reason.

Here is something I thought of:
I used to be very overweight. I was hired at a law firm as a semi-receptionist/assistant. They obviously knew I had a weight issue. I worked for six weeks total. One day I heard a visiting lawyer in the back kitchen basically making fun of me and telling the main lawyer that I was not making a good impression or doing the law firm any favors. The next morning was pay day and my boss let me go. I actually cried and asked him why- he kept saying "it just didnt work out" There were no reasons and no references to my job performance and he didnt know what I overheard. I know being overweight is not like your disability or anything like that. But he fired me because he was told I somehow made the firm look bad and he didnt want to get in trouble so he made up a reason.
I was very young, like 23 and had no idea about what was right and wrong. I was like traumatized and so hurt and self depreciating because of that.

[downandlonely]

There is usually an option: "I prefer not to answer" or something like that. That's the one I always pick. It's not a lie. But I haven't needed accommodations. If you feel like you need them, you will probably need to disclose.