[summerdreamer]

Has anyone experienced discrimination at work? I'm an RN, yet I can't get work. I live in a close knit area, where D.O.N.'s all know each other, and communicate (illegally) about employees, among other things.
On my last RN job, it was found out that I had bipolar. My work WAS starting to suffer, and I needed to stop during an episode. I went to HR, and asked for a leave. My DON was brought into a meeting where I was told I would be terminated. I asked why terminated vs. a leave, and the DON screamed at me, because you're BIPOLAR! And then she yelled at the HR woman, why wasn't I told before hiring her?!?!
Now I work for Walmart, and a local garden center, and volunteer at a local hospice. I just hope that no one finds out, it was very traumatizing.

[Gus1234U]

wow, Summer, not only traumatizing, but illegal, if you live in America... you should have gotten Worker's Compensation and re-employment services~!

i live in a tiny community, and returned here, home, after i became obviously disabled from psych meds, so i know what it is to get no respect. back in Calif, i had a good job and an important position in the MH community.

i hope you can find a way to use your valuable skills in ways that are fulfilling to you~
best wishes, Gus

[AAAAA]

Originally Posted by Gus1234U

wow, Summer, not only traumatizing, but illegal, if you live in America... you should have gotten Worker's Compensation

I do not know how accurate that is Gus. Bipolar is NOT a workman's comp issue. I may be grounds for SSD, but WC is for injuries, illness caused at/by work.

[AAAAA]

Summer can you prove that the DONs have communicated? There are limited things that they can say, I do understand that sometimes there is reading between the lines when there is contact about a former employee.

I would contact an attorney about a wrongful termination case. I do not know what area you are in, but have you looked outside your own community? I know that GB used to have weekend shifts where RNs worked Fri, Sat, Sun and got fully benefits

[Mike_J]

HIPPA laws are pretty strong but can be tricky to prove. If the HR person would testify that you were fired for being Bipolar you would have a HUGE suite due to the FMLA, but it's unlikely that you will be able to get anyone to testify for you.

[ellipsisdream]

That is completely illegal. That is protected by FMLA. You requested medical leave and were then discriminated against and fired. Huge lawsuit material. You might try consulting with a low/no cost attorney... not only might you be compensated for for the seeming damage to your career, but you might keep it from happening to anyone else.

I had a shades of gray, under the radar termination that we all knew was because I was sick, but they found a loop hole and it got swept under the rug- unprovable within some policy BS.

Your situation is clear cut discrimination. (((Hugs)))

Even if you cannot get it for discrimination, it would fall under wrongful termination.

[AAAAA]

Originally Posted by ellipsisdream

That is completely illegal. That is protected by FMLA. You requested medical leave and were then discriminated against and fired. Huge lawsuit material. You might try consulting with a low/no cost attorney... not only might you be compensated for for the seeming damage to your career, but you might keep it from happening to anyone else.

I had a shades of gray, under the radar termination that we all knew was because I was sick, but they found a loop hole and it got swept under the rug- unprovable within some policy BS.

Your situation is clear cut discrimination. (((Hugs)))

Even if you cannot get it for discrimination, it would fall under wrongful termination.

As a fellow WI resident, I can tell you that WI is a right to work state. They can terminate you at any time for any reason. If her work suffered, whether it is as a result of her illness or not. They can terminate you. In other words, the state favors the employer. The employee really must prove many things. That they violated those laws with the intention of getting rid of her BECAUSE of her illness.

There are Federal laws of course. But really, if she was late one time, if she called in with or without a Dr.s excuse without prior employer approval, if she was just having an off day, due to her illness or not these are all valid reasons for termination in a RTW state. All they have to say is that she does not fit our needs at this time but is free to apply at a later date.

A previous co-worker jumped the fence from MI (which recently became a RTW state itself) and thought that he could call in as much as he wanted as long as he had a doctor's note. Now truth be told he was not a good employee and he was an abuser of the system imo, but he was surprised when he was terminated for attendance. He attempted to sue based upon the fact that he was able to obtain a Dr's note every time. (Boy would I like to know who his doctor was!). His lawsuit was not successful, although they did allow him to claim unemployment.