Being discriminated against for taking sick leave

I was lucky to get this job when my previous company got liquidated....then I fell into a depression.

Now I've realized how much I hate this place.

Everytime you take a day's sick leave you get such a lecture when you get back, the anxiety it causes to phone in sick is worse than the illness itself. I was hospitalized for two weeks when I got major depression and when I returned I was questioned by my boss why I didn't disclose my depression status. It felt like I was being discriminated against, and I had to beg to keep my job. My boss hasn't once asked me how I feel, am I doing ok or am I coping. It's clear what happens to you here doesn't matter as long as it doesn't interfere with work.

I am so tired of having to fake feeling ok and getting up everyday NO MATTER HOW CRAPPY I FEEL. I have to put on this fake smile and pretend I'm ok because I know I am being tested.

I wish I could find something better, I am so tired of being treated like a number.

If I were you, I would start looking for a different job. Maybe you could find one that didn't cause you so much anxiety. I do understand, though, my company is not a very compasionate one. And hate coming to work everyday. But I haven't been able to find another one. I do like you, I fake it, but I have to have the money, so there is no option. Hope you find a solution soon.

Sorry, you are feeling, that way, about your job, and yes, being grilled for sick leave, is no fun.

When someone else's depression, affects me, at work, however, perhaps, it's not about being treated like a number, but the amount of extra stress, it places on me.

I am dealing with this, this week...even tomorrow, ALL week. I've had to work with one of my bosses, several times, in the past two months, and frankly, the joy of my new location was to minimize the amount of time I spend with any of my immediate supervisors. Perhaps, that's not the case for you. But I lost valuable minutes to my day, today, and yesterday, and Tuesday, and will tomorrow, due to someone elses depression leave. Which doesn't qualify as fmla or any of that sort.

Thing is, I also, have depression. And anxiety. And MS.

Thank you all for your feedback.

I have started seriously looking for another job and have been to a few agencies for interviews. I can't wait for the day I can get up knowing I don't have to come here anymore. Don't have to sit in traffic, don't have to wish my hours and days away. But yes, I need the money as I have nobody that I can depend on.

What makes me angry is that I knew all my work was up to date when I went on sick leave. And I don't have the type of work where the company will come to a stand-still if I am not there. Which could also be causing some of the feelings I have. I feel like I have no purpose here.

I dunno, this whole thing has just made me so bitter and desperate to get out of here.

Some days are worse than others, and on days like today, when I feel so run down I really wish I could stay at home just to feel a bit better. But now I don't have that option. It's stressful to the point where you are scared what you eat in case you get food poisoning because you know that you will have to go to work regardless of how bad you feel. It has made me paranoid and on edge. Always trying to prevent something from going wrong. But how do you prevent yourself from getting sick? How can you predict something like that???

Sadly, that's the bottom line (most places). If anyone has it better they are lucky.

Is that legal where you live??

No, it's not legal. But they are so manipulative that they make you look like the guilty party. And the intimidation factor is so high you end up feeling like a criminal.