[Woodchuck]

Howdy,

So I have a job that started in April. I like the job but struggle with training fast enough for the team's needs. However, I will be able to complete the program, just in a longer time frame than the other 3 new hires.

I've also been having pretty clear IBS-D symptoms for the last 2 months, and some abnormal bleeding in early May. I missed more than a week of work during the last bout, and several more days in the last month. I have been to the GP 2x and had to do a 2-day stool collection. I was not about to do that at work!!

HR has gotten involved with ADA paperwork. My dr. sent it in and I sent in my part. I had to reschedule a specialist appointment for 2 months later because I was told I cannot have doctor's appointments on scheduled work days, and I am required to be present for all hours of every scheduled shift. Specialist doctors are booking 3-4 months out and initially I took the first appointment available, but since it ended up being on a workday I rescheduled and will just have to deal with my symptoms for another 2 months.

Now that the paperwork is in, HR has changed their tune and is questioning why I haven't asked my boss to switch around my work days for my appointments. This is the polar OPPOSITE of what they told my boss just 2 weeks ago. HR is asking that I "just give my boss a list of appointments" and have him switch my days. Well, I only have the one appointment, on my day off, and after that I have no idea if I will have ample time to give my boss enough notice to rearrange scheduling for me to take another day or two for more testing.

I am starting to see the writing on the wall that this job is going to fire me....I can't deal with that again. The medical condition is out of my control. If I don't eat all day until I get home at 8 pm, I can usually limit the diarrhea to 2-3 bouts during the workday. I can't always get to the bathroom urgently due to the demands of my job, but I try to come in early (unpaid) to make sure I'm "empty" and try to time things for my unpaid lunch break.

I just really feel like HR is going to say this isn't an issue at all. And it is.

Sorry for all the detail.

[BrokeTech]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

I am starting to see the writing on the wall that this job is going to fire me....I can't deal with that again. The medical condition is out of my control. If I don't eat all day until I get home at 8 pm, I can usually limit the diarrhea to 2-3 bouts during the workday. I can't always get to the bathroom urgently due to the demands of my job, but I try to come in early (unpaid) to make sure I'm "empty" and try to time things for my unpaid lunch break.

I just really feel like HR is going to say this isn't an issue at all. And it is.

Sorry for all the detail.

I don't really think they can fire you, unless they come up with a really good unrelated reason (as in, unrelated to the medical issues you're having), given that your doctor has presented them with ADA paperwork. That's why they started changing their tune in the first place about working with your appointments. They don't want to get sued. If your struggle with training fast enough is even a little related to the IBS, i.e. missing a week of work during training, then they're probably not going to want to touch that as a reason to get rid of you.

I also have gastrointestinal issues, and I used to not eat breakfast or all day at work to make sure I didn't have any issues at work. I started taking supplements that ended up helping me with my issues. I did research on my symptoms and it seemed like they matched IBS, but I never went to the doctor about it and never got it confirmed. Maybe talk to your doctor about if there's anything he can prescribe or any diet changes that would help, or if there are any foods he can suggest that you can eat at work that won't be problematic.