[popularmechanics]

Hey guys,

I was recently fired after what were a couple of really hostile weeks at a job I had for nine years.

On June 18th, I made management aware that I was relapsing into a depressive episode. it was so bad I would leave work and cry in my car for no reason. I had to have my medication raised to help me deal with the stress. At the time, management was very supportive and said they were willing to work with me on making things easier. We adjusted my schedule to be a little more routine for me, and I explained that depression affects many areas of my personality and behavior (sleep, mood, irritability, motivation, energy, judgement, etc).

Four days later, I was sat down for a meeting about going on Facebook on the work computer. I apologized, realizing that what I had done was against the rules. I felt legitimately bad, and I tried to explain that I didn't know why I had done it. Truly, I'd never had an issue in the nine years I'd worked there. After that was out of the way, my boss told me that I wasn't "pulling my weight" and that others had to "pick up my slack." She also suggested that "doing more might make me feel better." I left with a bad taste in my mouth.

And I complained to my co-workers. Bad move, I know. I trusted the wrong people. I was miserable. I felt like I could no longer trust management, that they didn't understand what I was going through, and that I couldn't go to them with problems. I told my co-coworkers that I felt it was discriminatory and that I wished they'd just fire me.

Last week, they fired me out of the blue. Two of my coworkers had gone behind my back and told the managers that I had been complaining and that I felt I was discriminated against. They said I said things that were "way out of line" and that my performance was poor. In May, my performance review had been stellar. Nobody would tell me what I supposedly said that was out of line. My boss kept telling me that I had not been discriminated against.

I knew it was useless but I tried to explain that I had no concept of judgement. I never meant to upset or hurt anyone, but when I'm depressed it's so impossible to control my mood and my thoughts. As far as the performance goes, I thought I had been improving. None of this was ever brought to my attention.

I later received an email back from another one of the bosses (the mother, a family-owned business) who told me that they had been putting up with me and "my issues" for a long time and that there had been many unsuccessful attempts to bring about positive change in my attitude and performance.

I just don't understand how all of this could happen within mere weeks of me disclosing my mental illness and asking for accommodations... I'm considering filing with the EEOC but I guess I wanted a second opinion. I don't even know if it's worth it or not.

Hello popularmechanics, I see this is your first post so welcome to PC! I hope you find your time here to be of benefit. Once you have 5 approved posts, you will be able to enter the chat room and talk to fellow members. There is almost always someone online to chat with.

I would personally not file with the EEOC in this situation and just try to find other employment when you feel able to work. It sounds like you were unreliable at your job from June-July, and over a month of poor performance is a perfectly valid reason to let you go. Also the fact that you used Facebook at work makes you look bad, as well as telling your co-workers that you'd wish they'd fire you. I know you were likely saying that out of frustration but it still doesn't look good on you.

I used to have issues with being reliable at work when feeling depressed, and I could definitely understand the perspectives of my employer. It's important for employees to be reliable, show up on time and stay the whole shift while carrying their weight in work. If you feel unable to do this, it might be time to take a small break to focus on your mental health or even file for disability if you think this will last for a while. When your mood is better and you are able to be reliable at work, that is when you should be working.

[popularmechanics]

Hi scaredandconfused, thanks for responding.

Here's the thing, aside from the facebook issue and the complaining, I felt that I had been reliable. I was still coming to work aside from having legitimate medical issues. I was staying the whole shift, and as far as I was concerned, I was still participating in my daily responsibilities.

I guess what is really bothering me here is that I have no idea what my coworkers said about me. They could have told them I stood around and do nothing. I felt like I was being mistreated from the moment I disclosed and it all spiraled down from there, I think my coworkers going to them about whatever was the last straw.

And I realize I'm not innocent in this situation, though I don't agree with how any of it was handled, especially since I'd been there almost ten years.

[popularmechanics]

Originally Posted by scaredandconfused

Hello popularmechanics, I see this is your first post so welcome to PC! I hope you find your time here to be of benefit. Once you have 5 approved posts, you will be able to enter the chat room and talk to fellow members. There is almost always someone online to chat with.

I would personally not file with the EEOC in this situation and just try to find other employment when you feel able to work. It sounds like you were unreliable at your job from June-July, and over a month of poor performance is a perfectly valid reason to let you go. Also the fact that you used Facebook at work makes you look bad, as well as telling your co-workers that you'd wish they'd fire you. I know you were likely saying that out of frustration but it still doesn't look good on you.

I used to have issues with being reliable at work when feeling depressed, and I could definitely understand the perspectives of my employer. It's important for employees to be reliable, show up on time and stay the whole shift while carrying their weight in work. If you feel unable to do this, it might be time to take a small break to focus on your mental health or even file for disability if you think this will last for a while. When your mood is better and you are able to be reliable at work, that is when you should be working.

Hi, thanks for responding.

I'm not in any way saying I'm innocent in this situation. I know I messed up and told management from the get-go that I took responsibility for my actions.

I guess what doesn't sit well with me is that it was never brought to my attention that my performance wasn't improving. I legitimately thought that over the last couple of weeks, I had been improving, even my mood. I have no idea what my coworkers said about me. For all I know, they could've gone in and told them I stand around and do nothing.

I was mostly depressed because of the job and the environment, so I realize that being fired is a blessing. I guess I just thought that after nine years these problems would have been communicated to me in some way.

[reb569]

I honestly am on the fence on this. I think it's a stretch to go from stellar performance to "long term issues" over the course of a couple months. Especially if you had only the one incident where you were counseled for going on facebook. My guess is they are saying this to cover their butt and possibly intimidate you.

However, I'm not sure filing a complaint is the best course, but I would definitely file for unemployment and think about your options. They may be able to give you some advice at the unemployment office about whether you have a case.

I'm sure others will have some advice too.

Best of luck!

[seesaw]

File the complaint. It does sound like discrimination to me. Here's why: you disclosed your illness and asked for accommodations. They provided said accommodations, but then when these "issues" they claim arose, they didn't give you any kind of warning, they just fired you. That's suspicious. Filing a complaint with the EEOC only means that they will investigate and determine whether there was discrimination. If so, they will pursue it in court and you can too.

I have an open complaint with the EEOC myself right now, over what was clear discrimination. To me, your case looks like clear discrimination - just from your side. You had a great review in May, then your performance became an issue but you weren't warned? And so you were fired for cause? And seriously, for visiting Facebook? Many businesses use Facebook and ask their employees to share stuff and help promote. I know we were asked to help promote through our personal FB pages by sharing our employers posts. They had one instance of you visiting FB? They were looking for a reason. I would file.

But you need to do it fast. I believe the cut off is 180 days to file.

Seesaw

[popularmechanics]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's very nice to meet you.

I obviously have a lot to think about, but I'm glad to know I'm partly justified in feeling like I was treated poorly. I don't know too many other people in my area who have been through similar situations, so I felt like I might have just been blowing things out of proportion.

[Molinit]

If you feel you have a complaint, go ahead and file. When you do, the company will have to produce documentation of prior action to correct your behavior or other attempts to get you to improve your performance.

Be careful with this now, and consider whether they will have documentation for all this (is it possible that informal chats have been had with you that you don't remember or that you might not have realized were attempts to correct your behavior). If you feel your performance over these last 6 months has been good and you can handle a bunch of stuff being brought up, then file.

Have you filed for unemployment and has it been approved?