(This is Part IV in a five-part series on bipolar. To catch up, see Bipolar on the Job Part I: “Will I Be Able to Return to Work?” Part II: “To Tell or Not to Tell?” Part III, “How to Talk about Bipolar Disorder” and Part IV, “Requesting Reasonable Workplace Accommodations.”)
An “occupational hazard” of bipolar disorder is that it can trigger snap decisions, especially in the midst of a major manic or depressive episode. The illness can limit your foresight. You can’t work or foresee a time in the near future when you’ll be able to return to work, so you decide to quit, resign, or take early retirement.
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Thank you for your “Bipolar Disorder on the Job” series. I have been a manager at a large professional services firm for 20 years and due to job stress associated with reorganization and outsourcing, I have had many questions about my rights as an employee with bipolar disorder if I am no longer able to work due to my illness. Your series has helped me answer those questions and provided valuable insights which will be useful if/when the time comes for me to leave my current position or the company altogether.
D
8:55 am on
February 24th, 2010recently my story goes back 2 years.Becoming ill either by malious in-laws harrassing me thru episodes of a life I left cause I didn’t want to harm a child I gave to father.It was 21 years later that I admitted my self to the hospital feeling the ugliest in-laws setting me up twice at an establishment not relizing “How could I notice the ex or a child I left at 2 yrs.old. Why were they playing but circling me and later like 1 year after I remember my past. I kick the in laws out to the curb.Bad mouthing me thru previously as well as potential employee ON WHICH I MADE A CLAIM i DROPPED DUED TO STRESS ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY MOTHER IN LAW WAS BEHIND THIS HARRESSMENT iF i WOULD’VE FIQURE THIS OUT BEFORE i WOULDN’NT HAVE DOPPED THE HUMAN RIGHTS. My mother in law and I got into it and she admitted to her roled and evilly laugh.Now that she had tried to get her granddaughter on her side giving my daughter lies on I overheard she wanted my daughter godmothers’ number(she if her guardian if ever needed.)Told my husband fix it this is a new year and I’m not going thru with her again.Her son my husband told his mother not to call our daughter again I think also it means don’t call us either.How can I GET HELP NOW ABOUT MY EMPLOYMENT?
Carole
9:38 pm on
March 6th, 2010I used to work at a university as a professor. I went on a leave of absence and when I returned, they required me to sign a statement in order to come back. It stated that I would not disclose my diagnosis or symptoms to faculty, staff or students. They wouldn’t do that if you were out for heart problems!
Also, we put in a plan for accommodations – one online class a semester, no early morning classes, and no out of town classes. The first semester back full-time (after one semester part-time) they broke all the accommodations- no online class, an 8am class and a class out of town. I lasted about 4 weeks. I am now on disability.
sarah
2:28 pm on
July 28th, 2010I do not know what to do about work. I was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago because of having a a Bipolar episode. When it was time to return to work my Dr. gave me note to return to work. THE VERY FIRST LINE SAID ” I WAS SEEN FOR A BIPOLAR EPISODE but I CAN RETURN TO WORK. I work with the mentally and physically challenged. My HR department had not right to no that I had Bipolar in my eyes. I even wrote on the HIPPA paper not to disclose my illness to work. Since then I have not been able to return to work. I feel as if my rights have been taken away from me. I need to know of I should get myself a atty to represent me to try to get my job back and also to do something about the Dr. who disclosed my illness to my work. Please if you have advice please respond.
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