Protecting Your Job While Coping with Chronic Illness

General Health Insurance & Disability Coverage
1

I found this to be a great article from the NY Times with many resources on your protections in the work place-

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/health/20patient.html?_r=0

2

Thanks for posting this-great information!

3

Very good article. My employer however was not at all willing to work with me and continued to make it tougher to work. I left that job over a year ago and have had less anxiety then before.

4

I have had FM and Lupus Like illness for quite awhile--In addition I suffer from Major Depression and anxiety.

I recently was diagnosed with Diabetes and hypothyroidism and also have ADHD.

Please don't stop reading--I have survived 30 years of work as a social worker. I am working for a large hospital which is fast paced and I am not faring well.

I have noticed that if you cannot move at a fast pace and/ or let them know that you have a disability people tend to disappear. A person with a physical disability seems to fare better if it is visible, but those of us with invisible disabilities tend to take the brunt of it.

I feel paralyzed with all of my medical problems and this is only a partial list. I feel that my employers have treated me differently from trying to cut my hours, to telling me to grow thicker skin, to offering me jobs in different departments which soon grow in scope and become overwhelming.

Though the ADA helps some, it is easy for a large corporation which is not disability friendly to just move those of us along who may require a little help, in the name of saving a buck and moving things on efficiently

Thanks for allowing me to vent

Jan

5

Hi Janny,

I read your post and can relate to feeling "different" and wanting to hide my illness from people. I fake it and pretend it doesn't exist at work because I don't people to view me as the "sick girl". I am also a social worker for a larger corporation. Your comment about the fast paced environment and people disappearing really resonated with me. I recently submitted FMLA ppwk to take extra leave for illness or medical appointments related to my condition, but I'm worried how my supervisors will view me, even though they KNOW I am a good social worker and I have proven it time and time again.

Hugs,

Sara


jannytheresa said:

I have had FM and Lupus Like illness for quite awhile--In addition I suffer from Major Depression and anxiety.

I recently was diagnosed with Diabetes and hypothyroidism and also have ADHD.

Please don't stop reading--I have survived 30 years of work as a social worker. I am working for a large hospital which is fast paced and I am not faring well.

I have noticed that if you cannot move at a fast pace and/ or let them know that you have a disability people tend to disappear. A person with a physical disability seems to fare better if it is visible, but those of us with invisible disabilities tend to take the brunt of it.

I feel paralyzed with all of my medical problems and this is only a partial list. I feel that my employers have treated me differently from trying to cut my hours, to telling me to grow thicker skin, to offering me jobs in different departments which soon grow in scope and become overwhelming.

Though the ADA helps some, it is easy for a large corporation which is not disability friendly to just move those of us along who may require a little help, in the name of saving a buck and moving things on efficiently

Thanks for allowing me to vent

Jan