Posted by Atticus on December 4, 2004, at 15:32:09
In reply to Employers and BP, posted by prodgirl on December 4, 2004, at 0:16:35
Hi,
I'm bipolar too, with rapid cycling. I'd strongly suggest that you find a copy of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. This federal mandate was expanded in 1996 by the Clinton administration to very specifically include much stronger protections for the mentally ill against workplace discrimination, and it details the accomodations that employers must make. Following a hospitalization earlier this year, I told my boss straight up about my illness and why it and reactions to meds made my behavior somewhat difficult sometimes. I also contacted NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), which offers a legal referral service to experts on these issues.
I was two years into my job as a writer and editor when this came up, so my position was obviously different. I certainly wouldn't bring your illness up with your potential employer until you've gotten the job, and it might be a good idea, at least for the time being, to seek out a therapist and pdoc like mine who has evening hours (perhaps even one closer to your potential new workplace). The key thing is to be thoroughly familiar with what your workplace rights are under the ADA, and NAMI might be a good place to start. It's a pretty powerful and well-known national advocacy group for people like us. Asking for reasonable accommodations for your disability that will enable you to function better (and therefore be a more effective employee) is a legal right under the ADA. What constitutes a "reasonable accommodation," however, can become a bone of contention between employees and employers.
The phone number for NAMI's lawyer referral service (as well as your local chapter -- a subsidiary of the state chapter) is listed on NAMI's home page. Just Google it. You can also talk to a representative from California's state NAMI organization. Knowledge is your best asset in handling a situation like this. Hope this helped. Atticus
poster:Atticus
thread:424315
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041202/msgs/424392.html