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Employment issue
Fri, 02/16/2007 - 12:37Good Morning,
I have been fairly new to this disorder.
My employment is what is concerning me. I don't like anyone knowing about this problem, I feel it is personal. Unfortunately, I had a massive seizure at work this past summer. Lost consciousness, don't remember the whole day, co-workers called ambulance, went to ER. This was horrible.
So everyone at work now knows.
My issue is that as with most employment, we have a policy in place that if you must take off work due to illness, a call must be placed 30 minutes prior to shift start time.
Yesturday morning, I don't know exactly when I had another seizure. Again the whole day is a blank.
Now of course I am in trouble for not calling in.
Any suggestions on how I should be handling this?
I don't want to lose my job, and now I am really scared that I am likely to be fired due to this disorder.
Prior to yesturday, my boss let me know that this is an "issue". By this he meant any seizure activity.
It feels to me like my boss and co-workers seem to feel I have some sort of control over this... The environment here is the sort where over time is expected and if you are sick you come to work.
Some of you may say, why don't you find another job. I am in a mid-size Canadian city at a telco job, which is fairly specific to the industry. I have been applying for jobs within the company, but now that I have had a seizure at work - this comes up in interviews. I am sure this has at lot to do with why I cannot seem to even be able to transfer never mind advance.
Any advise? I really need some...
Thank you,
Jill
Comments
Re: Re: Employment issue
Submitted by ron sams on Tue, 2007-04-17 - 11:17
I am 58, had E since birth and had several problems when trying to get and keep work. I have always worked as accounts administrator and office administrator but one of the main questions I am asked when they find that I dont drive and I have epilepy is How will you get to work. Even though the company premise is on a main bus route.
I was advised to leave a job I had after 3 years because they had re located and I had to catch a bus out to the countryside.
Many employers cannot seem to get the point that not every person in the country is able to drive a car and indeed why do they need to for an office job
E still has many prejudices and most of them seem to be with employers and businesses. I have been with my present employer for 3 years and he and his wife have been considerate because they have had this problem with their son
Re: Re: Re: Employment issue
Submitted by stevedj on Wed, 2007-04-18 - 08:44
I'm from England but it sounds like things still work the same in Canada, as you previous reply said "discrimination due to disabilities is ILLEGAL." I recently spoke to the HR here and they said an interesting point, that you are actually more secure in a job then your other work collegues.
Steve.
Re: Employment issue
Submitted by Harrie on Tue, 2007-04-17 - 09:57
I'm an Aussie and Iv'e been through exactly that. I was employed by a shoe repairing company and during my 2 years there, they changed managers. The new manager found out I had E and set out to get rid of me because I had a daytime seizure due to stress. Under Equal Opportunity law here in Australia, what he did was Illegal and I took him to the tribunal. Got a bit of money out of them, but still doesn't make you feel any better because of the damage that is already done. At least I have the last laugh now. The employer told me I should be home on a pension. I now have a Government job that involves driving. Hopefully in Canada what the employer is doing to you is Illegal you can report him and get a suitable outcome.