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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: Employment issue
Submitted by GodivaGirl on Fri, 2007-04-20 - 23:27
Jill,
Yet another Canadian - in Ontario, and unemployed...not due to seizures though. My former place of employment (as of December 06) just readjusted their business plans. Really, sales wasn't for me, they knew it as much as I did. Both my IT Consulting Manager & my Sales/Marketing Manager from the company that I worked for are wiling to be references for me, and they're being pretty cool for me!
People are right, you shouldn't have to loose your job over seizures.
In the same sense, since I've moved on from mine, I've sat back, re-evaluated life & realized I was miserable in my last job & really, it was the job that caused most of my seizures at times anyway.
You might wanna keep that in mind if you do move on -- but make it your choice to leave! After all, why stay in an environment where they don't support you. Don't stress over them not wanting you there - what concerns me more in reading your post is it doesn't seem like you've come to terms with the fact that you have to deal with seizures as a part of you & well, it is too your benefit (safety, health, first aid & more) to make it a bit more public knowledge.
Also, even though it's protected under the HRDC and Employment Act and really you don't have to disclose that you're prone to seizures, as someone going through interviews right now, I find employers appreciate honesty.
The reason it's taking me time to find a job, is it's taking me time to find the right one. I want to be happy.
Thing is, really hardly anyone (One freak that's it) seems to think seizures are a big deal, if you have the talent, then go for whatever you want to do & be honest.
Skills, education & honesty count for more than anything - don't let seizures stand in your way....start to accept that as part of who you are instead of being scared.
Good Luck!
~ Erin
Re: Re: Re: Re: Employment issue
Submitted by mustacheman on Fri, 2007-04-20 - 01:04
I am from California and I work as a diesel mech. for a trash company that is very large,so far I have not been fired officially but I feel like it. H.R. will barely communicate with me. Maybe the states are different I cannot get a laywer because legally I have not been fired.If I work to make the extra money to live I terminate myself. I know the feeling Russ