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Should I lie & not tell people I'm epileptic just to get a job!!
Sun, 07/08/2007 - 11:49I'm sorta at a loss for what to do. I've been unemployed and on Canadian EI (assistance) since December '06. That runs out in February '08. Thing is, I have a university education & 9 years experience in technology - the field I used to work in. Basically, where I used to work transferred me to marketing because to much travel was needed in the other department & I can't drive. Well, I hated working in marketing, slowly my 'stats' sucked, so that job ended - I was going to start looking for something new in January '07 & leave - they just sorta forced me to quit & processed paperwork as 'mutual agreement' in December instead.
Since I get all kinds of interviews for jobs where I'm over qualified & jobs where they'd be a match. The problem always seems to be one of 2 things - Travel! or Hours!
Travel - well, not having a license.
Hours - In order to prevent seizures I need a pretty consistent life, and can't really work until 2am.
Thing is, as soon as I tell people that medical comes first & well, as long as travel isn't by car I'm okay to travel anywhere they don't like that.
And for some jobs, if I say I want to be home by 10pm, but I'm more than willing to work from home, they don't like that!
What am I supposed to do, lie & put employment ahead of health?? My doctors would kill me, not to mention my boyfriend, family & friends.
Any ideas how to get it through to employers that "driving" isn't the only way to travel & that it is possible to work from home after 'standard hours'?? I'm freaked I won't have a job by the time my EI runs out & if that happens essentially then I'm living off a line of credit or something.
Thanks.
Comments
Hi, I've been waiting on
Submitted by KJCleveland on Sun, 2007-07-08 - 14:29
Hi, I've been waiting on someone to answer your post so I can find out the answer to your question about lying to get employed. I was just diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy 3 months ago after a Grand Mal seizure and a positive EEG. I had been laid off from a job for a while and have been working a temporary position which is playing out. I need a job with benefits by September because my COBRA insurance only lasts until then. This whole Epilepsy thing is so new to me that I just feel totally lost. I have no idea how to handle trying to get Employment. Do I volunteer the fact that I've been diagnosed with this? Do I have to tell? What if I don't tell? And then yes, there is the driving issue. I can start back driving in September (that is, if I stay seizure free) but do I tell them that if I have another seizure I won't be able to drive? I'm sorry, I know you came here for answers and all I'm doing is adding more questions, but I just wanted to let you know you are not going through this alone. I understand your dilemma and I will be sitting here hoping you get some better replies than mine that will maybe help answer our questions. Sorry I could not be of more help but wanted to let you know I read your post and totally empathize. Hang in there!
Oh and I too work in Technology so I understand about the hours issue. Employers want you on call and available at all hours in case anything goes wrong. This was not a problem in the past, but I have to have my sleep now and not sure I could handle those long shifts trying to get a crashed system back online like I used to. Just not sure how to handle all of this....
KJ
Re: Hi, I've been waiting on
Submitted by Peaches78 on Sun, 2007-07-08 - 17:14
I don't know where you are located, but in the U.S. employers cannot ask about your medical problems. That is an illegal question and if they do ask you are not required to answer. If you get fired from a job because of your epilepsy or not hired because of it, maybe you should contact the Americans with Disabilities Association and see if they can do anything about it or perhaps the Epilepsy Foundation.
I live in the US and have not
Submitted by Jeff Thomas on Wed, 2017-04-05 - 11:17
I live in the US and have not told employers or friends about having epilepsy.I learned that to get a job and to keep a job that you can not let an employer know.They used to ask on applications until the late 90's.I get the medication to help control my seizures from Mexico, and do not have to worry about having to refill every 30 days.I have had several seizures over the years wrecked many cars and have had many severe injuries.I say all this because even though I have worked full time for 45 years I cannot get benefits in any way from social security or any other means.The US government does not consider epilepsy debilitating unless you have multiple visible seizures everyday.Americans with Disabilities Association is a joke.The struggle to hide continues.