mental illness in workplace

I have a question about depressive people in the work place. I have been with my company for over 6 years and they knew from the start – because I TOLD them – that I was a diagnosed manic depressive (bipolar – same thing) and I have been diagnosed as such since 1995 – I do my job to the best of my abilities. I gave all the bosses that I am working for a copy of some information on how this disease effects people, none of them ever bothered to read it. As the years have gone by I have gotten glowing reviews in the last couple of them – and now all of a sudden this year when I had to be out of work on short term disability for medical reasons due to complications for surgeries – this years review was horrible – they didn’t dare mention my time off for the medical things since I was under a doctors care the whole time - each and every time – so they were smart enough to not mention that in any way, shape or form. But my review contained a lot of untruths – that I can backup with letters and comments from other employees.

Now here comes the problem or issue actually – I have been told in private by a good friend that the managers had mentioned on several occasions that they “were afraid to fire me for missing all the work (under the doctors care mind you) – because they were afraid I would come back and sue the company” – sooooo, after I heard that comment had been made it almost makes sense as to my horrible review this year after 3 years of great ones – it almost seems to me like they are setting the stage based on my work performance, which is untrue, to get rid of me that way.

I am tempted to go to an attorney now for fair labor practices and cite all of this to him and then go on medical leave for stress related issues – which this is all causing on me at this point – and then just not go back and sue for undue stress in the workplace. Depression is a recognized disease and my work knows it – they should since they are one of the largest corporations in the country – heck, in the world – so they know what they are doing as far as covering their butts in giving me poor reviews all of a sudden. Mind you, NONE of these issues that were in the review were ever brought up in the first 10 months of the year to bring them to my attention to try and correct the supposed problems they say I have. But now it is being brought up – and now that I know the statement that got made about me I feel that is the reason behind my bad review.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

NUMBER 10: We're sorry, you'll have to talk to our LegalMatch shirtless lawyer.

NUMBER 9: Some people believe crazy things after nine beers.

NUMBER 8: Your thoughts become obscured by a cloud of fleas.

NUMBER 7: You get upset because there's no promotion for "Most Drool" at your desk.

NUMBER 6: Co-workers refer to you as "The crazy one."

NUMBER 5: You have a 40-hour week schedule, but you only work Monday and Tuesday.

NUMBER 4: You answer "No" to your boss when he asks if you know how to type, take dictation and dispose of a body.

NUMBER 3: You love your job because you're in charge of checking hairpieces for ticks.

NUMBER 2: Because you smell so badly, your employer contacts you daily via satellite phone from undisclosed location in mountainous region of Afghanistan.

AND NOW, the NUMBER ONE Reason Why "Mentals" Think They're Owed A Job . . .

Eight hours a day, your boss throws stuff at you, and you don't mind!

Cute, who did you steal that from ? I harldy fit any of those criteria - two degrees and going for my masters hardly makes me "entitled" to anything, I have earned everything I have gotten in the past 20 years, but thanks for proving once again your own ignorance and bigotry.

I think you have the right idea. Talk to an attorney. They will be able to provide you with in depth legal advice regarding your situation. Find out what there advice is regarding going on medical leave etc.

Good luck.

Thanks ! Yeah it got worse today - I finally finished my review and this year I got no raise - supposedly it was because my desk's duties dont require a full time person ! Uh, after 6 years this is now being told that it isnt a full time position ? Plus this year int he past 9 months I have been given MORE work than I had last year and last year I got the maximu raise allowed. So it is clear they are covering themselves - not ONE thing was mentioned in my review about my medical leaves. My first step is going to HR - this supervisor has had the same complaints over and over and over again by employees that have either left the company entirely or have moved to a different department.


Now all of a sudden my top supervisor won't approve my job application for a different position in the company ? So which is it, they either want me here or they don't. If they dont other departments do but they cant come forward without going through the regular interviewing process which includes having my boss sign off on my request for a transfer.