Re: Anyone experienced discrimination at work due to endo?
From: Wanda (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed Mar 27 20:14:04 2002
Thank for this post. I was fired in January due to missing too much work
because of Endo related problems. I had a doctors note for each day and I
tried to make up as much time as I could. They still fired me.....
Angel Hugs,
Wanda
>----- Original Message -----
From: "anna" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list ENDO" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: Anyone experienced discrimination at work due to endo?
> At Wed, 27 Mar 2002, Wendi wrote:
> >
> >Mary,
> >
> >Wow! That was some wonderful advice. What you said about you being 40
> >years old and your mother just starting to understand your condition,
> >and about employers! My employers of course know what's going on, but
> >I'd never thought of actually showing them some documentation on the
> >disease itself. It's people like you that help us to learn a little
> >something everyday.
> >
> >Thanks sweetie!! I really enjoyed that email.
> >Hugs,
> >Wendi
> >
> >P.S. Sorry to butt in. :)
> >
> >At Tue, 26 Mar 2002, Mary wrote:
> >>
> >>At Tue, 26 Mar 2002, anna wrote:
> >>>
> >>>At Tue, 26 Mar 2002, Joan wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>Hello everyone-
> >>>>
> >>>>I am currently having problems at work due to the time I am missing
> >>>>because of endo. I work at a busy office, and I miss about 2 days a
> >>>>month because of endo pain. Recently, I have been being treated like
I
> >>>>am not part of the team and am letting everyone else down because I am
> >>>>not there. I have heard rumours that the boss is considering firing
me
> >>>>because of my missed days.
> >>>>Anyone experienced anything like this? Any advice?
> >>>>Thanks,
> >>>>Jo
> >>>
> >>>i had the same problem until they decided to fire me and i am thinking
> >>>of hiring a lawyer since i have a lot o notes i brought them. try to
> >>>take a doctor's note to your work explaining that you will need so many
> >>>days a month due to illness. i work in hr well not now but legally you
> >>>can have 3 months of leave of absent if you take 2 a month that is
about
> >>>24 days. talk to your doctor. if you get fired you will be protected
> >>>if you decide to hire a lawyer.
> >>
> >>Hello Anna and everyone,
> >>We are constantly learning(the hard way mostly) with endo. We find it
> >>hard to understand what we are going through but we get through it by
> >>helping one another. So we have to stop and think, how can those who
> >>have no idea about the disease understand when we don't always. We have
> >>to teach them. Supply them with documentation on the disease, the
> >>symptoms the effects(physical and psychological), the treatments and all
> >>the horror stories which come with them, the fact that they don't know
> >>the cause of endo and that there is no cure. We are exhausted from the
> >>disease and we have to battle those closest to us because they don't
> >>know, so we have to find the energy to teach them. A friend who I've
> >>known for almost 20 years seemed to understand. Yet, a month ago, after
> >>seeing a documentary on endo, she said to my husband"Mary is really sick
> >>isn't she?" My gut reaction was to call her and say"Duh, where have you
> >>been all this time?" Our emotions and fears get in the way and we don't
> >>always explain what we're going through. We have to teach everyone.
> >>After many absences over the years,then 6 weeks off last fall, and 1
> >>week off for a ruptured cyst, plus a sick day here and there, it was
> >>suggested from my employer that maybe I retire or think of other things
> >>I may want to do which are less hectic on my health. She meant well but
> >>still, the pressure was there. I no longer felt comfortable or secure
> >>about my job after that. I gave her facts on endo, the survivor's
> >>letter, and my own testimonial and story which I had written for a press
> >>conference. I give her updates on horror stories about endo, Lupron,
> >>Depo,tamoxifen...etc.
> >>I feel like i no longer have the energy or want to battle people and get
> >>their approval that yes I am sick. I'm tired of fighting for
> >>credibility, but I have no choice. As long as you cover your a__,pardon
> >>my bluntness, no one can give you grief. Especially employers. Get
> >>medical certificates if you have to. I don't know how it works in the
> >>States, but I try to get notes from doctors when I see them. Things are
> >>a bit better at work because now my boss understands a bit more and
> >>doesn't just hear me say i'm in pain.I elaborate.
> >>I'm almost 40 and after suffering for what seems like forever, my own
> >>mother is just beginning to get the picture. We have to keep in mind
> >>that our frustrations sometimes get in the way of getting the right
> >>message across. I know that is the case for me, so I'm trying to teach
> >>those around me as much as possible.
> >>Take care
> >>Mary
>
> well we all have to pray that everything goes well for us.
>
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