|
Re: Anyone experienced discrimination at work due to endo?
From: cathy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat Sep 28 15:20:03 2002
At Mon, 23 Sep 2002, anonymous wrote:
>
>At Wed, 27 Mar 2002, Wanda wrote:
>>
>>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
>>
>>In the United States wouldn't the Family Medical Leave Act cover the employee in this situation? Unless the employers are very small, Federal laws entitle the patient to 12 weeks of leave per year due to their own serious medical condition. Take care to get the forms signed by your doctor.
>
>Take care and God Bless.
>
>i am waiting to find out if i have endo, my worst pain is mid cycle but every month i cant do my job well and have time off. my boss said "this happens every month with you cathy we all have periods and have to deal with it " i was so upset so eventually i explained my problem to her she was very understanding, and lets me do extra hours the week before so i can have that week to myself. thank god for a female boss.
>>>>>----- 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.
>>>
--
cathy bodkin
|
|
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)