Has anyone had problems holding a job?

[momof3boys]

Ive been thinking back to all the jobs Ive had, and since the age of 16, (the past 13 years) Ive had 10 jobs. The majority of those I only got to be at the job for a short while... like three or four months. During those jobs, I've had seizures, when then end up with me coming back to work, and being called into the office of the boss and being let go. They dont come out and tell you its due to having epilepsy. They just tell you the usual response... "Things just arnt working out here for you".

One job I worked at, I was around the age of 18 or 19 years old... i worked at an insurance company pulling files for the agents. I was there for a few months and then had a seizure while i was working. I went home that day and returned to work the following day. I worked that day and then at the end of the day, I got called into the office to be told they think I am not doing as good as the others they hired and they have to let me go. But whats odd, is that before they did this, they called my home phone number, (at the time I was living with my parents still) and asked my mother why I or her didnt tell this information to them before? I find it odd that after each job I get, I happen to have a seizure within a time period Im working there and I get let go right after words.

Im a mom of three little boys, ages 6, 5 and 4 yrs old. The older two are in school, (1st grade & Kindergarten). Im at home with our youngest. He wont be attending kindergarten til august 2012. So, til then, Im trying to figure out what Im going to do when he finally goes to school. I was working at a local YMCA in their child care dept, and I got to bring my youngest son with me to work for free. It was a great benifit. I was there for alittle over 4 months and then let go. Word got around that I had epilepsy, and after about a week of people knowing, right before my shift ended, I got called into the boss's office and was told that I could still work there, but just couldnt bring my kid(s) with me to work. I was wanting to work at least 15-20 hours a week, but they were only scheduling me 6-8 hours a week! Being paid $7.25 an hour, and only getting about $50 a week... Id be paying more for a babysitter than what I would be making! So, I had no choice but to tell them I couldnt work without bringing my kids with me.

Its things like that, that just bugs me. Ive just been wondering what others who have seizures, what you do when it comes to finding jobs and being able to keep them?

 

[travel bug]

Hi momof3boys

What you've experienced is outrageous! It's sooo against the law, but I guess employers just count on the fact that lawsuits are expensive and a giant hassle. I wish I had some advice, but I haven't had any luck either. All I can say is that not all employers are prejudiced; when I had my first seizure my boss was very supportive and understanding. Unfortunately, I taught ESL classes at different locations and at different times around a neighboring city; it was just a matter of not having any way to get to work.

When I was able to drive again and started looking for work in my own small town I definitely noticed the negative attitude some have; I tried to be honest and open about my epilepsy which was a big mistake. It was funny (not!) how open positionS became open position which had just been filled or, all of a sudden, required five years experience. But like you found out, if you don't tell them up front, they can accuse you of withholding information. It's a sort of catch-22.

But don't give up! There are knowledgeable, sympathetic employers out there, it just takes a while to find them.

All the best to you and your 3 little ones

 

[Loopy Lou]

I'm on my 19th job since i was 16, and i've been in this one for over two years! Also, i'm 24.

Don't think i could blame it on my epilepsy since i only got formally diagnosed just after i started my current job, although they're trying their hardest to get me out now.

Normally here there's a period of time where you are on probation, and then after that they can't "let you go" without solid reasons and going down a disciplinary route. My current employers kept making up stupid reasons to keep me on probation, until they realised there was no more excuses they could make.

They're trying to make me leave of my own accord now.

I think the way you've been treated with work is disgusting. And you have young kids too! Some employers have no conscience. (can't spell today, dunno if that's right)

 

[ColmanMac]

Hi - I've never had trouble like you describe but I'm fortunate to have had the same Director "drag" me with her to whichever job she has moved to. Consequently she has always been aware of my conditions & has been around for me.
I haven't been able to pick up where your'e located but, if your in UK, since 01 10 10, the shoe really is on the foot of the disabled employee.
You can really make trouble for an employer re: Disability Discimination - the secret is knowing how to present it! Hence my local authority was extremely keen to quickly take me on in an advisory role, to their Diversity & Equality Division on the advent of the Equality Act!

 

[ColmanMac]

Hi "LL" & Failte ar ais - Oh I think Im gonna enjoy having you around - It'll keep everyone else on their toes!
Coming from a "one-horse" village in West Cork, I didn't come to England 'til I was 15 &, quite literally, had to begin learning the lingo then. It was difficult to take exams, etc. but at least I was allowed to take the ones that mattered in the Gaidhlig.
A useful site re: Equality Act can be found @ Government Equalities Office website. - just put 'Equalities Act 2010' into your search engine - this is the main site I use for advisory work. If you need anythingthing else re: more complex arguments, give me a shout.

Tir gan teanga tir gan anam!
Col.

 

[Endless]

Mom of 3 boys,

You are in the United States. There are laws protecting you.

Sometimes it's hard to prove it was descrimination. A key is to keep good documentation of what you said, they said, happened, and the dates. In your next job ask for early feedback on your performance (before you've had a seizure). Just say you'd like to know how they think you are doing. Write down what they say. If your feedback is good, and later they fire you after you've had a seizure, you'll have some ammo.

If you think you've been descriminated against lodge a complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

http://www.eeoc.gov/

 

[momof3boys]

With my last job, we had monthly reviews. All of my reviews were excellent. When I went in for my interview, if you were not CPR certified, but had a great history that they would gladly hire you, they offered CPR classes for free for you to take. So, after I was hired, I took the classes again to get renewed with them. If was a MUST HAVE when you worked in the child care dept. But I noticed even though I got all of my requirements met, the boss wasnt giving me any of the hours she said I would get. She knew that I would have to bring my kids to work, just like alot of the moms that worked there. That place was popular for moms working there. Even if you didnt work in the child care dept, all moms could bring their children to the child care to have them watched while they worked. There was another gal that got hired the same day as I did. She had two little boys about the same age as my younger two... between 3 and 5 years of age. Well, as time went on, I saw her getting alot of hours... like up to 25 hours a week! But then they were only giving me 6-8 hours a week. And what I found out as time went on, this gal wasnt CPR certified! So here she is watching all these infants and toddlers and sometimes on her own!.... without having any knowledge of CPR! Then as time went on, and this was told to our boss, nothing was done about this woman getting the CPR she needed.

This woman was also a friend of mine. We were friends on facebook, and we chated most of the time. She even invited me to a party at her home!
But all along, the boss was favoring her. In the end, someone said something to her about my epilepsy and thats when she started to not be available when I needed her. The times I would need her was when it was just me working and we had a ton of kids coming in. We would have to call her first if we had just one person working. So I think she was trying to make me look bad as much as she could. During all of this, my grandfather almost died. The first person I thought of when I ran out the door to the hospital, was my boss. My husband emailed her personal email for me to let her know what had taken place and I would be calling her before my shift the following day. I did exacly as the handbook said, to have all contact with the boss if any emergency were to happen. But when I got called in to be let go, she used that time against me too.

But I went right back at her.... I got the emails and my phone records and sent a letter with all that to her boss. That really didnt make her happy. She lied to her boss about even bringing my grandfathers sitation up when she let me go. Of course her boss was on her side.

Its just unfortunate thingsl ike that happen.

 

[momof3boys]

Endless....

I got in touch with my lawyer that tried to get me SSI, and told her about the situation. She said it would be tough because like my other employer, (the one who said I violated the rules by allowing personal family or friends in the lobby, but had to have someone come get me after I had a seizure at work) we have to have absolute proof that i was let go due to my seizures. What I was sent back from her boss, had nothing in there about me letting go because of my seizures. It would be basicly the same as what happened with my prior job. I hate how employers can put anything they want to down for a reason to let you go to cover their butt. I dont see why employers cant accept everyone for who they are and not get rid of them because of things like Epilepsy.

 

[Endless]

Don't just take one lawyer's word for it. Get a second opinion. And it costs nothing to file a complaint with the EEOC.

 

[momof3boys]

Don't just take one lawyer's word for it. Get a second opinion. And it costs nothing to file a complaint with the EEOC.

I'll have to look into it. thanks

 

[ericksonmj]

Momof3boys,
You need to document everything, and I see that you live in Nebraska. Unfortunately for you Nebraska is an “Employment at Will” or “Right to Work” state. That means “any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is equally free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease work.” Or in short they don’t have to give a reason for firing you. Good for the company, bad for you.
What it really means though is that you need to document everything to prove that you were let go for E. I can assure you that the companies have HR reps telling the managers exactly what to say and how to say it to avoid legal problems for them, you just have to be smarter than them. And get the opinion of a few different lawyers on it.
I know this isn’t good news, but I wish you all the luck in the world with it.

 

[momof3boys]

That makes sense then. After how they handled it with my last job at the local YMCA, my boss did have a HR person there when I went in to see her. Other times when I was told I could no longer work, there wasnt anyone but the boss there. After hearing from my attourney, she did say it would be hard to proof that they were getting rid of me due to my Epilepsy. I just hope when its time for me to get a job, that i can keep a job and I dont just keep getting let go.

 

[ericksonmj]

You will. (Find a good job)
I was lucky and when I received the trauma that caused mine my current boss was with me. So he knows what happened and spent a lot of time talking with me when I started asking what he and everyone else should do if I have any problems, and has always been supportive.
Learning a lot in my business law class, some of it good, some of it really bad, a lot that needs to be fixed.

 

[ColmanMac]

Hi Mom of 3 Boys; Endless has it spot on, given that you are in the US. Begin keeping records, copy correspondence, other docs, like "yesterday". It's never too late & always confirm - even a 'phone call via. a quick e-mail - couple of lines will do.
Plus the moment you suspect a situation is heading down the discrimination road, seek an informal (at first) meet with local employment services. Anything should be flagged up immediately as, when the brown stuff hits the fan, someone will say to you; "Why didn't you tell us before?".
If you get stuck, give me a shout. I know I'm in UK but I've enough friends in Employment Services here to point you in right direction given the International Labour Regs now.
Col.

 

[momof3boys]

Thank you so much Col. I've been looking around to see if there are any possible jobs out there I can do while my husband is at home with the kids. (during the hours of 3pm to 10pm) I have worked in the fast food industry, I was hoping not to go back in that area again, but if anything, I will. Im just checking things out now to see whats all available.

If I have any questions, I'll let you know. Thanks again!

 

[stephk]

Hi momof3boys,
I can understand your frustration. I live in a "work at will state" as well. It is definetly hard to prove discrimination. The law requires that employers make reasonable efforts to help a (i hate this word) disabled person accomplish thier job. Now where you worked in a daycare... ( i am playing devils advocate so please forgive me), they really could use the "it is unreasonable to have additional personel on call or work, to ensure the safety of the children that the employee has to look after". In other words your a liability. But i also read what you posted and i am wondering if someone just had it in for you personally. Cold hard facts are for me personally (im still uncontrolled) that i am pretty much a liability everywhere. Of course many companies where i live require you to have reliable transportation (public does not count) and most require a drivers license to boot. (I have been released from several jobs because of my siezures... its funny how your hours go down and down and down, until you have practically none... I disclose my med conditions after i have been offered a position, and on apps that have a section that ask if you require special accomodations, I write "will discuss upon job offer", this covers my butt so i don't look like i am hiding anything, but still i live in a work at will state, and know that not giving full disclosure will usually lead to being released.)

But the holidays are coming up. Retail is a great place to look (not fast food...lol all i can think is possible major injury ie burns, the hard slippery floors and head contact don't sound like fun...ect..ect). Most companies constantly hire new people throughout the holiday season, and a few months after and some of these places will hire so many people for permanent part time positions.

Another thought is to go into a business for yourself. If you can travel it might not be a bad idea to try.. there are some companies that are legit, and if you have the personality for it you can do great (my cousin supports her family of 6 by doing just this) and you can set your own hours and don't have to worry about other bru-ha-ha.

Lastly, if you can afford it (there are many grants and scholarships out there) go back to school. Your hours of availability look awesome for night school. That is always a thought. Education is a great option if you can do it and it could open up other possible employment opportunities!

Keep faith in the fact that you will find a great job that works for you. It has been a long time since i have had a job that lasted longer than six months (funny part i get incredible reccomendations from all my former employers... i checked to see what they are saying...), but i still think that a career will be possible for me in my future. Keep your head up, I think that most of us have been there.

Good luck!:banana:

 

[momof3boys]

Hi momof3boys,
I can understand your frustration. I live in a "work at will state" as well. It is definetly hard to prove discrimination. The law requires that employers make reasonable efforts to help a (i hate this word) disabled person accomplish thier job. Now where you worked in a daycare... ( i am playing devils advocate so please forgive me), they really could use the "it is unreasonable to have additional personel on call or work, to ensure the safety of the children that the employee has to look after". In other words your a liability. But i also read what you posted and i am wondering if someone just had it in for you personally. Cold hard facts are for me personally (im still uncontrolled) that i am pretty much a liability everywhere. Of course many companies where i live require you to have reliable transportation (public does not count) and most require a drivers license to boot. (I have been released from several jobs because of my siezures... its funny how your hours go down and down and down, until you have practically none... I disclose my med conditions after i have been offered a position, and on apps that have a section that ask if you require special accomodations, I write "will discuss upon job offer", this covers my butt so i don't look like i am hiding anything, but still i live in a work at will state, and know that not giving full disclosure will usually lead to being released.)

But the holidays are coming up. Retail is a great place to look (not fast food...lol all i can think is possible major injury ie burns, the hard slippery floors and head contact don't sound like fun...ect..ect). Most companies constantly hire new people throughout the holiday season, and a few months after and some of these places will hire so many people for permanent part time positions.

Another thought is to go into a business for yourself. If you can travel it might not be a bad idea to try.. there are some companies that are legit, and if you have the personality for it you can do great (my cousin supports her family of 6 by doing just this) and you can set your own hours and don't have to worry about other bru-ha-ha.

Lastly, if you can afford it (there are many grants and scholarships out there) go back to school. Your hours of availability look awesome for night school. That is always a thought. Education is a great option if you can do it and it could open up other possible employment opportunities!

Keep faith in the fact that you will find a great job that works for you. It has been a long time since i have had a job that lasted longer than six months (funny part i get incredible reccomendations from all my former employers... i checked to see what they are saying...), but i still think that a career will be possible for me in my future. Keep your head up, I think that most of us have been there.

Good luck!:banana:

Thanks for the support. It is very frustrating knowing you got a job, and then who knows what will happen after they find out you have epilepsy. My husband has mentioned in the past how great it would be for me to get a full time job and get the extra income we could need to get a bigger home. We live in a two bedroom home for the past five years and with three kids, its alittle tight! But Im just thankful we have a roof over our heads! I told my husband its not going to be a piece of cake for me like it is for him. He has high blood pressure, which he controls with medication, but he doesnt have to take medication for seizures. So he doesnt know what its like to go from job to job due to my condition. I told him we will have to see what comes our way and do our best with it.

Thinking back to my last job at the YMCA... I think that the gal they hired with me on the same day, the one who has the kids that are the same age as mine... she probably did say somethings to the boss. She was always commenting of how she would love to get more hours and she would be willing to come in earlier. Thats about the time I saw her hours go up and mine go down. I even asked if I could get more hours in by going to another local YMCA and working there too? My boss was taken back by my question and it wasnt long after that, that I was told to either work for them and not bring my kids, or not work at all.

Companies out there do have their own ways of getting rid of people. They could have one reason, but give other reasons instead just to cover their butt. Thanks for all the helpful ideas. I was thinking with the holidays approaching, that it wouldnt be a bad idea to check stores out and then who knows, they may hire me for a part time position? I actually was thinking about going back to school... but not til after our youngest was in school full time, which would be in August 2012. But til then I can always work around my husbands work schedule.

Thanks again for all the great ideas!

 

[justnotsure]

Hi Momof3boys. I am new to this site but I was interested in your post. First, I was wondering what type of seizures do you have, and how often do you get them? I am kind of in that current position. I accepted a job without telling my current employer that I had seizures. My seizures do not happen a lot, and I usually can go a month or two without having one. My doctor gave me a note of clean health, which was required for my job. He did this because he did not feel that my type of seizures would interfere with my job. I work in child care also. Well it wasn't long into my employment that I slipped up and said something. I had a co-worker who also had epilepsy and she made a comment about her medication to me, it was a medication that I had before and I mentioned I didn't like its side effects. Well my cat was out of the bag. She eventually told my boss and then it was brought to me. I kind of down played the seizures and even though I saw some warnings of concern nothing was negative that was said to me. Well now that I have worked there for almost 2 years, I have mostly new co-workers and I am noticing that my boss has changed her attitude towards my seizures. She discuss with one co-worker (a new one) that she is concerned that my seizures will become a liability. I am slowly seeing the problems. To make matters worse recently I had a seizure that caused me to not be able to go to work (I sleep long after my seizures). My boss found out about my seizure and after that she has been making a lot of comments about me being under a lot of pressure and stress. But she has all of a sudden given me more and more hours. Which I am worried is her giving me reason to quit, or worse to cause more seizure and which she can fire me. I live in a small town and know that word will get around that I have seizures, so employment will be harder the second time around.

I think my best advise would be that everything should be on an as needed basis. Tell enough so that if anything should happen you will be covered but emphasize the things you can do and the things that the seizures can't prevent you from doing. If you give them more positive to look at, they will see your seizures as less of an obstacle.

 

[mihaela]

I am in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here is shame or tabu theme epilepsy. But, I am lucky - I'm working for one catholic newspaper. I can't lie, so I told to my bosses that I have epilepsy. Now the biggest support that I have is from my colagues from work and from my bosses. They are the best! They gave me support, positive energy, they stand for me if I need anything (from medications to pay hospital bill). One time my boss save me a life All team - they are really great! :clap: And, yes - I'm still working as journalist (like I was doing before diagnose) :-D

 

[momof3boys]

Hi Momof3boys. I am new to this site but I was interested in your post. First, I was wondering what type of seizures do you have, and how often do you get them? I am kind of in that current position. I accepted a job without telling my current employer that I had seizures. My seizures do not happen a lot, and I usually can go a month or two without having one. My doctor gave me a note of clean health, which was required for my job. He did this because he did not feel that my type of seizures would interfere with my job. I work in child care also. Well it wasn't long into my employment that I slipped up and said something. I had a co-worker who also had epilepsy and she made a comment about her medication to me, it was a medication that I had before and I mentioned I didn't like its side effects. Well my cat was out of the bag. She eventually told my boss and then it was brought to me. I kind of down played the seizures and even though I saw some warnings of concern nothing was negative that was said to me. Well now that I have worked there for almost 2 years, I have mostly new co-workers and I am noticing that my boss has changed her attitude towards my seizures. She discuss with one co-worker (a new one) that she is concerned that my seizures will become a liability. I am slowly seeing the problems. To make matters worse recently I had a seizure that caused me to not be able to go to work (I sleep long after my seizures). My boss found out about my seizure and after that she has been making a lot of comments about me being under a lot of pressure and stress. But she has all of a sudden given me more and more hours. Which I am worried is her giving me reason to quit, or worse to cause more seizure and which she can fire me. I live in a small town and know that word will get around that I have seizures, so employment will be harder the second time around.

I think my best advise would be that everything should be on an as needed basis. Tell enough so that if anything should happen you will be covered but emphasize the things you can do and the things that the seizures can't prevent you from doing. If you give them more positive to look at, they will see your seizures as less of an obstacle.

Im so sorry youre having to go through this. Its very stressful to think that we cant tell our boss this kind of stuff, or else we could be let go. I have complex partial seizures. I take Keppra XR, and Carbotrol ER. My seizures have been under control for the most part. I had been having alot of headaches, and my prior dr tried to increase my dosage on the Keppra, at the time I wasnt on the Keppra XR. That made me have seizures. Then i was put on the Keppra XR at the lower dosage and felt much better. But with my job, I worked at a child care at our local Y for 4 months. I dont that far in a job before they like to let me go due to my seizures. In my case, they heard about it and did the opposite of what they did to you. Instead of promosing at least 20 hours a week, they decreased my hours to 6 hours a week! It wasnt even worth going in by the time you put gas prices into it. Plus, I took the job also for the reason that I could bring my two little boys, with me for free. They had alot of moms working in the child care center that brought their little ones with them. My boss favored another mom who also had two little boys and two other older children who were in school during our work hours. Instead of letting me have 20 hours a week, she cut my hours and gave the other mom more hours, like around 25-29 hours a week. But then when that mom needed to leave to get her two children from school, our boss had no problem with that. I got told I could keep my job at 6 hours a week, but I just couldnt bring my kids with me. That alone, I couldnt do. They knew how to work it with me. The other mom knew it wouldnt be possible for me to work and not bring my 3 and 4 yr old boys. At only $7.25 an hour, and 6 hours a week.. I wasnt even bringing home $50 a week... it would cost me more for a babysitter to watch them two, compared to what I would be able to bring home. It sucks that people cant see past our epilepsy. It makes me mad and I had no seizures during those 4 months I was employed with them. Word got out, due to that "mother" who got more hours, and then she was worried her extra hours would get taken away, so she started saying crap about me behind my back to our boss. From then on, it all went downhill.

I wish you all the best. If you ever need to talk, PM me and I will give you my email address I check daily.