Discrimination

[Narnia41]

I have taken out a grievance against my Employer for failing to make reasonable adjustments on my return to work after long term sickness.  I am willing to return but so far my employer has not found me a 'suitable' role, and are being far from supportive, they're even trying to say that I've been too fussy saying I can't deal with stress like before, and that all jobs are stressful.  
I feel like I am taking on the world in a battle here, and am finding it really difficult not to crack under the pressure.  I am getting increasingly angry, paranoid, as if they are all against me.  Apparently I have a really strong case for disability discrimination but my question is how can I ever win this, when my mental state is deteriorating with all the stress, I feel so alone and although I can be accompanied to my grievance hearing I can't be sure that I'm not going to blow a fuse and make a fool of myself not to mention discredit my claim.  I am just so angry that they can make me feel so vulnerable, and I just know that they are waiting for me to crack and say something stupid so they can trip me up.
I've had to increase my meds due to all this stress, and it's just not fair when I've worked so hard at my recovery.  Right now I just feel like screaming with frustration, feel like nobody understands what I'm up against and that my illness is not my fault!  I even feel like they don't believe I've been so ill!
I could walk away and resign but why should I, I want to battle on for justice for myself and all the others out there who are in the same boat who just want a chance to work.  Why should employers get away with this?

[bipolarmixedsevere]

you rock!!! I havent had a steady job for 7 years! I can work fulltime overtime or wahtever but there comes that time when the mania kicks in! and I go 1 too 2 weeks with know sleep and when the mania crashes I sleep for 2- 3 days straight without wakeing even once! I wake up not knowing I have just done 3 no call no shows! and it is not my fualt!!!!! and they dont understand and just fire me! and if I take meds for my mania I get fired for being late and working to slow! ther is no middle ground for me! and no offense but if I find a place that well put up with me on meds, they give me the same job as the retarded people paying me 6.50 $ pr hr and only 20 hours a week! my checks are not enuogh to pay for gas and lunch! so I have too borow 1 - 2 hundred $ a week from my mom to be able to afford transpertation and lunch! working is pointless for me! I had jobs makeing 25.00 $ per hour but ofcourse I cant do them medicated! and going un medicated leads me right back to the mania resulting in being fired!!! you shuold show the courts this site show them all of the replys and show it to your employers! this is a real!!!! illnes! it is not fake it is not lazy people! bipolar is real! it is worse than haveing no leggs those people have steady work and good pay! well good luck and more power to you!!  I had know Idea I cuold sew a company for not working around my bipolar! I think I might get another 25.00$ an hour job and when they fire me sew them and work when I want and dont work when I cant!! :) screw those guys lol

[Narnia41]

I'm so sorry for you that you had to go through such outrageous treatment at work!  That is unforgivable, why are people so cruel?  I'm glad for you that you got out, and your pregnancy survived....as your mum says, 'life stinks' how very true...I wished you'd known your legal rights at the time but there again 'suing' is also extremely stressful and a trigger to moods.  At least you now have the benefit of 'hindsight' and wouldn't tolerate this treatment ever again!  
Hearing your story has made me even more determined to fight my case for all the people out there with Bipolar.
Let battle commence..

Best wishes to you

[Narnia41]

Thank you for your reply and advice.  In the UK I think the laws are similar, over here the organisation is called 'Equalities and Human Rights Commission', they have continued to advise me of my rights and I'm sure I've contacted them dozens of times.  I feel like I'm losing the will to fight...because it is going to be exactly that.  I feel as though I'm defending myself as though I've done something wrong, misconduct etc..have to keep reminding myself that I have a disability and that I'm not a criminal.
You're right I should keep my job, and I will try my best to continue this battle as you say in a 'level headed way' as long as I keep the hypomania under control.  If I don't manage to keep calm surely that can't be held against me with this condition?  
I also wondered about handing my Employers a leaflet about Bipolar (and Fibro which I have too)
Thanks again
Thanks again

[tres1965]

When I was preggie & Manager of a business (huge Corp.)I had so much stress that I broke out in hives & itched horribly. They never did ANYTHING but tried to get me to resign. I finally went out on Disability leave for the last several months. It was what probally what saved my baby.
I-E-
they did some of the following.
-scheduled me ALL the night tours only
-rotated me from a afternoon tour to a closing tour each eve./aft. so I got NO rest
-made me do all the 'grunt' dirty work, I mean NASTY jobs that I had never done before
-made my work load impossible to fit in
-gave me THE most broken down chair in the unit
-decided that a 'new' policy was to be used (no, absolutely NO sitting down)
-made me do ALL the scheduling & come in for every event
-put me in the worst location, worst security there

get the picture?
When I had had the Baby not one person was allowed contact

My 1st day back they made me go to unit to unit & do all paperwork/lifting possible.

Made me go to a office/mgr. dinner & present a HUGE demo, my 2nd day back..
with NO prep time....

I finally conceded defeat after sheer exhaustion & tried to fight unemployment denial & after a near break-down gave up....

Life isn't fair my Mom always told me, if I had to redo it now I'd have sued...
hindsight stinks!

[ILADVOCATE]

Have to put one more post because disability law is different in the U.K. and I know there are some similar laws but don't know their specifics. You could find out at the IL center nearest you which happens to be in the U.K. as well.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/cils.html#anchorUK

[ILADVOCATE]

This needs to go to the EEOC. As well your local independent living center could advise you of your specific rights within the ADA. Here's a list:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
I've obtained good results but I cannot detail further on a public thread. You have bipolar disorder which is a psychiatric disability and your rights are protected under the ADA. Keep your job but speak to the EEOC who could advice you of your rights (and you don't have to file a complaint if you don't want to but do find out more information). And keep things level headed with your supervisors and don't inform of this. A negotiable solution is the best way but it has to come from above you.