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5079728 tn?1365549989

HOW and WHAT to tell your employer and co-workers

How come when you mention Hep C people tend to look at you like "OMG don't touch me" I am so confused and scared what to tell my employer. Anyone have and suggestions?
37 Responses
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1986676 tn?1329862471
My suggestion is think long and hard about whom you want to share info.
You can't take it back once it's out.
Take your time and don't make a rash decision.
Personally, I would avoid sharing with my workplace.

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Avatar universal
I tell people nothing...you don't have to tell people anything......
I told them at work I was going thru treatment & would take this long & it would have certain sides...I left out the stuff that would scare the poor lil buggars...
I was championed by the ADA on the disclosure....& you can be very selective in whom you tell.
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5080348 tn?1416844854
Yep... we were the unknown... HIV is now understood with more people. Most look at you like they do not know their ABC's .... HVC is so often misunderstood... Both are bad no matter how it was obtained..  
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5080348 tn?1416844854
I do agree with that! Everyone asks  How you doing? really get tiresome...  I have had so many organs either removed or altered... and have missed quite a lot of work, ... Prior to my HVC. Most people really don't care, it is something they say in passing.... It becomes a Hey, good morning, how are ya doing? Seriously, Most don't really want to know, Don't get confused with the ones who actually stop, to hear the answer../// I just say some days are good and others not so...  I am and old Lady Geezer too LOL
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Avatar universal
The "union" is the people in it. If the members do not support the union or if they vote for anti-union candidates, the union will be weak and have no real negotiating power. If you live in a right to work state, the union will be weak, if the people in it do not vote.. I came from a very powerful union because we had 99% membership, although I hear that it is 100% now. As a public safety union, there are several laws barring strikes, so what we do is vote for candidates that are not anti-union. The benefits vary from union to union, for example, our union does not offer a retirement plan, but the state does (Arizona), but there are many that do. Some think that unions are passe, but it is like the Chinese yin and yang, if one is weak, the other becomes all powerful. History shows us what happens when that happens...Mark
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5080348 tn?1416844854
Seems every "Union" is a little different. I happen to have a job within a company that is union... If I could not do my job after X amount of time.. I could loose it, When you said that your friend is a union laborer . makes me think he went into a local Trades union as a laborer... There is a big difference.
Being a year away from retirement.. confused me, do you mean retirement age? I do hope and pray that something positive is out there for your friend. God Bless us all
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163305 tn?1333668571
The obvious answer to your question is they look at you like that because they are ignorant.

You can choose to be an advocate and inform people about the truth concerning the virus and you may choose to not mention it. It's your call.
If you are doing treatment, it would be wise to at least telll people you are doing a medical treatment and the meds have strong side effects as they may notice.

Personally, I am quite willing to tell anyone and enlighten them if possible.
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Avatar universal
I agree the biggest prob I have now is every 1 I see asks how I'm doing and the answerer is always the same and with already being a grumpy old geezer its hard to contain my self LOL
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190885 tn?1333025891
just be totally honest....i didn't hide it at all...now post tx i'm glad i didn't hide my hep or my tx because i feel i made it easier for others to get over the stigma...people that have hep as well as folks that don't have it....
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Avatar universal
I too had a dear friend who fought for SS disability benefits and died right after getting the first check. She had gone for years without the finances to see a doctor and get the health care she needed. She was so happy when they finally declared her eligible and was so looking forward to getting treatment. She was only 52 years old. Obviously, if she was sick enough to die at 52 she should have been eligible for the benefits. It's very sad that millions of people in this country go without the medical care they need.
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Avatar universal
Amen also my brother fought SDD while using a cane and carrying an oxygen tank to breath finally 1 day before he got his first check he passed away I'm a union laborer as well and that's why I have staid in the union all these years I will get a good pension from them and at a reasonable age 55
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Avatar universal
When Obamacare is fully in effect, by Jan. 2014 I think but am not sure, they will not be able to deny coverage based on pre-exsisting conditions. There are many people who think that any help from the government is mooching, even though you pay into these programs for your entire working life. To me a contact is a contract, you pay in and they pay out when you can no longer work. The word entitlement makes me sick, because it refers to things that you paid into, without choice I might add, and they are contractually obligated to pay out. Problem is that they try to out wait you, hoping that you die, wearout and give up or run out of money. It is evil...Mark
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Avatar universal
Its good to see some are getting some what taken care of with this health problem I have a friend that is a union laborer as he was having server symptoms from hep c we was laid off due to lack of ability to do his job after it took 6 years and a liver test to start Chantix for the Dr's to find out he had hep by then he had no insurance, had filed chapter 13, and is now under going treatment for this disease when its all over he will prob be homeless just a year from retirement if it was not for his wife, and eventual retirement he will prob be living in a homeless shelter along with this disease his body is full of arthritis he has also filed for disability after 2 denial he is awaiting a court date I feel for this man it seems like in this country we have a problem with once we are used up we get discarded and if you ask for what you have been paying for all of your life they act like you are trying to mooch from the gov
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Avatar universal
That makes sense if one is collecting on a private insurance policy; I assume it was a disability-type policy. I stayed technically employed for months on my personal dr.'s assessments, but was not receiving any compensation...although my health insurance stayed in effect and they paid for it. Thanks
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5080348 tn?1416844854
Yes, it is correct, Faith...   to retain my pay check.>  we all need one. But it is Also to retain my job. > we all need one of those also.. I am just shy of retirement and cannot take the chance of loosing that...
My Personal doctors assessment is good for up to 14 days... after that,,,
If I do not comply, I am out... I have found that it is NOT the company policy, It is the agreement that my company has with my insurance company...that is who continues to pay me and they run a tight ship.
It depends on the biopsy now...
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Avatar universal
Iv told every 1 I know 2 and as I'm a detailed type of person for me it is very time consuming my problem is I can not tell with out going in to detail about the infection now I'm at the stage I don't say any thing I could have gotten it from drug use 30 years ago but now that I'm some what educated about this subject theres a number of ways I could have gotten it over the years and with being 30 years sober honesty is 1 of the most important things to me its your choice but if your honest you will have to expect to have diff reactions from diff people. Good Luck with your treatment young Lady
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Avatar universal
I am curious about your statement that "I will have to see the company medical Dr each month"...I have never heard of that obligation, but maybe it has something to do with continuing to get paid while absent? Places I have worked have always accepted my personal doctor's assessment.
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5080348 tn?1416844854
My 2 cents is that ONLY because I am "friends" with my head supervisor I felt the need to tell him more than I have the flu... Because of my digestive problems, numerous surgeries and loss time at work already, in 13 yrs,  I thought it best to to tell him so he can decide what People may need to pull Double duty, but again, he can not say WHY.

I have been fortunate to work for a large company and get sick pay for 4 months, by the 6th month my pay drops and My insurance mandates me to sign up for SSI (gov't paperwork) try that while sick and keep what in what order... It makes you sicker..
Things to consider:

#1) no one is allowed to know why you are sick. HIPPA guards that.

#2) Privacy of  HIPPA and that is for the current illness, If you have to sign the papers...make sure Current is circled and initialed.

#3) I just have my first biopsy scheduled, so what I do not know and I will NOT let them imagine what they do know

#4) I will have to see the company medical Dr each month, even if by taxi. and so much stupid paperwork.... an issue I will have to deal with.
AND by NO means do you have to reveal WHAT caused the Hep C..

#5) But Because I work within an office, that makes me close to others, rather than in production, I am LUCKY to be supported by a union...

#6) If anyone lacks the understanding..of Hep or the treatment involved, the company better step up.  Or you can bet,  I will file discrimination charges in a heartbeat, out of (abt 5,000) workers I bet more than just me is infected,  but I will do what is necessary...  That may even help some understand why their body is acting different... IS my prayer if it goes that far.

#8) I am less contagious than someone with the flu, mono, or measles in reality. Unless I bleed...
Be careful and cautious .... Not many know what it is, and their idea is that all Hep C was from needle drug use.

I can retire in 2 yrs, small pension, but will get group rates for medical insurance. That is my fight...

God Bless us all...
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Avatar universal
I learned about the negative association with hep C a long time ago. I don't tell anyone I don't have to because it is misunderstood and people automatically associate an unclean lifestyle with people who have Hep C, although I think it may be getting better marginally. The only person in my family that knows is my wife.  I dont tell my kids or siblings. I didn't tell anyone I work with that I was treating and except for some feelings of rage while on the incivek, I think it's gone ok. I'm in my 43rd week and I've never taken time off due to the side effects and I commute an hour to work and back M-F, but I've heard others have not been as fortunate as me.
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4652753 tn?1364581946
I knew from having worked with my organization for many years what the reaction would be so I told my immediate supervisor, my director, two friends, and HR (also a friend).  I explained my situation as thoroughly as I could letting them know that while I didn't know what my bodies reaction would be to treatment I needed to prepare them so that my work could be covered.  I told them the arrangments that I had made to try not to let this interfere with my work, as far as it was under my control.  While they don't understand the virus, they have supported me and continue to check on me.  All four of them have a copy of my medical emergency plan should something happen at work.  

I also told my dentist who not only supports me but is doing a comprehensive treatment plan to send to my doctor to ensure that nothing she does will interfere with the tx I am on or cause me any complications.

I feel very fortunate to have the support of my employer, health care workers and friends.  I do believe it is a personal decision because there are times you think you know someone and it backfires.  In my case it has worked out really well.  
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4333925 tn?1359102442
I told my GM and then soon it was either over heard and spread like wild fire to the rest of my co workers. It was really hard at first but now everybody knows and there cool with it. You have to make the decision yourself. Like what everybody has said people are very hurtful and don't understand what hep c is. That's when you have to school people! Now I just don't give a flying *#%^ what they think!
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Avatar universal
As I stated above, you don't have to tell ANYBODY, ANYTHING about your personal health problems. They cannot ask and, if they do, you don't have to answer. Obviously, if you are applying for health or life insurance or using sick leave, they can ask why and refuse benefits based on your answer. A general note from your doctor or an answer like, "I have an illness that temporarily  prevents me from doing my job is good enough for sick leave. No specifics are required. Also, your job may choose to fire you, but they may open themselves up for liability. Your health and body are nobodies business, but yours. If you choose to tell somebody, the cat is out of the bag and they can tell anyone the want, with the exception of Doctors and attorneys. I personally don't care who knows, because, in my opinion, nobody is perfect and I don't conduct my life based on the opinions of others. I cut the "chismosos" from my life
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Avatar universal
I am in can-do-mans camp, I have a virus effecting my liver, and I am on medacation to clear the virus. If they want to probe deeper then it is up to you, and how comfortable you are  going further. If you know the people, and they are truly concerened for you, you might give them the whole story. If its a casual acquaintance that's not to concered if you live or die, then maybe leave it at that. There is a terrible stigma out there about Hep C. I have all my stories down pat after telling them for 30 years!
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Avatar universal
I ve let my co workers know that i have liver disease and that is all.  My doc reduced my workday somewhat so i had to provide some sort of explanation.

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