I am doing my best trying to work and deal with Lyme Disease. As many of you know,it is not easy.
I got called into my bosses office today. She told me everyone is overworked and dealing with the extra work load/(I work for the government, where there has been a hiring freeze and involuntary furloughs for quite awhile now.) I was told I need to deal with my own increased work load and that effective Monday morning, nobody else is to help me with my work load.
In addition, I have to supply the boss with a list of everything I do in my job and how long it takes, to justify why I had other people helping me out.
I got a letter last week telling me I have used excessive sick days and any further sick days in the next 3 months requires a doctor's note.
Monday, I was going through security and was told the butter knife I had in my lunch bag was not allowed in the building. (The same one I had in my lunch bag every other day for the past 7 years and never had any problems with.)
In 90 degree heat, I had to hike 1 block back to my car to put my butter knife in there and hike 1 block back to the building. I was so irate and wound up crying my eyes out in the bathroom over it.
I am absolutely dreading work next week. I can barely make it through the day. I have a feeling that if we were not in a hiring freeze, they probably fire me.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
LA: That is terrible! Sounds like they aren't doing anything about trying to understand your plight. It makes me really angry. It's almost like they are creating hostile work environment so you'll give up & leave. Do the best you can...that's all you can do. I'm sorry it's been so hard. I understand.
I missed 3 days in a row of work right after I got sick & had my first Herx. That's all. Then when I started new treatment, I haven't missed a day yet.
God bless you...you will get through this.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
La that's just awful. It sounds like they are just trying to get people to quit.
People have lost all common sense in this country. Like what the heck are you going to do with a butter knife?? How stupid is that??
It's like treating children like they are drug dealers because they have an aspirin in their pocket. Jeez!
I hope things get better for you soon.
Posted by Misfit (Member # 26270) on :
Im so sorry. Just want to send you a huge HUG! People just dont get it...or dont want to. Keep hanging in...you want me to call your boss? Posted by LA (Member # 26353) on :
Unfortunately, I have had to take a lot of days off. Not so much from the illness, but from all the appointment I had leading up to my final diagnosis with various specialists.
A few months ago, I had to go for a Colonoscopy. (Trying to figure out my GI problems months before my Lyme Diagnosis) I took 1/2 day off for the prep and the day of the procedure off. They were calling me at home and on my cell asking me work related questions while they knew what I was off for.
They called me the afternoon of the prep and were mad because I was not answering the phone. They were calling me the morning of the procedure. I had the surgery center fax a note telling them I could not accept phone calls because I had been sedated.
Plus, they instituted a voluntary furlough program to help save the government money. Some people are working 3 day weeks during the summer. Some people are taking weeks off here and there for vacation. Then they have the nerve to complain about me.
The Friday before Memorial Day, I was supposed to go into work late because I had a Neurologist appointment. The Neuro sent me directly to the ER (again before my Lyme Diagnosis) because I told him I lost feeling from the waist down. He thought I had damaged my spinal cord and wanted an MRI done right away to see if I needed emergency surgery.
Needless to say, I called out for the rest of the day. I came in Tuesday and got attitude for calling out the day before a 3 day weekend. I had a note from the ER. Uggh!
One of the people doing most of the complaining took 3 months off straight a couple of years ago after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I took on her work in addition to mine and never once complained. You think she would have been more understanding than anyone.
Posted by carly (Member # 14810) on :
LA-
I'm sorry you're going through this right now. I know it sucks!!
It's like a ton of bricks falling on your head realizing just exactly how much understanding you'll get when it really comes down to it.
You will get through it though. They don't want you to quit, it'll be more work for less of them to do.
Hang in there!!
They don't want to drive you out. This is your job's way of letting you know that you work for them and they are in control over when you get a sick day or whether or not you bring a butter knife to lunch, etc.
So what, you still get paid every two weeks. Posted by grandmother (Member # 19908) on :
Thank the person who has RA and let het know that you knew she would understand because of what she went through and tell her you loved doing her work because you consider her a friend and, and, and...
In other words, be sweet without sarcasm and thank her at a nice point in the conversation.
Do you understand what I'm trying to say here?
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I'm sorry you have to go through that.
So far I'm hanging onto my own job. Some days I am barely here and don't get much done, but so far they haven't noticed yet. Other days I do fine in spite of being in pain or feeling bad.
I haven't told my workplace about my Lyme. They think I take a vacation every 3 months to "visit friends" in Pennsylvania. They don't know that one of the friends is my LLMD.
So far this is great because they are not looking over my shoulder for signs that the illness is affecting my work. The bad part is, if that does happen in the future, I'm afraid they won't believe me about how sick I've been for how long. I have told one coworker, though, so she can vouch for me if it ever comes to that.
It could present problems, though, if I ever desperately needed accommodations under ADA, a major change in hours, FMLA leave, or short term disability. And if people know and believe you're sick, then they don't doubt whether you "really" had surgery or an ER visit right before a long weekend.
Hang in there. I understand about freaking out about the butter knife. I have gotten that upset several times at things that really shouldn't be as big a deal as they seem to me at the time. Lyme really messes with my emotions. And sometimes one thing like that is the last straw, when you're already having a terrible week.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
It sounds like they might try to fire you, like they are building their case.
Hang in there. You work for the government, so it might be impossible for them to do it.
Unfortunately Lyme won't work for a defense, since "officially" it does not exist.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It sounds like you have not requested accommodation for disability.
You might give a call to an ADA attorney and then talk to the director of HR. If you declare a disability and request accommodation, IF reasonable, you will have some level of job protection.
Being able to go lie down somewhere (off the clock) is one such accommodation. Find out if there is a group that outlines ADA specifications.
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