Community Forum

Job related issuesI am just wondering how other people handle trouble working or trouble dealing with colleagues.  I have Crohns, and I own a business and work alongside two other individuals, and even though we are in health care, they dont grasp that I physically cant work 24-72 hour shifts anymore.  Neither of them is willing to take on additional work and so are unwilling to alter my situation at all, even with me offering to take home calls, work Saturdays, or pay them to cover in exchange for a better schedule for me.  So, Im forced to sell my part of the business and leave entirely, because physically I cant continue like this.  They are angry at me for even bringing up the subject of change and act like I should be ashamed of myself for being physically defective.  As if I chose this disease!  Because we are independent contractors and I am not their employee, there are no laws that cover this situation.  I have let them know all the gory details of my very resistant illness and treatment (I have been to a specialized clinic and they shrugged their shoulders for a plan) thinking that would show them that Ive done absolutely all I can to prevent getting to this point, but evidently its falling on deaf ears.

Now they are treating me like a leper, and I wonder if I should have just kept my mouth shut and kept working, but all thats bought me thus far is a surgery where I very nearly died and headed toward a second.  I feel like I have to look out for myself at this point, because certainly no one else is.  Is that selfish?  Am I out of line?

Any thoughts?

 Reply posted for nickrystal.

I was in the USAF.  When I was first diagnosed with UC, after a year of symptoms, the squad doc agreed to sweep it under the rug.  After my first change of station however, I got much worse, and was immediately sent to the medical review board and taken off active duty.

 Reply posted for nickrystal.

Nickrystal, I feel your pain buddy.  My situation is alittle different for i'am a letter carrier with the USPS.  It's pretty tough to try to deliver your mail route each day, and have to make many bathroom stops.  It can be a real pain in the you know what.  While talking with a friend of mine, he suggested i buy a porta potty, after laughing at that notion, i thought about it seriously. When i picked it up at the store i felt kinda strange, but i'am very glad i did.  It has saved me many times.  After having several accidents, it was well worth it.  Calling your boss to tell him you soiled yourself not only makes you feel bad, but it stresses you out big time.  My only advise is to not worry so much about how others feel about you, and your condition.  They can only concern themselves about their own lives.  Just concentrate on you, and all else be handled.  Most people glaze over when you try to explain things to them.  You have enough on your plate as it is.  If all else fails, then just say walk in my shoes for a few days, then let's discuss.  Hang in there my friend, and just know that you have our complete support.

 Reply posted for nickrystal.

I know how you feel.  I got lucky and after a year of almost getting fired due to sick days, got my condition covered under FMLA.  My boss freaked though when she got the report that I had filed for intermittant leave.  I explained it was just in case I had to miss time from work for my illness.

The first year was bad because my gastro put under frequencey of leave 1 day/varies.  The company put is allowed one day a month where absence will not go against me.  The next colonoscopy I had, I had to leave work an hour early after starting prep and was out next day.  Those two hours the first day were put under FMLA and I was given a mark against for the 8 hours next day.  This year my doctor put 3 days.  If I have to leave work early or am late due to symptoms that is one day, but I am lucky I am in remission.  Still, I work in a very large complex and am not close to a bathroom.  I work in a high risk area and cannot be moved near the bathroom.

They do not understand though.  I had to call off one day, which I rarely have to do, and I was told I let my team down and I need to consider the schedule and who is off before I call off, like I was on holiday or something.  I do not look sick and am not recovering from cancer like theh other lady in my office on FMLA, so they don't know what to make of it.

Sorry I ran on.  At least I am comvered by FMLA.  It is not fair that you are not covered by something.  I wish I new enough about business law to help you.

Kat

 Reply posted for nickrystal.

Well, Ill start out by saying you are CERTAINLY NOT out of line. Certainly not selfish either.  You don't control what you are and are not capable of due to an ILLNESS.

I did do some research, though, about discrimination against minority share holders in private business transactions, and was amazed as to how little recourse there is in a case where a party is being financially burdened due to what is, clearly, discrimination against your disability.  Amazed yet again by the feebleness of our laws.

So, while you don't have legal recourse (I wouldn't bring that fact up), I certainly would take an extra moment to try to explain the situation to your business partners.

Ask them if they've been to this site, or give them a link to a page describing the disease.  Even then, get a doctors note, and write a formal letter stating quite clearly that you have a disability, what that disability is, and what accommodations you are requesting from them in order to keep the business running at full efficiency.  Because, truly, working you more than you're capable due to an illness couldn't possibly be affording the best service for you customers or clients or whats best for completing your job responsibilities and keeping the business profitable.  Explain to them that, while unfortunate, they have a stake in this as well and that its nothing that they can control and is no different than if one of them had contracted any other illness or disability.  They wouldn't like to see the shoe on the other foot if one of them found out that they had melanoma tomorrow, and it wouldn't be good for the business to be overworking someone with such an ailment.

And if they cant see reason, well... then head for the hills.

Best of luck to you.