Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Hep C Archive: Employers

Does anyone have experience with telling their employers about what they are going thru? I feel mine might deserve some explanation as to why my production has dropped off. I can't help but think the truth might be better than anything she might be imagining. Please let me know if anyone else has dealt with this.
Thanks and keep fighting the good fight,
Tony

I told my employer the truth when it became apparent something was going on and they were very understanding and accomodating. It was a great relief to me after telling the truth to them, especially when your on the meds feeling about crappy as you ever have, to have that anxiety lifted was a big help. You dont need to feel bad over your job on top of everything else your going through right now. Your health and mental well being is much more important.

Take care

Jack

Good seeing you post again Jack! Hope you recieved my e-mail recently in response to yours....

Yes, Tony....I to agree with Jack as far as telling your employer something about your condition. As to what degree can sometimes be the tricky part of it. You know your bos, and therefore probably know something about any pre-conceived notions or prejudices they may have. For that reason you may want to structure the way you tell them. Some people just say they have a liver ailment and try to lave it at that. Some just fib a little and say they have some kidney problems so they don't hyave to go into the Hep-C ordeal ( and be labeled as an IV drug user). Of course, I am usually an advocate of the truth always being the right way to go......and let whatever happens happen. Of course I also lost my job of 13 years......which they came up with another reason for me losing, but in my mind it was somewhat directly linked to this disease and my fall off of productivity. Sorry....don't want to scare you, but just laying it on the line.
There are many courses of action to take, and laws to protect you, so if I was you....I would try to get some good info. on these before telling all.

My current boss, who I told right when he was hiring me didn't have a problem with it, and said he would work with me, in trying to limit the hours I worked, days in a row I worked, and etc........which of course was all bullshit, as they work me 11 hr. days, and as often as I allow them to. It's a constant battle.....although a nice one, in knowing how badly I'm needed, which makes my job security feel a little better. Still.....I know as everyone does these days, that we are merely numbers to most employers....and can be replaced in a moment if need be, or if numbers drop. There is no such thing as loyalty to employees any longer, yet they expect you to give your all, as though you were personally running your own business.....which is exactly why I went and re-newed my own business license this year, and am slowly doing somethings here and there to gain extra income thru that.

Well, don't mean to ramble......but I always do (LOL)! I did tell my employer that I got Hep-C as a result of a blood transfusion in Boston in 85', which wasn't that far of a stretch. It was probably in Boston or N.Y.C. in 85'....and was a transfusion of types (LOL)....

Hi Tony....Yes I told my employer..but I was very lucky...I worked for the state and was represented by the State Civil Service Commission and the Union. There were defined guidelines in our contract and I qualified for the family leave act.

I don't know your working situation, small family business or large employer , but I agree with everyone so far in encouraging you to let your employer know. Legally you have the family leave act and the Americans with disabilities act to help protect you , but we all know that if an employer wants to get rid of you they will find a way. But it doesn't sound like thats your situation.

I hope you find that your employer is understanding and supportive. I was very lucky that mine was as I experienced some pretty debilitating side effects, wound up using all of my leave and eventually took a disability retirement.

I hope that your experience isn't as extream...many others here have gotten through TX without needing to retire etc.and I hope you can do the same. I had some other conditions that complicated matters.

Good Luck and please keep us posted ...peace...mack

FTD

hey martin I did get your mail and will respond soon my friend thank you Jack

Well hmm being that your worried about your produtivity this means you must be a good employee I work for the post office(but I'm not crazy) and my bosses have been as nice to me as my family and they can be nasty.And I,m a union rep who does'nt sell the workers out and I speak softly to them but carry a big stick(our contract) I know that you can apply for FLMA the family leave act where if you worked more than 1250 hrs last year you are entitled to 480hrs off which cannot held against you in any way You have to use your vacation or sick time then if you run out leave without pay.Some people take off alot on tx like me but do the best you can I rather work than stay home but there are times I physically cannot move around and if I lay around too much I don't like it Follow some of the basics which learned I got 38 weeks down water lite exercise good diet rest when I altered that I paid a high price Also of course stay close to us. I have so much gratitude I found out who were my friends and which people care about and who full of shit but I was lucky most people are kewl. So anyway my you won't even need to apply for FMLA You'll be phine THIS IS DOABLE but its a strong virus and strong meds and they do battle in your body Good luck and piss on the dragons grave like many zoners have done and if not theres a lot of new meds onthe horizon so you buy yourself some time Peace by the way FMLA applies to you your spouse a new baby or parents that you have to tend to but your doc has to fill it out in writing but thats what its for.it's a federal law enacted by congress during the Clinton administration so this applies to all amerikans who are on the books

Hi Tony, I have had this experience recently. I work for a hospital doing home health visits, and it SUCKS espiecially when I'm sick and after 11 yrs. I'm what they call an, at will employee. I could spit on the sidewalk and they could fire me. but there is the family leave act,so I took that due to the stress of my fathers condition, and staffing my house with caregivers. The thought of starting tx and this was enough. I never see any dept. managers very rarely, due to me working in the field, lot's of miles seeing up to 8 people a day (max), but the dept. manager is cool has a Harley, nice good looking guy , always liked me. that was not the problem. When the doc filled out the disability papers is time to tell. Not the whole dept. The people I work with , it's none of there buisness. This is between me and the employee health nurse. wich found this 4 yrs. ago and never said a thing? so I guess me and Harley my boss will have a talk soon. He should get the paper work that I filled out, and I put down, " tx will cause severe limitations" This will no doubt blow him away. Still expecting that call, and I will welcome that. I will tell him the truth then, and only then when it's just me and him. I should get this call by the begining of next week I will let you know how it goes but, I'm not worried what he will think. I was the best girl he had and I left them in a bind ,I know but you have to do what you have to do for your own health and they should know this if anybody! PEACE Rose

After I was diagnosed I told my boss partly because I wasn't sure what to expect once treatment started and partly because he's a friend and I knew I could trust him. I think telling your supervisor and how much you tell your supervisor depends on your work situation and how you feel about the people you work with. With the rules being skewed to favor the employer more and more, I can understand why some people might not want to tell everything right up front. My boss has rolled his eyes a time or two when I've had to miss meetings or something for a doctor's appointment, but I always make it to my classes, my evaluations are good and I do a lot of work for my dempartment, so that all works in my favor. However, had I had the department chair we hadnwhen I got hired, I would never have said a mumbling word.

Thank you all for your insights and experiences. I plan to tell when the correct time presents itself. I think I am more afraid of her sympathy than anything else. I think I know her well enough that she will handle me with grace, I hope.
Anyway I work for 1099 so family leave doesn't really apply but by law I have to work under a broker and her shop is a premium one in the area. I want to stay on with her and hopefully by summer I can be back working toward being one of those top producing people. Anyway It is no doubt a wonderful part of an otherwise bad situation to have found this board. I don't feel so all alone in this.
Love and peace, Tony