Do You Think There Is Enough Support For Your Sufferer In The Workplace?

[Kajetu]

My sufferer was laid down from his previous job because according tro his boss he lacked the ability to look people in the eye and because he was "jumpy".
That was very, very bad for him because he is an hardworking individual and his selfesteem depends on that.

He found another job and this means just so much for him but again he runned into the same old problems. He has been told that he is just too nervous and that he must stop being nervous and jumpy in the workplace or it will ruin his career.

He was also told a bunch of other things about his performance at work, all having to do with social stuff, none having to do with how he does his job. To my mind he does a great job :)

So I think he is not supported enough at his workplace. They focus far too much on this social stuff and not on his qualifications.

How do you think about this?

 

[Diveri]

It is very tough it makes me wonder if your husband is considered disabled at all because then he should use that to keep his job. As long as he does his job and is great at it they should leave him alone. Yes he is jumpy and could improve on social stuff but I'm thinking that his supervision isn't aware that he struggles with the social stuff and is jumpy because of his PTSD. I am assuming because he was let go at his previous job that he is to proud to let them know that he struggles with PTSD but the sooner they know that he struggles with the social stuff and it's because of PTSD then in my opinion they should leave him alone and do what they can to make it easier for him.

I felt like I wasn't getting the support I needed at work and I tried to let them know little by little but I learned that you can't get the support you need if you don't let them know.

 

[Ipog]

Social interaction is part of working with other people. A big part of working with customers, if dealing with the public is part of his job. It doesn't matter what his qualifications are, if he's unable to perform the other facets of his job. Whether it's meeting company dress code, interactions with colleagues & superiors, or handling customers. Just like it wouldn't matter how brilliant he was at the social side of work if he didn't meet minimum qualifications.

 

[Oga]

@Diveri: They do not know about his diagnosis and I think he is afraid that if they learned it would have a negative impact on his career.

@Ipog: He was told that he did not bond well enough with his workmates, did not look them in the eye. Things like this.

 

[Utigev]

Thats pretty screwed up. My partner has never been fired because of his symptoms, but it certainly makes work a lot harder for him (getting triggered at the job, especially when a co-worker or supervisor speaks harshly/yells at him) and I do think it contributed to him switching several jobs. He too does not want anyone at work to know he has PTSD because he feels it would only make things more complicated. Sorry I dont have any advice to give, but I can tell you that you and your partner are not alone!

 

[Nuvoda]

Thanks. It is great to know you are not alone. In the last weeks my vet has been so stressed because of his job and it is sooo important for him.

 

[Nesino]

I don't think so. My NavyDoc has to deal with the public all day long and some days are more difficult than others. The bigger issue is that he works with all women and they come to him with their problems and use him as a sounding board. He is such a nice person, he can't seem to tell them it's too stressful for him. I think co-workers need to be more respectful (if they know) of the PTSD sufferer. I don't know for sure if he's told anyone at work but I suspect he has not. He's still very much in the closet about his PTSD.