Telling New Employer About PTSD

[popeye]

I am going to be applying to new jobs soon for my auto mechanics class. My fear though is since I have work related PTSD I have the potential to have flashbacks or panic attacks while at work. I can't just walk in and not tell them about it because if I do that and I freak out at work I can be fired. Or I should say I have a fear of being fired for not being able to do my job.
I guess my question is what should I do? Should I tell my employer or not?

 

[a3a2]

Popeye,

I think I would take my time and see who you can trust. Get the lay of the land, then open up slowly. I am more open than most who post here. A lot of people here know about my PTSD and are very accepting and encouraging. I guess you have to gauge who you work with....

 

[trapped]

I agree with a3. I would take my time to get to know and trust them, this also gives them time to know and trust you. It gives them time to see that you are a hard worker, and that you're more than just your PTSD. I'm always afraid to open up and trust enough to share more information than I have to, and usually just carry a dr's note with me that explains my disabilities (including the PTSD, but also learning disabilities) so that if anything ever happened, I could pull out that note to explain, but that way I don't have to disclose so much until it's necessary.

 

[TLight]

Disclosure with an employer is tricky.

I agree with what's being said above, but remember, telling any employer about any disability you have, especially one that's documented extensively, puts them in a 'touchy' situation. They imediately become aware that if you request something that you might say is specifically an accomodation for your disability, such as a flexible start time, or time-out time away from people, etc........this puts them in a position.

If they don't provide or are resistent, the threat of a lawsuit is over their head. Employers are very aware of the ADA and usually don't want to deal with people with disabilities to avoid any potential of being forced to deal with it.

Just a word of caution. Employers can be very manipulative and I'm just afraid that if mine 'knew' they might find a subtle way to make my life there unbearable and force me out. It happens more often than I'd like to think.

 

[This Ends Now]

Popeye,

I agree with A3A2 and Trapped. The interview and resume are times to put "your best foot forward" to let the potential employer see you sell yourself. It is also a great time to screen employers and weed out the bad ones. Remember that this is a two sided process, and the employer does NOT have all the power. Feel free to ask him/her questions about the job and company policies. You also can take some time to view the terrain and the existing employees. Judge how satisfied and skilled they are, how compassionate and competent they are, these are all ways to help you weed out jobs that might not be the best fit for you. One way to test people is to see what their sense of humor is like... what, if anything, makes them laugh? Since you will most likely be working with heavy machinery, I would suggest that you evaluate the safety of the situation and weather or not you can work while taking your medication. Be honest with yourself and evaluate the true potential to accidentally harm yourself and others. If you determine your risk to be low, then go right ahead and dive into work full force... if you believe the risk to be high, then find ways to reduce your risk. There are a few tricks to make it easier to work and help others understand.

1. Remember that you are presenting YOU and all the value that you can bring to the situation, PTSD is not you it is just a part of you that you are working on, PTSD is also considered a disability and under the Americans With Disabilities Act you are protected (at least to some degree) from discrimination... your employer has the legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments so long as you are a good hard working employee.
2. Keep a doctor's note and your medication with you at all times. A doctors note can fit easily into your wallet. Key fobs for meds can be found at most pharmacies and usually cost less than $5.
3. Screen your potential employer. There are many red flags you can look out for. Does he/she just burn through employees or does he retain them long term? Is he/she quick to anger? Are the other employees happy and satisfied or do they look burnt out and afraid? Does the employer have a sense of humor about life or does he/she take things much too seriously? Does the employer respect and comply with existing safety and labor laws? These are all things you can observe and judge before you accept the job.
4. If you feel that the employer might try to "force you out" then have your two weeks notice pre-written and secured in your wallet. If it seems like you are about to get fired, or if they freak out after a post traumatic reaction, then whip out your resignation and politely make your exit.

I wish you the best of luck and great success in your job search! Remember your strengths and value... any employer who is worth working for will realize what a great employee and asset to the company you can be!

Liz H.

 

[This Ends Now]

TLight,

Excellent points, reading your post prompted me to edit mine to include number 4 from my suggestions list. It is always good to "empathize with the enemy" so to speak. No employer enjoys having to fire anybody, when I was in a management position it was by far my least favorite part of the job. When I have been in an employee position, I have found that having my notice ready and giving it at the first reasonable sign of trouble made the difference between a "fired for (insert BS reason), no chance of re-hire" reference and an "excellent employee, never late, never absent, left on good terms" reference on my resume. It makes a HUGE difference because it alleviates the employer's feelings of guilt and fear. It also further empowers you as an employee and lets others know how much you value yourself and your time.

 

[popeye]

well I was fired from my last job while I was out of work due to my ptsd. I was hospitalized for a brief period adn my doctors told me going back to work would not help me recover. and while I was on disability they "laid me off". due to cutbacks they said but for some reason I was the only one in my department that got released. Basically I don't think they wanted to deal with me and my issues anymore

 

[TLight]

Yes, sometimes there is a consideration between 'turning in your notice'........which means no unemployment and serious stress. Or letting them force you out and getting fired.........hence, unemployment, but no reference.

However, it is the law also that if they can't give you a good reference, they can't say anything bad. They can just say that you worked there, etc. Nothing bad........I recorded a 'fake' reference call to my last employer who treated me very badly and I had to quit due to his bullying. I had it on record what he would say if I put him down for a reference. He played it very cool and just said something like; "Well, she might work well if she worked with other people.".........for whatever that meant. He was a jerk in the truest sense of the word and loved to intimidate and make me cry. I finally couldn't take it anymore.

Now, if I had to do it over again.......I'd play a game and force him to fire me. Then I wouldn't have been under all that financial stress.

Put me in the hospital that time. Suicide attempt. Jerk..........It was the straw that broke the camels back for me.

 

[This Ends Now]

To all:

Sorry to hear that you have been so mistreated by employers. It is an unfortunate truth that some managers/business owners can be jerks (to put it mildly). There are some truly cruel and heartless SOBs out there who only accept a management position so they can feel like they have a sense of power over those they employ. There are also a depressingly large number of employers who are cold enough to not care or consider it "just business". In some ways they are correct, albeit in a short sighted and narrow minded way. It is easy to forget that the good employee who is working through their disability usually becomes more loyal and hard working than those who have a relatively easy life. We have tasted the bitter and are better able to recognize the sweet. There may be short term inconveniences to the employer, but a good employer (one who is worthy of having you) will see the long term benefit of treating you right.

Popeye, if your read of the situation was that they were looking for an excuse, and you were the only one "laid off" then you are probably correct. A determined employer can always find a "reason" to fire anybody, that is part of the logic behind some of those absurd company policies that make no sense and are selectively enforced. Its just a way to get around the law, and unfortunately it works. The up side is that this provides you as an employee with some signals about the quality of the company and what management's next move is likely to be. Keep your ears and eyes open and you can stay one step ahead of the game.

TLight, I am very sorry that your former employer was such an a** hole! I personally take great pleasure from the fact that I can "vote with my dollar" and boycott companies that mistreat their workers. I have also discovered the power of learning your companies "dirty little secrets" (every company has at least one skeleton in the closet). You are absolutely correct that you must weigh the pros and cons of turning in your notice or quitting. The correct play can vary depending on your personal and financial situation. The good thing is that in some way you can "do it all over again" by applying the lessons you learned to your current or future job. In some ways business is just a game that we all are playing, and its great that you can see it like that. It was a brilliant move to make a fake reference call to your former employer! I wish I had though to that! :thumbs-up

There are also outside the box solutions to the employment problem, such as becoming an independent contractor or starting a small business of your own. Of course, this involves considerable risk and is not the correct play for everybody, but there are ways of hedging your bet. One way is to take up a hobby that has the potential to become profitable (jewelry making, cherry picking items for e-bay, repairing old things, cleaning houses, doing yard work). If you start off in your spare time while keeping your 9 to 5 you can give yourself extra leverage in both arenas by having the security of a regular paycheck and the independence of a small business owner. It is just one way to further empower yourself and slowly build your bankroll and customer base.

I wish you all the best!

Liz H.

 

[the racha]

Hey, Popeye. I've applied for a couple of jobs where I was upfront and frank about my health situation (did not say "PTSD," just said "health issue"), and I got neither one. I can't be for sure that it was due to my health limitations, but honestly reading your post just made me realize that my disclosures couldn't have helped. I think I'll pass on doing that in the future, unless I absolutely have to.

It's tricky all-around. If you decide not to tell them, then perhaps you should consider having a plan in place for if/when you do experience a panic attack at work. Right now, I have a "safety box" that I take with me whenever I go on a trip. It's a shoe box that I keep all kinds of "safe" stuff in (a stuffed animal, my sketchbook, encouraging notes from friends, a cap that I wear when I'm feeling panicky, etc.). It may sound silly, but as soon as I open up that box I feel safer and more secure.

Another thing you might want to mention-- after you are hired-- is that you keep a standing doctor's appointment every week on a certain day at a certain time. Perhaps knowing that you will have some time to decompress, and being able to look forward to that, will help.

Good luck,
racha