The link is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbouch/F2322273?thread=5097747

Bipolar at work
Messages 1 – 19 of 19

Message 1 – posted by karmaboyblue (U11052790) , Feb 13, 2008

I am now going to try to cut a very long story short, but there is still going to be a lot to read!!! i appologise if it takes me a while to get to the meat of the matter,

I am 30 now and i was diagnosed with manic depression when i was about 15. Took Lithium till i was 19. Up until last year i always looked at that part of my life as a “phase that i went through”
after going through i terrible depressive episode in late december i was in a bad state. At the same time I was getting diciplined at work for persistant lateness and absence..

In January i saw those stephen fry programs with my girlfriend and we looked at each other in shock and for the first time i admitted i was ill. I went to the doctor the next day and an appointment was made to see consulant in July.

i made the decision to be open and upfront with my employers.
i told them everything and they seemed very helpful
I gave them permission to see my medical records etc.
they said they would get back to me with paperwork to fill etc.

In march, they still hadn’t got back to me. Through this time i was working as normal.

a couple of incidents occured in the middle of march

1) i was accused of verbally abusing my manager
2) i was accused of talking to a customer in an inappropriate manner
3) someone emailed my manager saying they thought i was lying about “having depression”.

I was called into an “emergancy” fact-finding meeting nearly two weeks after these incidents were supposed to happen.
i was very distressed and shocked , and instead of answering their questions, i sad with my head in my hands crying…

Eventually i calmed down and i was handed a piece of paper saying i was suspended on fully pay – i was told this was pending access to my medical records.

I cooporated with all their requests etc.
and in July i saw consultant and he precribed me on small doses of lithium (which are now increased to 800g a day – seem to be right level)

was invited to a diciplinary meeting day after i saw consultant
accused of 1) and 2) (above) and also for acting bizarrely in the factfinding meeting.

I wasn’t member of union, so i went to a solicitor who did free first interviews, you know, for a bit of advice etc…

i was all over the place when i saw him and he told me not to go to meeting as i was unfit to defend myself, i got doctor to confirm and was signed off sick july 5-november 5th

They stopped my sick pay in september saying i was not entitled to because of my live written warning.

I wrote grievence letter under instruction from my solicitor

had meeting and they came to conclusion in october, they ignored all the points i made and also changed the story about my sick pay,

they now said in the letter they sent me that the reason my sickpay was stopped was because after 6 months – company sick pay expires.

I was mad, and phoned up and tryed to point out the error in the conclusions and i reapeatly told him that I’d only been off sick since july and between march and july i was supended ect ….

he kept answering my questions like a politition and i lost my rag and unfortunately for me i told him to eff off

a letter came in the post a week or so later saying i was suspended on full pay (again)

i had grievence appeal metting on 16th january and am still awaiting outcome

I just received a letter today inviting me to a disciplinary on monday.

for reasons 1) and 2) and me swearing at manager.

even though i filled out the consent forms , they have not requested my medical records for my consultant.

their consultant says after taking to me for barely 20 minutes that incident 1) and 2) have nothing to do my my untreated condition

and has said he think that the third incident is the result of my personality and not bipolar,

I know that that 3rd incident has mucked up any chances of getting anywhere in a tribuneral (my solicitor has told me so)

I know i am going to be dismissed, as they have a rent-a-expert who has given them the green light to do so.

o man. i don’t even know what my point is now.

I know i’m going to struggle to get another job straight away, as my reference is going to be less than good reading.

is there any good organisation that help you get back to work.

I got a mortgage to pay , bills to pay, a girlfrien who is probably more stressed out than me.

Anyone who has read this to the end, thank you.

I just needed to get things off my chest a bit,

take care

Message 2 – posted by WirralBagpuss (U1819612) , Feb 13, 2008

Sorry to hear of this. First off sack the solitictor and get someone else, or better still a specialist disability rights lawyer. Your solicitior should never have put you in the postion as he/she put it has messed up your employment tribunal chances. I’d have a quiet word with the law Society about that, as it may be misconduct on the part of the solicitor ! Thats why i also think you should get a second opinion. At the very least talk to the advisors at the Disabilty Rights Commission

www.equalityhumanrig…

Clearly as i dont know the nature of the griveances or disciplinaries in question i cannot offer you specific advice on your indvidual case. however dont ignore the chance to go to an employment tribunal. Use every legal means at your disposal to put up a fight till the last drop of legal avenue has been used.
Hope this advice for what it’s worth helps and that things do sort themselves out. Best of luck

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Message 3 – posted by karmaboyblue (U11052790) , Feb 13, 2008

thanks for your advice,

I just got a call from my solicitor and my employers want to offer me a payoff and terminate my contract. i am considering it, as long as i get what i want as far as how they word my references and obviously they offer me a fair payoff

I’d Love to take things further, take them to the cleaners and all that
but i just want to get a new job
and enjoy my new life on medication.

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Message 4 – posted by majorconelius (U5289798) , Feb 14, 2008

I do not know what job your in, but think hard before giving up your rights, the problem if you work in a highly qualified job, companies will check on your CV, and the word of mouth is taken as fact not your CV, because large companies know people demand before being dismissed a good CV or covering letter.

This depends on your job of course working in Tesco or Asda thats not very likely, but I think your in a very qualified position, and I’ve seen as a Union Rep the word of mouth making it very hard for people to find another job.

You do have legal rights under the DDA to keep your job and it might well be worth fighting for, only you know this..
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Message 5 – posted by Emma-host (U2375749) , Feb 14, 2008

Hello karmaboyblue, and welcome to the Ouch site and message boards.

I’m not an expert, and have never been in your situation, so don’t feel I can offer any advice. A good suggestion so far has been to call the Equality and Human Rights Commission to see what advice they can give you about your rights and legal position in this case.

There are a number of organisations who claim to help disabled people into work, and these are easily searchable. Your Job Centre can also provide someone called a DEA, disability employment advisor, someone correct me if I haven’t got this quite right. This person should help you with your job search.

Best of luck.

Emma

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Message 6 – posted by karmaboyblue (U11052790) , Feb 14, 2008

To keep going is what i definately want to do, the fact that they want to terminate, tells me they are worried about the case.
They are a very big company and if i was high up the “food chain” i would definately carry on.

However i’ve been working there for 4 years at the bottom of the ladder without medication etc, all my working life i’ve struggled in jobs and not progressed and got the sack from half of them.
I’m on medication now and am receiving professional help, i think i will finally be able to build a career.

Do I try to take the big corporation on, that would seem to be the most noble thing to do. I don’t want to let the incompetant managers get away with their, well – incompetance!!

But I don’t feel very noble right now, I just want my girlfriend to be happy again. She has had a more stressful year than me, she’s had to put up with me and the situation. Once this is all over i’ll be able to repair the damage in our relationship.

i’m still really unsure what to do, toss a coin maybe?
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Message 7 – posted by Sociable (U6743562) , Feb 14, 2008

Welcome to Ouch karmaboyblue.

Just to follow up on Emma’s excellent suggestion to check out the exact legal position, and what options there are now available to help resolve issues like this, here is the link to the main EHRC Disability Helpline details:

www.equalityhumanrig…

Good luck whichever route you end up taking and please keep us updated and ask as many questions as you need along the way as we all love to help if and when we can even if it is only to provide moral suport and encouragement.
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Message 8 – posted by mabel_piratesmol (U3147115) , Feb 14, 2008

Hello Karmaboyblue. Just caught up with your story. Poor you & a for your Gfriend for being so supportive dispite her own problems.

I agree with PP and would strongly urge you to get a specialist solicitor who will stick up for you. Knowing that you were not fit to speak for yourself, your previous solicitor should have instructed your employer to only speak to him and not to harrass you…or else

I agree, your employers probably know their case against you may be dodgy. However, I wouldn’t commit myself to anything without proper legal advice.

As for help finding a job…you might like to take the opportunity to think about what sort of job you’d really like to do & maybe go back to college/train for something? Let’s hope that it doesn’t come to that, but I can help guide you through the benefits ‘maze’ if necessary.
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Message 9 – posted by tigerwarriorprincess (U9292809) , Feb 14, 2008

Your situation sounds something like one I have posted about recently – an ex-employer who couldn’t seem to apply the DDA.. a large ex-employer.. etc etc.. I’m not the best one to offer advice, as I ended up leaving my job with a pay-off instead of making my mental health worse by constant fighting, ie taking them to an industrial tribunal, which apparently I could have done.

Just wanted to wish you well, with whatever action you take – make sure your Health Comes First. No job is worth sacrificing it for.
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Message 10 – posted by mabel_piratesmol (U3147115) , Feb 14, 2008

Looks like I may have the same fight on my hands TWP
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Message 11 – posted by karmaboyblue (U11052790) , Feb 14, 2008

I’d like to thank everyone for their support, i wish i’d stumbled upon ouch last year!!

i agree, my solicitor could of done a lot better for me. However, what’s done is done.

I’ve decided after much thought, advice and reading that if i can come up what i feel is the right settlement for me , then i’ll do it.
I’d so love to take things further, but i want my life back!!

If … (oops, nearly gave the name of the company there) don’t agree to my terms, then i will take my chances.

as far as college is concerned, it is necessary for me to gain some qualification, as i have none at all. (except for some worthless nvq in I.T.) At the moment i am sharpening my skills on www.open.ac.uk/openl… I will be pursuing a balance between quality and cheap education.

I need to find something i’m passionate about, rather than working in a call centre for a big bank. I need to work because me and my babe got a mortgae etc to pay..

anybody know anywhere i can find a job where one can be creative, treated well, and with out the need of formal qualifications?

As far as benefits are concerned, i hope very much not to have to go down that route. I’m as well as I have ever been in my adult life and i’d feel like a fraud if i did.
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Message 12 – posted by mabel_piratesmol (U3147115) , Feb 14, 2008

Well done Karma – good luck with the Open University (OU). I’m currently in year 3 of a BA in Health & Social Care. I should be studyng now, but stopped for coffee break 1 hour ago

I can understand how you feel about just walking away.

On the subject of benefits:

1. There is no shame in claiming benefits – you’ve paid your Nat Insurance so now is the time to claim on that insurance. If someone wrote off your car, you’d claim wouldn’t you?

2. It’s not just the money – you need to keep your Nat Ins record up to date.

3. By claiming you’re keeping all those Jobcentre ‘bunnies’ off the dole

Please don’t delay claiming JSA or IB. You wouldn’t believe how many letters I get from people who delayed claiming because they thought they’d get a job quickly and are horrified that we can’t backdate the claim.

Good luck

Are you & Gfriend doing anything special tonight?

Sorry TWP

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Message 13 – posted by Limpette (U3941389) , Feb 14, 2008

Hello karmaboyblue – belated welcome. I’d have been to this thread earlier but I’m having to ration my Ouch time at the mo to balance stuff.

Do I try to take the big corporation on, that would seem to be the most noble thing to do. I don’t want to let the incompetant managers get away with their, well – incompetance!!
Quoted from this message

As someone whose MH prob and disability were caused by work, I had to make a similar decision. It seemed to me that the person who’d been wronged was the one who not only had to struggle with their MH, fight hard to get back into the workplace and keep their end up once there but, also struggle with the stresses of bringing their case. For some people, that just costs too much. And, as twp says, your health comes first.

I read on and saw that you’ll do what you feel is right for you. Good luck!
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Message 14 – posted by tigerwarriorprincess (U9292809) , Feb 14, 2008

Are you & Gfriend doing anything special tonight?

Sorry TWP
Quoted from this message

Someone’s obviously been reading Vaughan’s Valentine thread which I wasn’t going to dignify by posting on it (she said..)

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Message 15 – posted by mabel_piratesmol (U3147115) , Feb 14, 2008

Yup – ‘fraid so!

I noticed that you couldn’t resist though

Or are you just a soppy old romantic at heart?

I MUST do some Open Uni & salvage something from today.
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Message 16 – posted by tigerwarriorprincess (U9292809) , Feb 14, 2008

Or are you just a soppy old romantic at heart?
Quoted from this message

*snorts*

and pfffft

and

As If!

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Message 17 – posted by karmaboyblue (U11052790) , Feb 14, 2008

Me and my girlfriend will, probably go out for a few drinks. Valentines Day is all a bit too much of a commercial rip-off for me.

Our valentines day was couple of days ago,
we been going out for six years and two days now.
How she puts up with with me , i’ll never know!!

We went to a lovely indian restarant called nights of india (in manchester), and got drunk in a few bars afterwards, Outstanding food, brilliant night….
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Message 18 – posted by petjessie123 (U11331555) , Mar 26, 2008

Hi Karmaboyblue,

I totally know how you feel I have just walked out of a Job stupid I know but I have had a lot of time off and some silly moo I work with was telling people I was just skiving etc I pulled her up on it and she reported me!

Then the follwing week someone had a go at me so I walked now feel gutted I done that just married as well,I have started a new job but only manged a day!

Went to gp who has given me Quetiapine and increased my fluroxitine to 60mg

I have only been told I have panic attacks and deppresion I’m wondering if I may have Bipolar as my mood is up and down like a yoyo
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Message 19 – posted by MacBigJeff (U11293152) , Mar 27, 2008

Hi karmaboyblue

since i have become ill i have not worked except voluntary work. Whenever i disclose my illnesses on forms i get no response from jobs i apply for and met with people being scared of me because of my illness or even hostile. Its very frustrating to be seen as an illness and not a person.

A study carried out for the government found out that 70 percent of employers would not even take someone on for an interview let alone a job if they disclosed a past or present mental health illness.

I think most peoples reaction is like when Eddie izzard did a stand up show where he was talking about makeup on a man and walking into a newsagents to by a paper. Its as if the general public have no information on how to react. hes very funny explaining how he deals with it and how other people deal with him basically wearing women’s cloths and makeup. Although obviously different to disability it still evokes in some a hostile reaction to stunned silence.

On Stephen fry. i have been a fan of his work for some time and when he announced to the world about his condition and that he would be making a program about mental illness i watched with much believe that he was spreading the word about mental health in a way that no one to my mind has done before. It was a brilliant program and highlighted a great deal.

I wish you well in you life with this misunderstood illness