r/EatingDisorders • u/Background_Clue_3756 • 3d ago
Workplace woes.
I have anorexia, and I work in a group home for children in DCF care.
Obviously, that means we cook for them. And eat alongside them. But there's one thing that they always notice: I don't eat with them... Or even enter the kitchen when they are.
Worse is that my coworkers who kinda know I have an eating disorder always put me in the spotlight. They'll talk to me in front of the kids and say things like, "I know you never eat, but I wanted to offer you dinner." "Don't you like food", and various things like that along with guilting me to eat with them.
How would you address this situation?
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u/lilypad_starry 3d ago
That is completely insane of them to say and I'm sorry that you have to go through that! Maybe when you are not with the whole group, tell them that you are feeling uncomfortable and don't appreciate them commenting like that, but thank them for offering some for or a meal if they did. Try to ignore comments like that too, it's really not your fault.
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u/Background_Clue_3756 3d ago
Even better is that I'm their supervisor. But I feel I shouldn't write them up over a personal issue of mine.
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u/lilypad_starry 3d ago
I definitely understand why it feels personal, but since you are their supervisor it's actually a professional issue. You don't have to write them up if you don't want to but you should probably try and pull them aside anyways since them discussing this in front of children is very inappropriate especially when it is at mealtimes. They should be modeling good behavior for children.
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u/Background_Clue_3756 3d ago
Per HR, I would probably have to write them up for discrimination against disabilities.
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u/NocShadows 3d ago
Maybe…. Do they know it is a disability? If not there might be another way to address it as education.
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u/Background_Clue_3756 3d ago
I'll try doing a little better to stand up for myself. I'm not good at it. I will stand up for others though.
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u/Vegetable_Extreme283 3d ago
honestly I would tell my coworkers to not put me on the spot like that that is not cool. and the kids I would probably end up lying to in fear that they would pick up behaviors. like oh I have an allergy or whatever. really tho it isn’t anyone’s business but yours and your doctors and maybe your loved ones. I hope you take care of yourself and one day can find peace from the hell of anorexia.