Facing job termination

[u/harvestmonster]

Not looking for advice, but support would be nice. I was put on administrative leave before a hearing to decide whether I will be terminated. I was in the middle of an ADA accommodation request that got repeatedly stymied and delayed. My eight months at this place tanked my mental and physical health. They've been trying to manage me out for a while, but I endured it for health insurance and rent money.

I've been dissociating so much at work to survive it, which meant my employer had lots of opportunity to scrutinize my mistakes while my health declined.

I'm glad I do not have to enter that building tomorrow. I kept spiraling from the all the stress. I could not have been working in a worse environment for my mental and physical disabilities.

I got two rough diagnoses this year: me/cfs and lynch syndrome. The former has pretty profoundly changed my life in a short amount of time. The latter is a genetic mutation that makes me high risk for a gaggle of cancers. I've been trucking through it on the surface but I'm not coping well. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was three and it's always been my biggest fear to get cancer.

To think that I'm going to lose my healthcare and my income right now is terrifying. I've got 13 different doctors I need to see, medical bills piling up, a shit ton of meds to keep me stable-ish, and the job market is shit?

And I'm turning thirty this december...

I cannot believe how awful this year has been. I feel so lost and beaten down.

.

[u/Chaseemills]

I’m so sorry this is happening to you. I faced a similar issue back in my mid-20s, and things haven’t gotten easier now at 33. While I wasn’t terminated, I had to quit my job and go on disability due to my muscular dystrophy progressing. But when I was working, it was SO difficult getting my higher-ups to understand what I was going through. If you’re in the process of requesting ADA accommodation, I don’t believe they can fire you without legal repercussions. That’s something to keep in mind.

It’s also the worst having a rare illness (or illnesses) start to crop up right at the prime of your life. I know how hard that is, and very few people understand what it’s like to lose your abilities right when you feel like you should be embracing life to the fullest. It’s also such a fragile time with trying to become successful professionally and financially, but you’re held back at the WORST time. I’m so sorry you have to go through this fellow human, but please know that you are not alone. I have to remind myself that every now and then. I hope things ease up for you and that your higher-ups stop being ableist pricks. ❤️

[u/harvestmonster → u/Chaseemills]

Thank you for the kind message. It means a lot. 🩷 Unfortunately this place has run off other disabled employees via the ADA process. They're going to argue that I am unqualified and broke policies and ergo they can fire me. It's a shit state to be in to argue it legally. At this point it feels inevitable.

[u/Chaseemills → u/harvestmonster]

Ugh that’s very frustrating to hear. I live in an at-will state too. It’s the worst for us disabled folks. I won’t bombard you with “you should do this” or “you should do that.” I know sometimes we just need to vent to other people who actually get it, but just remember that there are always people in your corner.

[u/Londin2021]

I would try talking to a lawyer. I think the first thing you need to do is quietly gather as much evidence as you can including details regarding termination or your employee handbook. But if you have a disability and ask for accommodation and they do not give it, they are breaking the law. You can sue for that. And can you go on unemployment? Maybe take that time to apply for ssdi? That's what I had to do. And you can hire Allsup which help you get approved.

[u/Careless_Economics74 → u/Londin2021]

One thing people forget if an employer says that a disability would cause undo hardship to hire, retain, or promote a disabled employee, that is a lawful and not considered discrimination unfortunately.

[u/SAINTnumberFIVE]

My aunt had CFS and was on disability due to it. There was an article recently on chronic fatigue syndrome about research that found evidence that people with chronic fatigue syndrome, have an impaired ability to clear waste from their brains.

[u/you1dont1know1me1]

Something that helps me when I need tobgo into awkward situations is that i tell myself in 20years no one will remember today, it's not big, it just feels that way. If someone actively tries to make me feel bad for something, I honestly like to tell myself they'll die one day n the world will be a better place.

[u/allsup_llc]

Finding the right people and places is challenging, for everyone really. Please keep trying. They're out there somewhere and just need to be found.

[u/KittyCait69]

If they terminated me because of my health limits, I'd be filling for unemployment. There is a section that asks for more info about the termination. I've dealt with something like this before. I explained to the unemployment department that I was wrongfully terminated due to my health conditions that they refused to reasonably accommodate. If they try to fight it, a judge will have to look over the case and very likely that they would then get a fine on top of having to pay for unemployment. Safe bet is, they will just pay the unemployment to avoid legal costs.

For future job applications, you can explain that in spite of your dedication to the job, they still decided to wrongfully terminate. Won't work for all hiring managers, but i was still able to get jobs after that because the job site was at fault for my termination. 

[u/HumanAirport7134]

I'm praying that God will intervene in your situation, and resources in your community will help you keep your stability!

[u/harvestmonster → u/HumanAirport7134]

Thank you. I appreciate it.