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Post by computermandan on Oct 21, 2013 8:55:09 GMT
Ok so some people will know my background...
but in a nutshell - not DX as yet, but general psychiatrist has put me on anti-dep/sleeping meds to rule out sleep issues as a cause of my symptoms.
Work have become aware I am on medication, the basics of what and why without specifics and then this morning I opened my email to this...
"Hi Dan, Had a thought over the weekend. The company will need to know what the doctors have prescribed and for what reason.
Your job entails various important responsibilities and if what you have been prescribed is likely to effect your abilities to perform those tasks the company need to be aware.
Please therefore reply to this email advising what (names please) you have been prescribed. Please also give any further information as to what condition or why the doctor have prescribed these?"
I am not sure I want to divulge the name of the medication and all the reasons for prescription etc.
Do I have to disclose this information? Is there any real reason to at this stage?
am a bit confused about the whole thing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2013 9:57:47 GMT
Hmm... tricky.
Got keys to the building? Company car or access to pool car? Or anything else that would cause them grief if they had to claim on insurance?
Personally, not a fan of disclosure. Htf they find out?
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Post by jan on Oct 21, 2013 10:23:58 GMT
was it you or the other dan that mentioned something about this coming up the other day ? check whats his name now dan ooo cant rem and dunno if ive got time to check now really should be getting ready for work
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Post by computermandan on Oct 21, 2013 13:00:03 GMT
Jan your responses amuse me muchly sometimes... I go through that sentence so many times in a day Michael... keys= yes alarm= yes (but I kept forgetting the code so they got me a proxy fob thing) server room access = yes domain admin privelege = yes I could understand any concerns to be fair. In any case my boss arrived and we discussed it - he assured me enough that it wasn't for negative reasons and I requested a chat with the chairman(woman?) about it and having just come out of that it was a positive one! We spoke about the background to the problems and into why i was seeing the psych - I trust her not to misuse the info. she went on to basically say that if anything happened to me at work it might be important. I semi-agreed. But she went further to say if there's anything she can do personally to help or if managing workload for me could be of assistance and so on they will do what they can. I'm actually impressed to be honest... (hopes hasnt sold himself up the river!) So I sent the info just now. She has said thankyou and re-iterated her offer of support. onwards we go
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2013 18:51:48 GMT
That's great so far Dan. Lets hope they're as good as their word on this. Good luck
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Post by computermandan on Oct 23, 2013 9:20:39 GMT
hmmm... I think the intentions are good - not sure my immediate boss gets the idea of support and managing workload... I can understand why, but seems I'm just getting more grief now for silly things... I will have to document my entire working existence in order to show I'm doing what I say I'm doing, not what words get put in my mouth to suit the other persons need to have a go.
Yes I told you this... No you didn't... yes i did I 100% know I told you and I can't normally say that.... Well I didn't know so you didn't tell me. Ok whatever!
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Post by DKL - darkknightslover on Oct 27, 2013 13:35:37 GMT
Sounds like fun computermandan! I had a similar situation at my old job. I found the documenting of everything was actually very helpful. I worked in a manufacturing envirnonment of custom products, and I was particularly good with large and complex projects. However I was very easily distracted, and found a shift log actually really helped. An basic excel document with columns for Project code or task, Info (basic specs of the project), time started, time completed, problems encountered/if task completed. Over time it evolved to include sub-task and start and end time of those. I also used it as a to-do list, in combination with a laminated A4 document (see 3rd para). I had to send this log to both my immediate manager and his manager at the end of every shift. The added accountability as well as the total ownership and development of the log was totally mine, meant that I was more likely to remember to use it (in fact there wasn't a single shift since its implementation that I forgot to send one, although I didn't always start it at the beginning of a shift). I could change it when and how I liked. When it was found to really help pre-medication (it was originally meant to be a temporary measure while I was under special measures) I asked if I could continue using it and sending it to those managers. Everyone was really happy to continue to do so. I knew they wouldn't read it every day, but the possibility that they could added to its success. It worked, we both had a record of what was what, it also helped me to explain where and why I had certain problems.
The other part of its success is that both of the managers had personal experience of "not all brains being equal", so with them being so open to listening, understanding and sound-boarding ideas and introducing their own (like this log, even though it's a standard practice - I'd've never come up with that system in its form on my own). I think it also helped that I was so honest and open (and it might have helped me that I told them I had been to the Citezen's Advice Bureau, although I have nothing to substantiate this, it's just a hunch). I also had issues with one colleague who bullied me (I see this as bullying now, because of behaviour displayed as it came close to my leaving date) and with my track record of honesty and my genuine hope to resolve any issues and get to the nub of them, it also really helped when it became an issue of her word versus mine and describing my intention towards her in any disagreements but also commenting on how I felt my behaviour may not have helped the situation. In short, a very "sitting on the fence" neutral view of the whole situation between herself and I. Moving back to the original track!
The A4 laminated document mentioned previously was used as a whiteboard which really helped with prioritisation of tasks and also was a secondary anti-distraction tool. It had on it the general every-day/weekly to-do's and general prioritisation rules that I always checked with the managers. It sat directly underneath my monitor, but since I could take it with me everywhere and it was stiff enough to clip on a simple lab-timer, it also further helped with time management (especially my tendency to overrun on breaks).
In general I was very open with everyone about the ADHD. This was because my "ahha" moment coincided with when I started getting into official trouble with regards to my conduct (I was a loud, screamy, grumpy sod when things got really stressful) and my efficiency as a worker. All of my problems happened to strongly line up with a number of the symptoms. I shared all information with regards to the progress of the referral process (which was a bit weird as the adult ADHD services were only being set-up at the time) and shared information as I learnt it with regards to treatments and aids. As time marched on it came to a point where a decision needed to be made about my future with the company. They couldn't make that decision without a yeay or nay on if I was ADHD or not. It looked very likely and my GP also agreed that I needed a referral to a specialist, and provided a letter to that effect. So the employer took the decision to pay for an initial assessment with a private consultant psychiatrist, who found I was very likely to be ADHD and started me on medication there and then. I had to pay for the prescription, travel and any further appointments, but it meant that I had a couple of months breathing space to get myself more together before the 3 months review process started all over again. Near the end of the review period I knew I was leaving and told them. I still hadn't reached the level of efficiency of day to day work they were after, but one of the potential options was to see if there may have been an alternative role for me somewhere else in the company. But I'll never know what may have happened and can't really share any hunches because I truly have no idea. It was accepted that I wasn't a natural factory worker as I was very vocal and challenged the norm enough for everyone!
The chair-person sounds encouraging. But don't forget that she'll also have other interests to balance out. I'd suggest going down to the CAB and maybe the Job Centre about Access to Work rights in regard to your current medical status, and also look into how that might change if you were to receive an ADHD diagnosis.
In general I don't think you need to share what medication you're on (CAB and actually your pharmacist might know more - I like pharmacists a lot, they're massively underused though!), but my general opinion is that "The truth shall set you free", especially if it's documented! Chances are your direct manager doesn't know anything about mental health issues and might (but hopefully isn't) be of the opinion that "depression etc is for the weak". If he's open to it, this can be helped through education. Knowing the biological basis of disease I've personally found really helps in this area, but then I've mostly worked in scientific environments. It might be just a case of wording, presenting and timing it right/pitching info at him when he's in the right mood and not pressured by anything else. If he's micromanaging, I personally would be asking him why. It's a very unusual tack though, but clear communication and understanding is key in any relationship. At work this can be complicated as the manager may be worried or have been warned against being as frank as you may need because of fear of litigation down the road. This will be quite the sensitive subject if employment law is dragged into the conversation - the last thing you want to do is put them on the back foot. You don't want to come across as ignorant, or threatening. When I told my managers about going to the Citizen's Advice Bureau, it was with the intention of conveying that I was looking everywhere for sources of help to help myself, however the managers will also have presumed that the CAB staff would also fill me in on my rights as an employee - which they did to be fair!
If you want copies of the documents I used and gave the company, please ask.
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Camcaroo
Member's not posted much yet
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Post by Camcaroo on Jan 5, 2014 23:09:15 GMT
OMG DKL!!! I would love to read that, I really want to read it all but whoa!! What are you studying by the way?
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Post by DKL - darkknightslover on Apr 8, 2014 13:35:07 GMT
OMG - sorry I took so long to reply! First time since January I've been on here with a computer and so have done a lot more catching up stuff @camcaroo if you pm me with your email address I'll send the files I made to you if you like. I'd rather not share specifically what I'm studying, but I am training to be a health care professional. Even though I'm still relatively open about my condition, I'd rather people found out about it directly from me after I've had the chance to meet them face to face, rather than for people to be able to add up the many dots I have strewn about the place here and then know and judge me before they meet me. Meeting and knowing someone in the real flesh and blood is always different to the digital version Also, will take on board the "woah!!" bit... I'll try to break up my longer posts more and subtitle them. Make it easier to read and follow.
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