hi everything i was wondering if anyone has lose their job because of the meds they are on. I sadly have losed 3 jobs this year. When i asked what was wrong they said i was not picking up as good as they thought i was... The meds i am on is Keppra XR. The side effects make you feel like you are so stupid and tired. I sometimes feel always drug.
I was wondering if anyone had the same problem because one of the places that i worked at, told them that i was on meds that made me like that. Also, another place that i worked i did not tell them and stil get told the same thing.
Do you tell your employers or do you not? Or when do you tell them? This is kinda werid
I am an attorney as well as an AVM survivor. I can tell you that workplace discrimination based onmedication is a violation of the 1969 Americans with Disabilities Act provided that you can do the job as well as someone who is not on those meds. Lawsuits and the like are no fun, but it is one avenue you can explore.
I am not an attorney, and I don't really disagree with what you wrote. The big issue I see is PROOF that lgcohen was let go due to meds. I doubt that any biz would be stupid enough to write down that she was let go due to meds, but more likely 'substandard performance'.
It is certainly worth speaking with an attorney (usually no charge for first consult) to see what they think.
There are some potential downsides though that you might want to think through. The "law" only allows an employer, when contacted by a prospective employer to confirm that you were in fact an employee, and the dates that you worked there. What really happens can be quite different though. I was a manager at a nationally known company, who hired and fired people. People who worked for me would list my name/phone number when they wanted a reference. When their future employer would call me, I would give them the party line of 'you need to call HR at this number to confirm the person's employment.' Then I would offer a personal opinion stating that I knew this individual and would not be afraid to hire the person, yada, yada.
Over the years, I had some doosies: One guy in our group cussed me out royally. That day, I tossed him off the program, and my boss (after several tries at rehabing the person) fired him. A few months later, the boss got a call from a potential employer saying 'Sam' had given the boss's name as a personal reference. Of course, Sam hadn't asked the boss.
My boss broke out laughing, saying "You're kidding me right? (more laughter) Sam said I'd be a personal reference?" The boss followed the law and didn't say anything positive or negative about Sam. But you know the prospective employer got the message loud and clear.
I'm just saying this as something you might want to consider. Even though there's the law and records sealed, etc, if you are involved in sueing a former employer, it could taint your future prospects. If you list former employers on a resume/application, most likely the hiring company will check on your record. They might find out more that you would like them to.
Just one layman's opinion. I do think you should investigate it and BEST WISHES.
Another tidbit that may be of use to you - the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") is a Federal government agency that enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). If you file a claim with the agency (just google them), they may sue on your behalf.
As Ron very correctly points out, using a legal recourse is messy, definitely not fun and often unsuccessful. While frustrating, it may be easier for you personally just to forget about it. You're not the ADA police. Only plow forth if it is worth it to you personally. Don't put yourself through any turmoil.
It may be worth it to file a claim with the EEOC and see if they'll take the case. If so, they will do the leg work for you. -Chad
Wow, sorry for replying to an old thread but I just wanted to say I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like this. I've noticed myself having trouble understanding what should seemingly be simple concepts, taking longer to understand things, spending 15 minutes writing a simple short email and then re-reading it over and over... it's extremely frustrating.
I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble with employers lgcohen. I was very open with my employer when I was diagnosed with my AVM, and thankfully they have been very supportive of me during this time. I've let them know that I'm on Keppra, told them the side effects, and they've given me allowances based on that. For example, I told them (when I was on my 1000mg dosage) that my medicine made me irritable, especially close to when it was getting closer to the time to take my meds, so I was not required to be in contact with clients for a time (especially not on my own).
I'm not sure how I would approach this situation with a new employer. Maybe try to emphasize the fact that you've gone through a very trying medical situation, but are doing your best to pull through and accommodate for the fact that these meds have changed your moods and disposition. Like an "overcoming adversity" story.
Probably the best thing to do, if you can, is to stay chummy with your boss, and try to establish an emotional connection there. If they value you as a person, they are going to be more sympathetic to the issues you deal with on a daily basis.