UggbootdivaSenior Contributor
Being managed out or let go for mental illnesses
I was chatting to a very very good friend who owns her own business. She and I have been through heaps together and understand each other's mental state very well.
She was discussing a staff member that hadn't been working out, so they had "managed her out of the job" ie. encouraged and assisted her to get employment somewhere else. And then she added " and I was starting to we signs of mental illness as well" I laughed and said " well yes I am sure you can pick that up these days"
But now I have had time to think about it, it is pretty bad. She has employed someone else who turned out to be bipolar and he couldn't do his job as he was very depressed. I am bipolar so she came to me at the time to talk about it. They are a small business and can't afford to keep someone on who can't perform. She herself has and does suffer depression and panic attcks so she empathised with the guy but they couldn't afford for him to stay. He knew that and left of his own accord.
The thing is both of us have been able to push through and keep our jobs when we have been very sick, only because we have money and can take sick leave or get hospitalised and we both have enormous family support. So we are both awesome at keeping it hidden professionally.
It wasn't the reason they let the girl go (euphemism!) but she mentioned it at the end.
I can't stop thinking about it, we all talk about remove the stigma, and legally you can't discriminate against those with a medical condition, but mental illness is risky. You don't know when it might happen. It's not like being in a wheel chair - they can still do their jobs, it's not like breaking your Arm - that has a finite time frame for getting better. I thought if we the mentally ill won't even employ people with illness then how on earth can we expect others to?
No resolution, but in light of all the mental health stuff, and remove the stigma etc. it just left me feeling flat and hollow.
