Should I disclose that it's the hard time of year?

[Xila31]

Hello, I haven't been here much for a while.

So anyway, August and September are my worst time of year. I know this is true. This is when I'm the most ill and I don't know why. I don't even realize how ill I am until it is over and I realize how many mistakes and problems I've caused. Actually, a lot of times I think I'm doing great and then it turns out that was just an illusion or maybe even a delusion, I have no idea.

Well, for the past two years I've been written up at wok for making mistakes during this time of year. I've been threatened to be fired if I cannot sustain being "well" or sustain the level of not being ill. I'm also pregnant now, so I need my job more than ever. My boss, assistant boss, their boss, previous manager, and HR all know I have bipolar. I've explained to them the problem I have is that the bipolar is not always something I can sustain, but I've now been warned 3 times total (twice last year in 2010 and once the year before in 2011.)

I'm terrfied it's August. I'm terrfied because my boss is going to be back from maternity leave and sleep deprived. I'm terrified that my assistant boss has just been waiting for my boss to come back so that they can write me up for mistakes I may have missed or somethign I did that she didn't liek while my boss was gone. My boss's fill in likes me a lot so my assistant boss probably wouldn't say anything to her.

I already feel myself slipping in my head, my concentration evaporating around me like boiling water. I'm really, really, really scared.  

Should I formally disclose to my boss and assistant boss that this time of year is very difficult for me? Or is that digging my grave? I don't know what to do. Any advice?

[zzzmykids]

Dear Friend,
What does your experience at work tell you? If you can trust, tell them. If not, is there a safe person at HR you could confide in?  Have missed you, haven't been on much, but posted and then saw you. If you tell will it make it worse or better for you? Hope October for you comes quickly. My months are late Oct through beginning of Feb.
Nice to see you,
zzz

[Xila31]

I do have short term disability, but I have to save it for when I have the baby in January.

Well, I guess I'll just do my best as usual and keep records as I have been doing. That seems to be the best rout. Thank you both!

[lindahand]

Do you have disability through work? If you can take a short term disability leave I'd go that route. This way they can't fire you, and you will be able to spend the next two months healing. Better to go on disability than to get fired for making mistakes.

[Mom2four85]

wow I'd contact someone asap then; you've already told them and I would contact HR and get your paperwork to inform your new boss and her assistant's etc again; in writing so they know what's going on then I'd find some legal help just to ask about this to cover all my basis.

Sorry you have to work in that type of environment with someone who doesn't understand your situation.

[Xila31]

Thank you.

Yes, I have informed them in writing two years ago. I made accomidations with HR and my boss at that time. Such as needing frequent breaks, etc. But they rearranged everything and I got a new boss who is a perfectionist with super high anxiety and I am not longer able to take my breaks unless I am sneaky about it, because she says I don't do enough work. She gets upset at me for the problems I have with my bipolar and when I told her it was because I was having a hard time, in my next write up she said that having a hard time is not a reason to make mistakes because everyone has hard times.

So I'm trying to decide if I should let her know that my hard time is coming bofore it gets bad :(

I have put copies of all of the write ups and my yearly evaluations into my medical chart so that I have documentation of what is going on...

[Mom2four85]

have you given them information about your medical conditions and they know what's wrong? If so, under the disabilities act I think (don't quote me) they have to make some sort of accomodations for you but you have to let them know I believe by your dr in writing.

I would definitely talk to your doctor and let him/her know what's going on at work and find out about the disabilities act so you know what to do.

if they've threatened to fire you knowing you have BiPolar and being treated for it? then I would talk to an attorney who deals with this and make sure you understand what your rights are.  here in Fl under the attorney's bar assoc. we can see an attorney for $25/30 min...it might be worth that $25 to find out.