Aa
Hepatitis in my work place
I have informed my employer about my hepatitis i work in a hotel and my manager wants me to see the company doctor can i refuse to attend?
Thanks
Thanks
I always thought that a person doesn't have to share medical info unless a condition interferes with one's ability to perform their job. I was also under the impression that FMLA was between an individual and that individual's PERSONAL doctor and that the medical info was confidential. I recognize the importance of removing stigma, but my medical info is my business and I wouldn't disclose other medical information, so why HCV? Am I wrong here?
I believe in informing EVERYONE ---- but then - I am a BIG MOUTH - and I tell EVERYONE...
And I do it with a sense of humor --- and I let them know up front what I have ---had--- and how contagious it is --- but I ALWAYS start off with...
Oh yeah - I was a street walker on 4th and Gambell - and I used to Mainline Heroin and Dr. Pepper --- and By the way - you can catch it if I breathe on you --- here --- wanna hug...
And I say all this with a smile on my face...
And watch them turn green...
and almost bolt out the door.
And then I tell them the truth.
It's often amusing to watch the folks change from apprehensive to interested --- and sometimes I get the chance to inform them about Hepatitis C.
Everyone who knows me knows about it --- everyone who knows me --- knows enough to pass on the information - long after I'm gone.
And to me --- that's the most important thing we can do to eradicate this disease...
Is to put a face to it.
To teach others
To get others to donate to the cause.
And to stop the HORRIBLE ostracization of all of this.
However - I will say - if you go see the company doctor - you want copies of EVERYTHING that they give you.
It MAY benefit you.
Also - GO SEE THE DOCTOR prepared.
A lot of doctors do NOT know about HEPC.
So get all your information into a file.
Be prepared to give it to a doctor
Print out REPUTABLE sites info
Get prepared - and be prepared to sway the doctor to BE YOUR ADVOCATE... Be prepared to inform - and TEACH.
IF you have to go --- make that doctor prepare EVERYONE for what is to come --- and what will happen.
Learn about FMLA --- and have your doctor (the company doctor) who is going to back you up --- because he's become knowledgeable about HCV because of YOU.....
Hugs - and good luck to you!
Meki
And I do it with a sense of humor --- and I let them know up front what I have ---had--- and how contagious it is --- but I ALWAYS start off with...
Oh yeah - I was a street walker on 4th and Gambell - and I used to Mainline Heroin and Dr. Pepper --- and By the way - you can catch it if I breathe on you --- here --- wanna hug...
And I say all this with a smile on my face...
And watch them turn green...
and almost bolt out the door.
And then I tell them the truth.
It's often amusing to watch the folks change from apprehensive to interested --- and sometimes I get the chance to inform them about Hepatitis C.
Everyone who knows me knows about it --- everyone who knows me --- knows enough to pass on the information - long after I'm gone.
And to me --- that's the most important thing we can do to eradicate this disease...
Is to put a face to it.
To teach others
To get others to donate to the cause.
And to stop the HORRIBLE ostracization of all of this.
However - I will say - if you go see the company doctor - you want copies of EVERYTHING that they give you.
It MAY benefit you.
Also - GO SEE THE DOCTOR prepared.
A lot of doctors do NOT know about HEPC.
So get all your information into a file.
Be prepared to give it to a doctor
Print out REPUTABLE sites info
Get prepared - and be prepared to sway the doctor to BE YOUR ADVOCATE... Be prepared to inform - and TEACH.
IF you have to go --- make that doctor prepare EVERYONE for what is to come --- and what will happen.
Learn about FMLA --- and have your doctor (the company doctor) who is going to back you up --- because he's become knowledgeable about HCV because of YOU.....
Hugs - and good luck to you!
Meki
I informed my boss at the time. Swore him to secrecy. HE of course turned around and told HR. They turned around and contacted the company nurse and wanted a detailed report on how "infectious" I was and how "communicable" the disease was. Then they sent a letter to the owner of the company (mind you this is a multi-billion dollar company and the owner certainly didn't need any notification) telling him all about it (and the other top execs too). I only found out because all these 'confidential' documents started floating in to my boss and I opened it up and copied them all for protection.
This is the way companies work unfortunately. They DO put it all down into your work history and file and talk about it behind your back.
My boss (at the time) made fun of how sick I looked, told me I had to try to look "less tired" he was a real dirtbag about it but I guess he knew he really couldn't fire me. He tried to just move me over to a non-existent job where I'd just sit at a desk doing nothing all day (so then they could say later how they didn't really need that position). I could see where it was all going. And with my dismissal would have been my insurance (who can afford COBRA on unemployment?).
Thank God the man I work for now (owners son) was this guys boss and he took me up to work for him up in executive. Well of course I realize they all knew what I had because I read the letter (duh) but they treated me with dignity and respect so it worked out.
Companies.............they don't care about us at all except in a general way - don't EVER trust THEM (trusting a beloved boss is one thing but I never should have trusted the one I had when I was diagnosed but I was stupidly trying to do the right thing...).
Use good sense and don't tell unless you have to.
This is the way companies work unfortunately. They DO put it all down into your work history and file and talk about it behind your back.
My boss (at the time) made fun of how sick I looked, told me I had to try to look "less tired" he was a real dirtbag about it but I guess he knew he really couldn't fire me. He tried to just move me over to a non-existent job where I'd just sit at a desk doing nothing all day (so then they could say later how they didn't really need that position). I could see where it was all going. And with my dismissal would have been my insurance (who can afford COBRA on unemployment?).
Thank God the man I work for now (owners son) was this guys boss and he took me up to work for him up in executive. Well of course I realize they all knew what I had because I read the letter (duh) but they treated me with dignity and respect so it worked out.
Companies.............they don't care about us at all except in a general way - don't EVER trust THEM (trusting a beloved boss is one thing but I never should have trusted the one I had when I was diagnosed but I was stupidly trying to do the right thing...).
Use good sense and don't tell unless you have to.
Don't tell your work.
Don't admit to anything in your past.
Everything you tell your doctor gets written down and is part of your medical history.
HCV is not communicable so disclosure is not required.
Keep this between you and your doctor. Discuss with your doctor how you are going to present this to your work if you need time off for treatment. Don't try to muddle through work; complications can loose you the job and you need about a year time off "for personal reasons". The doctor will provide the necessary letter without disclosing anything. Not everyone needs time off but it depends on your age, health and the type of work you do.
Don't admit to anything in your past.
Everything you tell your doctor gets written down and is part of your medical history.
HCV is not communicable so disclosure is not required.
Keep this between you and your doctor. Discuss with your doctor how you are going to present this to your work if you need time off for treatment. Don't try to muddle through work; complications can loose you the job and you need about a year time off "for personal reasons". The doctor will provide the necessary letter without disclosing anything. Not everyone needs time off but it depends on your age, health and the type of work you do.
I don't think there is a good enough legal reason for not seeing the doctor. Meaning you could most likely get fired for not seeing the doctor. Legally get fired with a false reason, like you were told to go see the doctor for other ppls protection and refused. I think your boss is just covering his a$$. Do yourself a favor, if you ever did drugs and it shows up anywhere in your medical history, be able to give a good explanation. If it doesn't show anywhere in your history, keep it to yourself, don't admit to using drugs unless you absolutely have to. My guess is that you didn't expect that from him, that really sux. Good Luck
Sounds to me more like your manager needs to see the company doctor for the reasons mentioned by Starteck.
well i think it might be a good idea to go see the company doctor because assuming he actually is one, he can help put your manager at ease as to what it means to have the hep C virus. If your company doctor is ignorant about hep c then you can suggest some places the doctor can go to learn about it. Unfortunately people can have their prejudices and I guess the cat is out of the bag so you might as well assume everyone at work knows about it.
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