Long story short:
I work at a law firm and am new to the industry. Right from day 1, I was overworked, never trained and expected to do the work of a lawyer while only being a paralegal.
I have severe mental illness and TWO autoimmune disorders. The stress of the job started giving me intense panic attacks, to which end I decided to change my anti-depressant. This (as expected) caused a huge uptic in symptoms and I was suicidal for about three months.
I took short term disability leave and my doctor said I needed to be out of work (as it was exacerbating the issue) for four months. I was surprised by how long I needed to be out, but given the severity of my mental distress eventually came to understand it.
My work was understanding at first, but after a few weeks started repeatedly asking me when i was coming back. Unfortunately I gave into the pressure and returned to work after one month of leave, but just half time. My doctor and therapist were not happy.
We have always had 2 allotted work from home days. When I came back to work I always reported to work for my 3 work at office days. Every once in awhile if there was an emergency or uptic in my still struggling mental health, I would switch my WFH day to a different one (as most people in my office do if needed).
After switching my WFH day once after my insulin pump died and I was stuck at home giving insulin injections and actively avoiding the ER, I told my boss I would work from home that day (since I had no sick days).
The next day I came into work and my boss asked to meet with me and revoked all my work from home days because I was “abusing the policy.” She asked me when I would return to work full time because “half time really is nothing” and I need to be here. They will revoke my health benefits if I don’t return within three weeks.
I’m back at work full time now (to keep my benefits) but had extensive flooding in my home yesterday. I asked for an emergency work from home day to have someone home for the workers to be let in and my boss said no, and only granted permission after I essentially begged.
This was a tipping point for me, as other staff members wfh anytime there is an emergency or a child is sick, but I am not allowed. I sent an email to my boss today asking for written explanation of why I am no longer given work from home days so that I can consider to pursue legal action against their obvious discrimination. I’m really scared, but proud of myself for sticking up to this bullshit.
Fuck jobs forever and let’s just go back to the trade and barter system.