is this disability discrimination or just my employers being dicks?
Just got off the phone with HR guy. If you're reading this, fuck you Dylan or Dalton or whatever your fucking name is.
This was supposed to be an easy peasy part time job. Turned into a shit show real quick.
i'll give y'all a back story, feel free to skip it
I am going back to work after being at home for 3 entire years. Before those years, I worked endlessly since age 13 (worked my dad's shift at a pizza shop since all employees and the owner were alcoholics, fun times).
Why did I stop working for 3 years, you ask? My bladder hemorrhaged violently due to a medication I was placed on for my mod-severe rheumatoid arthritis; it also took out my entire immune system (am currently on monthly IVIG infusions which will greatly help once I get more of them).
I was working 70+ hours a week and going to school when I got slammed with this and suddenly pushed from my independent, fun life into a completely horrible existence, living with my mom and abusive stepdad. Things were extremely unbearable and the pain I endured was NOTHING compared to when I had my hip replaced or anything. I now live across the country with my bf, got my bladder straight up yeeted out my body, and got tubes in my kidneys removed. I am considerably better – finally – after suffering since 2018. I still need time to heal but tbh we really need the money.
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During the interview, I disclosed my disability and told my employers directly that sometimes, up to twice a month I am hospitalized for 3/4 days – I never know when it'll happen, my kidneys just fucking hate me. I can't work on those days, obviously. They said they'd schedule me around that and were really excited to work with me given my experience (10 years in this industry) and would be flexible. Just a casual 2 or 3 shifts a week. They were super agreeable and encouraging with all of this.
Anyway, the inevitable happens on my second week – I have to go to the hospital. I tell them I'm getting sick so I will be going to the hospital, the day before I had to work, and they said, “Alright, just get better!”
Because I missed 3 shifts in a row… it's a 'voluntary separation' which I “SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE IT'S COMPANY POLICY!” As if someone who has spent a total of 3 days working for your establishment knows the ins and outs of the company policy. They said they didn't “think my medical issues would be this bad”. Dude, I told you IN the interview what happens. I know my body very well. It's like fucking clockwork.
HR Guy was useless. Kept telling me about how I signed a paper about “agreeing to perform my job duties”. I said I did perform them, very well, while I was at work. Somehow, even got them 2 five star reviews on Google in the couple days I worked there (mentioned by name).
Apparently I marked 'no' on the disability question on the application, probably because I figured they wouldn't even give me a chance if I marked yes. I know many of my fellow disabled people are with me on that. However, I certainly did disclose to them in the interview after they got to know me a little.
HR guy said yelled “I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW ITS ILLEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE ON DISABILITY WITH HIRING” and I replied, “It doesn't matter that it's illegal. They'll just say the person cannot perform the job duties, etc, kinda like what's happening now…” He didn't like that.
Oh, and did I mention we weren't allowed to take a lunch break, sit down (at any time during 8 hours of work), or have breaks?
I know marking that I didn't have a disability was wrong but I came clean about it right away. Marking 'yes' scares me because I feel like I'll be overlooked by most companies if I say it before meeting them. I know that I am a decent person and hard worker. I just don't want to be discriminated against.
I think I'll be taking a break from job hunting for a bit (so thankful for my partner) because that really sucked.