My job concerns

[Emma123]

I just wanted to thank all of those who took the time to reply not only with compassion but sensible information as well.

Funny, I took the time to read through a thread on mobbing.....and to be honest, maybe that is the whole reason my immune system is puking out on me. I have had a slew of illness. Yesterday I was in the hospital because my "D dimer" was elevated. (Being an office nurse I didn't even know what the D dimer was, but from clinicals I knew of a fibrinogen test...which is what it is, but the nicknames and such I wasn't aware of. I had a high fever, shaking, coughing up junk, feeling generally ILL. I ended up getting a CT scan; they thankfully didn't see a clot. I have aircasts on both feet, so I wonder if something is going on there, too. Who knows...And this after all I've been through with the achilles tearing, etc.

And then it dawned on me. I told you all I'm a new employee. My boss is not a nurse; has no nursing background, and cannot possibly understand the difficulties we face each day. She allowed an MA in the office to swear at me and I found myself leaving crying, then driving to my boss's office to explain the situation (she works out of the main business office; I'm in a float pool). I documented the situation, emailed it to her, and NOTHING was done about it.

I have several emails from her and conversations which would stress anyone out, ie: "I'm not going to put you on the schedule if it makes you sick." And calling my former boss, etc, to find out that I truly was a good employee for that organization.

Bottom line: My work is making me sick...I think. Someone had mentioned going to employee health and getting it documented. I will be doing that.

My past, and having a spouse passing away and a failed marriage after that is not the reason I am getting sick lately. That was then. This is now. So I appreciate the thoughts from the one poster who said it was a pattern, or whatever, in my personal life. I did contact EAP; they told me to just let them fire me but not to quit.

I have pneumonia now, so I'm resting up. I faxed her all the discharge paperwork from the hospital. Supposed to return Mondayper the boss; my attendance will be reviewed on a weekly basis, per the boss. So if my fever reappears at work (and oh my goodness I'm coughing constantly), I will be on the outs with the nurses in the office who are sitting directly next to me, sharing a headset doing triage.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

Oh what fun it is.

Thanks for caring,

Emma

[caliotter3]

You said in your post that you came to the conclusion that your work is making you sick. If that really is the case, then the solution would be to leave that position. However, if you don't strengthen yourself, you won't be able to get another position very soon, or you will run into the same problem. You need to work to support your family. Even if you go on welfare, it is not a good solution or a long term solution. A relative of mine, alone with kids, could never get the welfare benefits to kick in. They kept losing the paperwork, etc. She always found a job faster than she ever got anything from welfare. You really need to consider getting help with getting on disability and getting the medical care you need to make yourself healthy. Until you get healthy, you will be overwhelmed. Many people said something like this to you on the closed thread. We all can wish good things for you but only you can take the steps necessary to help yourself. Really hope your health improves to the point that you can see a way out of this.

[Emma123]

Dear C:

Thanks for your response. If I quit, though...I will lose my insurance benefits. I will have no income coming in and lo and behold the Christmas season is right around the corner. I'm scared out of my mind, that's all. EAP said to keep documenting, keep all the doc slips (they can fire me d/t sickness because of being an "at will employer"), but then I could at least apply for unemployment benefits in the meantime. I told them I wasn't comfortable wating for the ax to fall, so to speak, as that directly affects my resume. But they just said that I can only do what I can do, that's all. And if it happens, it happens, but they encouraged me to not give up the fight.

I've never had to go on welfare, although I have used WIC in the past. I've always made my way in life, trying to put food on the table for the children that I brought into this world. The state didn't. I did. You can probably understand that that would be a huge blow.

How does one just "quit and take care of yourself". Like I said I am not eligible for short term OR long term disability. I'm assuming whatever this is will pass. I've had a tremendous amount of acute conditions which certainly wouldn't qualify me for disability....and it takes forever and a day, sometimes years to get disability through SS, and other than becoming acutely ill....I can't say it would put me out of work for a year or longer. I would not qualify.

I have no other family. Mom's very sick. Sisters in another state and in bad shape financially too. Bills need to get paid. It's just that if I knew a solid "here is how you can go about this" in which I knew my electric wouldn't be cut off or rent would get paid, I'd TAKE THE TIME to bother taking care of myself. I just can't. Financially.

Thanks for listening though. I'm really just venting and trying to explain what my situation is. It's not as easy as quitting and taking some time for myself. I have no money to do that.

[caliotter3]

Learn how to start relaxing and letting the thoughts about work go. You know that prayer, the Serenity Prayer. Relax your mind and let God do his part. Try replacing concerns about the next step with your boss with doing something pleasant with your kids. After all, once you are at home, there is nothing that you can do about work. Relaxation exercises at work would help you get through the hours. Sounds like the EAP people gave you the best advice for the circumstances. Do your best and what comes, will come. Try to be low key. Stay away from your boss as much as possible. Don't talk about your situation with others at work, and let interest in you as an individual die down. You can get through this better if you just take one day at a time. Sounds trite by now, but it works. If you can't handle one day at a time, then one hour at a time. Relax, relax, relax. Best wishes for you.

[I love my cat!]

What about Family Leave? Do you have any benefits like this? What about cutting back to part time work? A lot of facilities will still provide you with health insurance as a part-time employee.

How come you don't qualify for short-term disability? If your work is causing your illness you should qualify for Workman's Compensation. Workman's Comp covers physical and emotional disabilities.

To add, even though it sounds as though you are working for an 'at-will' employer, it is against the law for them to fire someone that has become sick/injured/disabled from work.

Like the other poster mentioned, KEEP DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING! This documentation could be the deciding factor for unemployment benefits, disability benefits and/or as leverage if your facility does indeed fire you.

Hang in there and look into temp. disability.

**To Add: Does you facility use latex? If so, have blood work done to see if you are sensitive or allergic to it. Airborne latex can make people sick for months and just gets worse with every exposure.

GOOD LUCK!

[caliotter3]

I love my cat!

Great idea about the latex. This might be the problem. If that is indeed the case, and the OP gets a workup for it, that paints a different picture as far as disability goes. At least I would hope so.