discrimination in the work place

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luke

Guest
We have been talking a lot about telling employers/prospective employers about us having CF and I was wondering if anyone has been discriminated against? I have been twice, maybe three times(the 3rd I am not sure). The first time was when I was 16. I worked at Dairy Queen, usually 3-5 days a week mostly 4 hour shifts on school nights and 8 hour shifts on weekends. Once the owner found out I was "sick" I got 1 shift for the entire schedule, so I quit!


just wondering?

Luke
 
L

luke

Guest
We have been talking a lot about telling employers/prospective employers about us having CF and I was wondering if anyone has been discriminated against? I have been twice, maybe three times(the 3rd I am not sure). The first time was when I was 16. I worked at Dairy Queen, usually 3-5 days a week mostly 4 hour shifts on school nights and 8 hour shifts on weekends. Once the owner found out I was "sick" I got 1 shift for the entire schedule, so I quit!


just wondering?

Luke
 
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kybert

New member
i think that i may have been fired from my old job for missing a few days of work and making the clients uneasy with my coughing and nose blowing [almost all of the customers i saw would ask what was wrong with me. the others just gave me dirty looks]. long story short, the boss falsely accused me of stealing and fired me. when i confronted her she said she didnt fire me because she thought i was stealing and had nothing but nice thing to say in my reference and to other people. but she also would not say exactly why she fired me. i now believe i was fired because of cf. it kinda makes sense. not that i would ever do it, but if i wanted to fire someone who was 'different' i would probably just say they stole something too. its so easy to get away with saying that because its one persons word against the other.

i applied for a job last year and they asked me if i had a disability [im not sure if its legal or not to ask that question in aust]. once i told them i had cf everything went downhill. they started asking way too many personal questions and they pretty much treated me like i was going to drop dead any second. they even asked me if it was safe for me to be around animals! i was applying for a kennel hand job so of course it was safe for me to be around animals. if i wasnt i wouldnt be there! anyway, i didnt get the job despite having the skills, experience and age behind me. i hope they got stuck with some teen who knows nothing about caring for animals and pukes at the sight of blood.
 
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kybert

New member
i think that i may have been fired from my old job for missing a few days of work and making the clients uneasy with my coughing and nose blowing [almost all of the customers i saw would ask what was wrong with me. the others just gave me dirty looks]. long story short, the boss falsely accused me of stealing and fired me. when i confronted her she said she didnt fire me because she thought i was stealing and had nothing but nice thing to say in my reference and to other people. but she also would not say exactly why she fired me. i now believe i was fired because of cf. it kinda makes sense. not that i would ever do it, but if i wanted to fire someone who was 'different' i would probably just say they stole something too. its so easy to get away with saying that because its one persons word against the other.

i applied for a job last year and they asked me if i had a disability [im not sure if its legal or not to ask that question in aust]. once i told them i had cf everything went downhill. they started asking way too many personal questions and they pretty much treated me like i was going to drop dead any second. they even asked me if it was safe for me to be around animals! i was applying for a kennel hand job so of course it was safe for me to be around animals. if i wasnt i wouldnt be there! anyway, i didnt get the job despite having the skills, experience and age behind me. i hope they got stuck with some teen who knows nothing about caring for animals and pukes at the sight of blood.
 
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smbriggs

New member
I don't think a company can ask if you have a disability. I believe they can ask if there is anything that would prevent you from successfully completing the duties of the position you are applying for. My first interview after college I told the guy whom was interviewing me that I had CF, he told me that he would not use that against me but that I should keep it a secret from everyone else at the company. Everytime I coughed people would ask me if I was okay. I lied and told them I had very sensitive lungs and was allergic to many airborn things. Now, I don't tell prospective employers but do question them about their medical insurance, sick time and shorterm and longterm disability. It is a very tough situation to be in.
 
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smbriggs

New member
I don't think a company can ask if you have a disability. I believe they can ask if there is anything that would prevent you from successfully completing the duties of the position you are applying for. My first interview after college I told the guy whom was interviewing me that I had CF, he told me that he would not use that against me but that I should keep it a secret from everyone else at the company. Everytime I coughed people would ask me if I was okay. I lied and told them I had very sensitive lungs and was allergic to many airborn things. Now, I don't tell prospective employers but do question them about their medical insurance, sick time and shorterm and longterm disability. It is a very tough situation to be in.
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
When I was 17 I had a job at a kennel. I was working there for a week and then had to go inpatient for my first time to go on IVs. I was only in for 4 days and returned again the next Monday (while I was hooked up to a PICC, tyvm), and the woman fired me because it was too much a pain in the butt for her to keep me on. She sucked. <img src="i/expressions/devil.gif" border="0">
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
When I was 17 I had a job at a kennel. I was working there for a week and then had to go inpatient for my first time to go on IVs. I was only in for 4 days and returned again the next Monday (while I was hooked up to a PICC, tyvm), and the woman fired me because it was too much a pain in the butt for her to keep me on. She sucked. <img src="i/expressions/devil.gif" border="0">
 
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Vampy

New member
I have alot. I would put down on "health problems" that i had cf on all my aps i never got a job. I applied to wendys and they said no. But once i didnt put it and applied there again i was hired on the spot..i was trained in customer service...and was a highest seller in marketing class at a vocational school. it was all how to treat a customer..how to sell and make money. And i was top of my class and of my school. I said that on both of my apps. SO yea i say i was discriminated against
 
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Vampy

New member
I have alot. I would put down on "health problems" that i had cf on all my aps i never got a job. I applied to wendys and they said no. But once i didnt put it and applied there again i was hired on the spot..i was trained in customer service...and was a highest seller in marketing class at a vocational school. it was all how to treat a customer..how to sell and make money. And i was top of my class and of my school. I said that on both of my apps. SO yea i say i was discriminated against
 
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anonymous

New member
I've experienced it. When I was in my teens, I was fired after being on IV's for a week. I had worked there almost a year, and never was sick. I was too young and naive to know that I could have done something about that. But, it's discrimination, and you probably shouldn't mention it on your application. Just like a boss can't ask your religion, sexual questions, ect. Mention when it becomes a problem, but not before. If a boss sees "health problems" on an applicaiton, they think trouble, lazy, late for work, ect. B/c many people that don't have health problems use that as an excuse.

Christian
 
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anonymous

New member
I've experienced it. When I was in my teens, I was fired after being on IV's for a week. I had worked there almost a year, and never was sick. I was too young and naive to know that I could have done something about that. But, it's discrimination, and you probably shouldn't mention it on your application. Just like a boss can't ask your religion, sexual questions, ect. Mention when it becomes a problem, but not before. If a boss sees "health problems" on an applicaiton, they think trouble, lazy, late for work, ect. B/c many people that don't have health problems use that as an excuse.

Christian
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I live in a VERY small area so as a rule I didnt have to mention my CF because they already knew. My first job was at a law firm & the girl that hired me ended up being neighbors with my high school principal who I put down as a reference. He is the one that told her about my CF, but I told her that if she would give me a chance I can prove that it wont interfere. She did & it didnt, but I left due to my immaturity & not being able to handle an elderly lawyer who was use to the girls kissing his feet! I gained a lot of experience & knowledge that helped me land great jobs after that. It has NEVER been a problem for me. At my worst health I always had great support. One time at our local hospital (which I spent most of my years working) when I was in the Purchasing department (which was located in the coldest, wettest part of the basement of the hospital) my Supervisor asked if I would consider transferring to another department. This is after 2 admits more or less back to back & missing quite a bit of work. It was a small office so when I was out, it really made it hard for them. I realized being down there was a problem for my health so it worked out for everybody when I transferred. Other then that.....NO PROBLEMS!
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I live in a VERY small area so as a rule I didnt have to mention my CF because they already knew. My first job was at a law firm & the girl that hired me ended up being neighbors with my high school principal who I put down as a reference. He is the one that told her about my CF, but I told her that if she would give me a chance I can prove that it wont interfere. She did & it didnt, but I left due to my immaturity & not being able to handle an elderly lawyer who was use to the girls kissing his feet! I gained a lot of experience & knowledge that helped me land great jobs after that. It has NEVER been a problem for me. At my worst health I always had great support. One time at our local hospital (which I spent most of my years working) when I was in the Purchasing department (which was located in the coldest, wettest part of the basement of the hospital) my Supervisor asked if I would consider transferring to another department. This is after 2 admits more or less back to back & missing quite a bit of work. It was a small office so when I was out, it really made it hard for them. I realized being down there was a problem for my health so it worked out for everybody when I transferred. Other then that.....NO PROBLEMS!
 
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JennifersHope

New member
It is a real tough spot to be in, I am getting ready to interveiw and I was advised not to say anything till I was hired. I don't function to well that way, I would feel like I was being sneaky, even within my hospital, most people do know, since I am a patient there but in the childerens crisis center, where I was very "unofficially" told I could work, they have no clue what so ever. Now if I stay in the emergency room, I have no problem what so ever, my boss is so amazing and understanding. I have all the liberty in the world, not only from her, but from everyone I work with.. I am afraid I won't find that anywhere else...

I don't feel like it is in good taste to get hired and then say, "oh by the way now that I am hired, just so you know, I will be out every three to five months for a few weeks... now how about that sign on bonus???"

At the same time.....

Who in their right mind is going to hire someone that they know is going to drain their insurance policy, be out sick a lot, and really isn't the dependable when they are sick???? WHen I am healthy, I don't think you can find a more dependable person then me, but when I am sick,everything goes down the drain.. Yes ppl understand, but it doesn't sell well in an interveiw.

I wish their was a great answer.

Love,
Jennifer
 
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JennifersHope

New member
It is a real tough spot to be in, I am getting ready to interveiw and I was advised not to say anything till I was hired. I don't function to well that way, I would feel like I was being sneaky, even within my hospital, most people do know, since I am a patient there but in the childerens crisis center, where I was very "unofficially" told I could work, they have no clue what so ever. Now if I stay in the emergency room, I have no problem what so ever, my boss is so amazing and understanding. I have all the liberty in the world, not only from her, but from everyone I work with.. I am afraid I won't find that anywhere else...

I don't feel like it is in good taste to get hired and then say, "oh by the way now that I am hired, just so you know, I will be out every three to five months for a few weeks... now how about that sign on bonus???"

At the same time.....

Who in their right mind is going to hire someone that they know is going to drain their insurance policy, be out sick a lot, and really isn't the dependable when they are sick???? WHen I am healthy, I don't think you can find a more dependable person then me, but when I am sick,everything goes down the drain.. Yes ppl understand, but it doesn't sell well in an interveiw.

I wish their was a great answer.

Love,
Jennifer
 
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