A diabetic discrimination story...
I have rearely told this story to anyone because of embarrassment and shame. But I'd like to share it with other diabetics to get it off my chest.
In 1983 I was dxd with T1 at age 23. I worked for an aircraft parts manufacrurer in a department in which the work was in a very hot environment and the work itself was very heavy part of the time, very inactive the rest of the time. This work environment made it absolutely necessary to test often. There were people I worked with that complained that they didn't like me testing around them, so I began leaving the work area to test.
One of my bosses was a poorly controlled T2 (this is not an indictment on T2s) who got together with a couple other supervisors to "monitor and correct" my abuse of my condition. Over the course of a few months it became more and more apparent that I was being followed and that my testing and correction of lows with sugar was being "documented". I was told by another D that I was being targeted for termination and to watch out. I was so afraid I'd lose my job because jobs were so hard to find at that time. I began having crashes and leaving for the breakroom more often so they stepped up the surveillance and intimidation. Finally, one night I was fired.
I hired a lawyer and eventually after some damning depositions , the company oofered a settlement that I accepted. There was so much shame and embarrassment associated with that experience that it has been difficult to think or talk about since.
Anyone else identify with this? Any comments on similar situations? Marps started a recent discussion that made me think of this. Thanks for listening.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Virgil Elvin Bowman Jr. on -
Thank you John. It's a raw nerve and I reacted. No harm, no fowl. I really do think that if I were given the opportunity I would have been a good asset to the company. I have been a manager in different companies since and think this incident made me a better boss. Who's to blame? As in every situation in life, usually everyone shares. It just hurt at the time; that's the reason I posted this. Thanks for writing back.
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Permalink Reply by brandi on -
i tried to get a job at the local chick fil a and they wouldnt let me because they were worried about bg testing around food. ok really, i could go to the back to test and then put a band aid on my finger if it bleeds bad.
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Permalink Reply by RissaMae83 on -
Hmm.. I send my cooks and servers home if they have a bandaid on their hands, fingers, or anything that might be touching food. It's a health code violation, if anything... but I get what you mean Brandi.
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Permalink Reply by Jake on -
Really. I thought it was acceptable to double glove ones hands around food and still work...
Thats at least what I was told by the local health dept..
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Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on -
I am so sorry for your experience... while I haven't been officially harassed yet, for having Diabetes, I was harassed for having Depression issues, at work... and needing medical leave. I was gone for so long, and so incapable of leading a normal life, or even working part time 20 hours... that they gave me an ultimatum to come to come to work full time, or else I'd be fired. I really needed my job, and I was scared -- I was on some pretty strong medications at the time -- but I needed my job... So I convinced my doctor to let me off of restrictions, somehow, and got myself back to work... I had a major seizure at my desk that very week, and could not return to work the following Monday... So they fired me. It has eaten away at me for so long, but I have never been able to sue, or do much, because I have no money, and because they are an 'at will' employer... I was later found out to actually be Diabetic, and now that my numbers are controlled, my major depression and anxiety issues are very mild, to almost non-existent... I feel for you... I just get teary eyed thinking about it. I gave my ALL to that company, and I couldn't believe they trampled me so much. I also, even though I am a Type 2, have poorly controlled Type 2 friends who basically are rude to me for being so 'anal' about my diet, or taking care of myself... But I don't let them get me down... This disease is very real to me, because I lost my father to it, and I'm not going to fall asleep on my laurels... I now feel like I'm not alone, as much... and I am very grateful for your sharing of this story.
Liz
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Permalink Reply by Baby Tee on -
Summer 2004, when the federal ADA had already made D classified as a disability, my supervisor told me that he had received complaints about me checking my blood sugar in my cubicle. I told him that he is required to provide me a sanitary place to check my blood sugar and take my insulin. I asked him where that was. He said he would look into it. I started documenting everything. Then he started to do things like if I was eating an apple at 3pm, he would come up to me and ask if I was taking a late lunch break. When he started commenting on what I ate, I requested a transfer. I was denied. Then I went to our EEO office, and, since I had good notes, they took it to my second level super (my boss's boss), and they denied the transfer. Then they took it to my third level supervisor and my transfer was immediately granted.
I work for the state of California, so this is more strange than if it were a private company. The thing, though, because of my hospital experiences, where you cannot trust a nurse to take care of you, I get really defensive when someone attacks my health care. I was told by the EEO officer that I could sue and I would win, but then I would have to relive it for a year or two, and then, even though you don't want it, you will always be the person who filed a complaint. Word gets around, even if you are in the right. Perhaps she was looking out for the state rtying to not get sued, but I am glad I was just transferred and I could go back to work.
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Permalink Reply by Lois on -
Virgil:
My sympathy to you. You were royally scr*w*d and you didn't even get to enjoy it!!!
Depending on when this all happened, employers were not required to make "reasonable accommodations" for anyone until the ADA law was passed. (Americans with Disabilities Act) I not only told everyone in the office where I worked that I was diabetic but also had a short in-service training on how to recognize the signs of a low or high and what to do, who to call and all that jazz!! I trained them so well that my boss would go and buy me a soda at the least little weak look or sweating!! Unfortunately, it was diet soda!! LOL And, sometimes, I would do it deliberately because I was thirsty and broke!!!
I hope there will be a time when all offices are progressive. Fortunately, my office was in a state agency and they had to accommodate me. But they did it with love! Hope you some time experience those few nice people out there.
Lois
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Permalink Reply by Gerri on -
It's awful how other people's ignorance, stupidity & insensitivity can make us feel ashamed & embarrassed when it's their bad behavior. We internalize the intimidation & it festers. Really glad you got this off your chest!
Abuse of your condition--appalling.
Kudos for sueing. You're a brave trail blazer!
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl on -
Virgil,
What do you think of a school system that requires a 10 year old to go to a "special" room a dozen classes away from the student's classroom because one certainly wouldn't want this little T1 to accidentally get a drop of blood on anyone? One had better hope that a 10 year old, in this situation, is not having too many lows. This was twenty years beyond your experience, this was my son's introduction to D in 2003.
Good for you for putting the "emotional" effort into taking the company to court. I know that it must have been very difficult for you and hope that being able to express yourself here has lessened some of the pain of the experience.
Cheryl
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Permalink Reply by Virgil Elvin Bowman Jr. on
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Cheryl, I am not an expert on children because I've never had any but I do have common sense. Isn't it childish for grown-up school school staff to make that much of a spectical out of something that should be routine? I've met parents of kids with D as well as teachers who have made testing and treatment relatively inconspicuous- I truly hope your child gets someone at his or her school that can be more forward thinking than that. I have friends who have been T1 since childhood and some say it was probably better they became D before 18. I was 23 and had a hell of a time adjusting; I can't imagine how I would have handled it when I was younger. For what it's worth, I have great respect for families with D children. You're all heroes to me.
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Permalink Reply by Virgil Elvin Bowman Jr. on
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It's bothering me that I said my boss was a T2. I should have said D because that is really the point. If I offended anyone, please accept my apology. Virgil
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