I have worked at my job for almost 6.5 years and am leaving in five weeks. Well I will work remotely one day a week and come in once a month until my replacement is found. Which I assume will take until spring.
I have made friends at work as I have been there so long. They make fun of my health regularly. And they only know half of it. Yesterday's joke was that I have more ailments than all the patients on the first floor of the local hospital combined. We laugh about it. They wonder how I can laugh about it and I say I have to laugh about it because I really do not have any other choices.
But they really do not know all about my health. They know I have a bad back, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. They do not know about cancer and all the rest. I have decided what I will do when I am done working there is I will give two of my co-workers a link to my blog so they can keep in touch and follow along with the rest of the disasters in my health (unless I miraculously get cured).
In the past, I have never shared my medical crap with my co-workers. I have always felt it doesn't belong in the workplace and I might some day want a reference for another job. At this point, I am retiring and hope to apply for disability social security. I don't plan on needing another job reference because I don't think I can continue to work at all.
So finally I can reveal my medical history to anyone I want to with out fearing any impact on my professional life. I mean who wants to hire someone as unhealthy as me?
Showing posts with label co-workers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label co-workers. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Office Doctor
My co-workers have a sense of humor, especially about my health issues. And they don't know half of them.
Two of them were talking. One said 'go ask Caroline, she's the office doctor'. Apparently since I have 'every medical ailment known to mankind' (their words), I have the most medical experience and should be consulted on any medical ailments.
I guess I got a promotion.
Two of them were talking. One said 'go ask Caroline, she's the office doctor'. Apparently since I have 'every medical ailment known to mankind' (their words), I have the most medical experience and should be consulted on any medical ailments.
I guess I got a promotion.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Cancer in the workplace
Cancer does not belong in the workplace. Actually health issues do not belong in the workplace. If you are disabled and need modifications to your employment, that is different. If you have a common cold and are sharing your germs with your co-workers, do everyone a favor and go home. But more significant ailments are not required to be in the workplace.
As the patient and employee, you are not required to tell your employer what is wrong with you. It is your choice if you do. But beware the perils of doing so. It doesn't matter how comfortable you are with your employment and your ailment and how much you want to share, it is others' perception of your ailment that is the concern. Cancer is scary to many people. Probably the scariest. There can be a bias as a result.
I didn't tell any employer or co-worker about my first cancer for 25 years. It was no one's business. Since my second diagnosis, one of my jobs which is a cancer support center, knows about my health issues. My co-workers at my other work know of some of my health issues - even without knowing about cancer I am considered the least healthy person there because I have millions of doctor appointments.
I have worked in many different places and been on both sides of the job offer - extending and accepting. Seriously, if there are two people up for a position, and one has health issues which could be perceived to interfere with their ability to do their job in the future, who is getting the job? Yes we know this discrimination is illegal in the US but we also know it happens in subtle ways. There will probably always be a little subconscious doubt on their part - what if they get sick again???
I read this article which discusses women with breast cancer in the workplace. On one hand I agree - health care practitioners need to improve how they advise women on returning to work or taking time off. On the other hand, why is it anyone's business what has happened with your health. The article states:
"But it is clear that there are considerable differences in women's experiences of returning to work. Some positive working practices were reported, but other organizations were guilty of a culture of ignorance. Many of the negative experiences centered on the unrealistic expectations and inflexibility of some employers, lack of support from colleagues and mistaken assumptions about the woman's physical appearance."
So why were the told what is wrong so they could have these issues? If you get cancer, all your employer needs to know is that you need surgery and some on going treatment. You may need to take time off or a curtailed work schedule for a period of time. For all they know, you could be having knee surgery and need a week off from work and then allowances for PT three times a week. It is not their business.
Since my second diagnosis, I have been a bit more open about my health but if there was another cancer adventure in my life, I think I would selectively share the information.
As the patient and employee, you are not required to tell your employer what is wrong with you. It is your choice if you do. But beware the perils of doing so. It doesn't matter how comfortable you are with your employment and your ailment and how much you want to share, it is others' perception of your ailment that is the concern. Cancer is scary to many people. Probably the scariest. There can be a bias as a result.
I didn't tell any employer or co-worker about my first cancer for 25 years. It was no one's business. Since my second diagnosis, one of my jobs which is a cancer support center, knows about my health issues. My co-workers at my other work know of some of my health issues - even without knowing about cancer I am considered the least healthy person there because I have millions of doctor appointments.
I have worked in many different places and been on both sides of the job offer - extending and accepting. Seriously, if there are two people up for a position, and one has health issues which could be perceived to interfere with their ability to do their job in the future, who is getting the job? Yes we know this discrimination is illegal in the US but we also know it happens in subtle ways. There will probably always be a little subconscious doubt on their part - what if they get sick again???
I read this article which discusses women with breast cancer in the workplace. On one hand I agree - health care practitioners need to improve how they advise women on returning to work or taking time off. On the other hand, why is it anyone's business what has happened with your health. The article states:
"But it is clear that there are considerable differences in women's experiences of returning to work. Some positive working practices were reported, but other organizations were guilty of a culture of ignorance. Many of the negative experiences centered on the unrealistic expectations and inflexibility of some employers, lack of support from colleagues and mistaken assumptions about the woman's physical appearance."
So why were the told what is wrong so they could have these issues? If you get cancer, all your employer needs to know is that you need surgery and some on going treatment. You may need to take time off or a curtailed work schedule for a period of time. For all they know, you could be having knee surgery and need a week off from work and then allowances for PT three times a week. It is not their business.
Since my second diagnosis, I have been a bit more open about my health but if there was another cancer adventure in my life, I think I would selectively share the information.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Trying my patience
I am trying to be patient. I was told at my neck ultrasound on Friday that my doctor would have the results in two or three days so I should hear sometime this week. Well, its Tuesday. How long can I wait before calling for the results? Hmmm.... I should wait until Friday to call. Actually, I should wait until they send me the results but I am not always so good at being the patient patient so I will attempt to wait longer. They are very nice to you when you call and ask for the results of a test that is used to diagnose cancer - they usually get you the results pretty quickly.
In the meantime, I do things to drive myself crazy. I did research online. I am not trying to become a doctor or anything. Its a secret plot I have against myself to drive myself crazy. All it takes is a tiny bit of scanxiety and a computer with internet access and I am doomed. There is even a term now called 'cyberchondria'. The fascinating little tidbit I discovered this morning is that thyroid cancer is slow growing and can take more than 10 years to become detectable. Well, 28 is more than 10 so I consider myself stressed - until I get the results from my doctor.
Today I am off to my therapist and then to work at home because it will snow and I no longer consider myself required to drive to work in a snowstorm. (Or work with idiots but that's another story.) I did go to work yesterday morning to avoid a commute today. As I was driving home, I was struck by home much I enjoy working with people who don't let their personal issues take over the workplace and are just plain nice. My new goal is to find a replacement job for the other job I left which meets the requirement of nice coworkers.
Anyway, I can no longer procrastinate in bed but need to motivate to get my act together and get out of here on time this morning. I will discuss my patience, or lack of it, with my therapist and develop a plan for dealing with waiting. This is a key skill of cancer people and one I still am not very good at. I am not sure any cancer patients are good at it either.
In the meantime, I do things to drive myself crazy. I did research online. I am not trying to become a doctor or anything. Its a secret plot I have against myself to drive myself crazy. All it takes is a tiny bit of scanxiety and a computer with internet access and I am doomed. There is even a term now called 'cyberchondria'. The fascinating little tidbit I discovered this morning is that thyroid cancer is slow growing and can take more than 10 years to become detectable. Well, 28 is more than 10 so I consider myself stressed - until I get the results from my doctor.
Today I am off to my therapist and then to work at home because it will snow and I no longer consider myself required to drive to work in a snowstorm. (Or work with idiots but that's another story.) I did go to work yesterday morning to avoid a commute today. As I was driving home, I was struck by home much I enjoy working with people who don't let their personal issues take over the workplace and are just plain nice. My new goal is to find a replacement job for the other job I left which meets the requirement of nice coworkers.
Anyway, I can no longer procrastinate in bed but need to motivate to get my act together and get out of here on time this morning. I will discuss my patience, or lack of it, with my therapist and develop a plan for dealing with waiting. This is a key skill of cancer people and one I still am not very good at. I am not sure any cancer patients are good at it either.
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