Mad Bike Woman
Donation protected
CLICK HERE TO READ MY BLOG FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I GO THROUGH
I have bipolar disorder. I blog about it and have a youtube channel where I talk about my symptoms , medication, and every other aspect of the disorder. I'm very open about it and know there are consequences for doing so but I refuse to let ignorance win. Mental heath is a serious issue and it shouldn't be covered up. There's nothing to be ashamed about.
I went on a 2 week medical leave because of a bad medication switch. Click here to read about it.
Today was my first day back to work after 2 weeks of medical leave. I returned to find that I was no longer employed. On the owner's desk were sheets of paper that had a bunch of quotes from my YouTube videos written on them. There were pages of my blog posts printed out with highlighted sections all over them. The computer screen was open and my blog was on display .
During my leave I was put on new medication, taken off the bad medication, and got a note from my psychiatrist clearing me as psychologically fit to return to work. It's why I took time off- not because I wanted to, but because I needed to become functional and stable. That's what you do when you have a mental illness- you work hard at taking the steps you need in order to get better. That's what my leave was about- recovery.
If I hadn't been doing my job I would understand being let go, but it was specifically stated that my duties had not gone neglected. To walk in and have my own words about my mental health struggles used against me as means of termination is pretty much one of my top fears when I write and record what I go through.
I was told that when my boss shared my videos and blog with his peers for feedback about my mental capabilities, they replied that I'm completely crazy and someone like me shouldn't be allowed to work at the shop because I'm a danger to the business and it's reputation.
I was never a threat. I never have been a threat. These statements were made out of fear. I wasn't let go because of something I had done, I was fired based off of ignorant and unfounded assumptions about my disorder.
My blog has been up for almost 4 years now. My bipolarity was already well known to the business owner and it's employees long before I was even considered for the job. When meeting new people I pretty much tell them that I'm bipolar before I remember to mention my name. I was told during my initial job interview that I would have been hired sooner (waited 6 months) if it wasn't for me being bipolar.
There are no federal or state laws that protect me from discrimination. Each one has requirements for how many employees a business has to have in order for the employees to be protected. There are only 4 employees at Pedal Power (3 now), Virginia state’s law doesn’t apply because they’re minimum number is 6 employees. Federal laws require a business to have 15 or more full time employees.
Less than 6 employees and an employer is legally allowed to discriminate against you because of a disability.
I am asking for help because I am unexpectedly unemployed 2.5 weeks before Christmas and am already a bit financially behind because of my necessary medical leave. I have 2 kids, 3 dogs, and a husband that will go without gifts from me this year. It's not the end of the world but after struggling for 5 months on the wrong meds, getting fired just for having said disorder, and being financially behind I would like to give them something for their unwavering support. (Except the dogs. Something that eats garbage and drinks toilet water probably doesn't have an emotional attachment to Christmas gifts.)
So far my moods seem more stable so I will be actively seek employment. Your help is incredibly appreciated and goes to a good cause- defeating the discrimination against those of us who suffer from mental illness and making sure I can eat daily.
Thank you
CLICK HERE FOR MY YOUTUBE CHANEL
I have bipolar disorder. I blog about it and have a youtube channel where I talk about my symptoms , medication, and every other aspect of the disorder. I'm very open about it and know there are consequences for doing so but I refuse to let ignorance win. Mental heath is a serious issue and it shouldn't be covered up. There's nothing to be ashamed about.
I went on a 2 week medical leave because of a bad medication switch. Click here to read about it.
Today was my first day back to work after 2 weeks of medical leave. I returned to find that I was no longer employed. On the owner's desk were sheets of paper that had a bunch of quotes from my YouTube videos written on them. There were pages of my blog posts printed out with highlighted sections all over them. The computer screen was open and my blog was on display .
During my leave I was put on new medication, taken off the bad medication, and got a note from my psychiatrist clearing me as psychologically fit to return to work. It's why I took time off- not because I wanted to, but because I needed to become functional and stable. That's what you do when you have a mental illness- you work hard at taking the steps you need in order to get better. That's what my leave was about- recovery.
If I hadn't been doing my job I would understand being let go, but it was specifically stated that my duties had not gone neglected. To walk in and have my own words about my mental health struggles used against me as means of termination is pretty much one of my top fears when I write and record what I go through.
I was told that when my boss shared my videos and blog with his peers for feedback about my mental capabilities, they replied that I'm completely crazy and someone like me shouldn't be allowed to work at the shop because I'm a danger to the business and it's reputation.
I was never a threat. I never have been a threat. These statements were made out of fear. I wasn't let go because of something I had done, I was fired based off of ignorant and unfounded assumptions about my disorder.
My blog has been up for almost 4 years now. My bipolarity was already well known to the business owner and it's employees long before I was even considered for the job. When meeting new people I pretty much tell them that I'm bipolar before I remember to mention my name. I was told during my initial job interview that I would have been hired sooner (waited 6 months) if it wasn't for me being bipolar.
There are no federal or state laws that protect me from discrimination. Each one has requirements for how many employees a business has to have in order for the employees to be protected. There are only 4 employees at Pedal Power (3 now), Virginia state’s law doesn’t apply because they’re minimum number is 6 employees. Federal laws require a business to have 15 or more full time employees.
Less than 6 employees and an employer is legally allowed to discriminate against you because of a disability.
I am asking for help because I am unexpectedly unemployed 2.5 weeks before Christmas and am already a bit financially behind because of my necessary medical leave. I have 2 kids, 3 dogs, and a husband that will go without gifts from me this year. It's not the end of the world but after struggling for 5 months on the wrong meds, getting fired just for having said disorder, and being financially behind I would like to give them something for their unwavering support. (Except the dogs. Something that eats garbage and drinks toilet water probably doesn't have an emotional attachment to Christmas gifts.)
So far my moods seem more stable so I will be actively seek employment. Your help is incredibly appreciated and goes to a good cause- defeating the discrimination against those of us who suffer from mental illness and making sure I can eat daily.
Thank you
CLICK HERE FOR MY YOUTUBE CHANEL
Organizer
Gwen Dever
Organizer
Laurel, VA
