Hey there... A few of you may remember me from a while back with some issues I was having at work.. if not here's a short history. My name is Steph and I am 23 years old. I was diagnosed back and forth starting when I was 19.
Anywhoo... I've been working in a movie theatre, just keeping as quiet as I possibly can about my pain. As you all know, some days are just unbearable, and we must do the dredded call-in-sick. I don't do it often, but the past couple of weeks my disease has been leaving remission. I only call in when I know I will not be able to work at all. Which is very seldom.
I was at work today, and the pain just became unbearable, so I broke down and went to talk to my boss. She seemed extremely annoyed, because it's a movie theatre, and Harry Potter just opened. I felt terrible, but I knew if I were to stay there it would just get progressively worse. What I was asking was if I could be excused to see my Doctor, and find out if there was a way to keep my pain at bay so I could keep working. I called the doctor's office and was informed I wouldn't be able to get in until Monday. I told her this, and I even said I would be more than happy to work through the weekend if I could have just one of the days off, I said preferrably Friday because Saturday and Sunday would be the busiest. She was very stressed looking, and told me to at least come in Friday morning and see how I feel. I said okay, but didn't make any promises.
She later on called me into her office, informed me that she needed someone who could be there EVERY day, and took my badge, then told me I could come pick up my check tomorrow.
Is this not discrimination?
Hi Steph,
I remembered when you got this job, that was about the last time I talked with you.
Honey when this happened to my husband here is the steps we took and as of yesterday in court he was represented.
1) Here is California's website you need to file if you reside here. If not go to your state goverment page and get your link
http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/DFEH/default/It is called Dept. of Fair Employment and Housing.
2)File your claim. THey will do a follow phone interview with you.
3)If you are not satisfied with their final investigation, then get a lawyer (pro-bono) and ask for the *RIGHT TO SUE LETTER* Once you get that letter, you only then can get a lawyer. You MUST have filed with Dept. of Fair Employment and Housing FIRST before ANY lawyer will take your case.
4)Sit back and let the lawyers fight it out back in forth with paperwork till they get tired and want to make you an offer. Again if you are not satisfied, tell your lawyer to take it to CIVIL COURT and file for UNLIMITED DAMAGES. That is when a good case can go into the millions.
I'm not saying you'll ever even get that, it takes a lot of damage on your half done to you, emotionally, physically mentally and finacially <sp>but it has to be proven in court you were damaged that bad.
I'm telling you exactly what we have been going through and as of yesterday was the first hearing between lawyers as of what the next step is going to be. This has been going on for about 2+ years now.
So hang in there, do what Kim suggested on ADA.. contact all disability rights groups or movements.
Keep us posted,
Will keep you in prayer,
Kathy