Telling work?

I am just interested to hear other people's advice/experiences. Is it wise to be honest with coworkers and your boss that you have UC, even if you are in remission? Have people noticed that when their boss is aware of their condition that they receive less opportunities/responsibilities (less chances for career advancement)? Are you generally treated the same or are you treated differently (better or worse)?

I prefer not to lie if possible, but I don't want to confess if it will hinder my career (I am starting a new job next year). Confessing will definitely make it easier to explain my dietary and bathroom habits.

Max

I did tell my boss. For one, I teach so I need have a plan for if I have to run to the bathroom during class. I wanted him to know what was going on if he walked in during one of those times. Also, I have spent the last year trying to figure out meds so I also wanted to let him know if I was going to be out a lot. Fortunately, I wasn't, but he was very understanding. Good luck!

I would say from my experience go with the flow. You always need to be honest but no need to be transparent if you get what I mean?

I had many stressfull retail jobs in the past years and was never telling them if I wasnt sick. Just mainly because I didnt want them to treat me differently or expect something that can or cant happen. UC is so unpredictable.

I rarely talked about it to coworkers mainly because unless you have a close team that respect each others there is way too much gossiping for my likings. If I had bad moment or werent feeling good I would communicate it to my boss directly. Bosses usually dont mix too much with the gossiping and if you ask them to keep it private they usually do (even if you dont ask them) and, at the end of the day, your boss will be able to allow days off and deal with difficult situations and together you can find tools make your work better.

I always say why complain about a problem to someone that isnt in a position to fix it?

And I second hiney in the fact to not worry to much about how they might react. Youd be surprised on how many are understanding and most bosses as long as you do the work and you are honest and genuine its worth it for them. Think about the lazy people around you at work. Even in a flare I was usually more efficient. There is always jobs around. And when you are having the mentality of not being afraid of being fired it seems at work you get more respect.

If you are really feeling bad I would tell your team leader or boss. I would make sure to tell it to the person that can help you with your schedule or days off or arrangements I would forget about the coworkers for now. Unless you have been there for years you can never know whos gossiping!

I had a horrible experience based on my personal information being mishandled by my supervisor. It just caused a series of domino events and now EEO laws were broken and lawyers are involved. I never told my supervisor my final diagnosis. all she knew was I had IBD. She directly asked me "what'd ya got?" The ironic thing is she doesn't know what IBD is and her husband has Crohn's! Her reaction to husband disease is "Oh..there's treatments for that." ...like I'm treating a pimple or something!

Supervisors shouldn't be asking/demanding medical diagnoses and discussing it with others.

It's really a no-win situation. I also have a co-worker who has multiple auto immune diseases, is very open at work, and gets all the support in the world but I got only one...and no body even knows what it is and I get victimized. Personally I'm tired of concealing my disease. If people can't accept me for who I am then they can go to %^&%$#**! I was even told in counseling not to share my medical info with other as it "alienates them from me". well that's THEIR problem, not mine.

I'm currently on a 2 week medical leave....my question is what do I say to people when I return? I'm sure there' be questions!

Max, I think it may be a good idea to tell your boss. I know you are feeling fine now but you want to make them aware. This way he/she will know what is going on with you if you have to go to the restroom a lot or call in sick.  I'm in management and I appreciate it if my employees would let me know if something is going on with them health wise.  That way I won't jump to the wrong conclusion about them missing work and I can work something out if necessary.  You never know your boss may have a chronic condition and understand it can be unpredictable.  My boss has high blood pressure and diabetes so he knows what it is like.  As for your co-workers, it depends on if you just want them to know. 

Dear Max,
I have dealt with this issue as both an employee and a manager. It is a heart breaker on both sides. An illness is irrelevant unless it interferes with a person's ability to fulfill job requirements. Unless you need accommodations for the illness, I would be extremely discrete. I had one wonderfully skilled man whom I wanted to promote to assistant manager. I could not do it because his illness would strike every few weeks and I could not arrange for part-time back up for him. I was able to give him bonuses instead of a promotion because he was able to hit every financial target. I got a lot of flack from above for accomodating his absences even though he increased our profits!
When my illness became severe my job was terminated. I was allowed to resign in good standing due to illness. I understood because the company needed someone in my position on call 24/7.
I am now looking for a job with flexible hours and the ability to occasionally work from home. I do not plan on disclosing my medical needs.

Subzeromambo said...

I am now looking for a job with flexible hours and the ability to occasionally work from home. I do not plan on disclosing my medical needs.

what medical needs? at this point you no longer have U.C. Aren't you as before you had U.C. ?

I can see both sides of the coin. I am a private person and I prefer to keep my business to myself, especially when it concerns bathroom behavior but at the same time, I think it's beneficial to let people know about your condition, especially in teh event that you're dealing with unstability, this way if you have to be absent, people are understanding. The worst part about telling people is when they act like you're a whiner or like you're making excuses.

Seems to me it would be a mistake to tell anyone in a work situation about your medical condition until it becomes so much a problem that you have to disclose it.
Once the cat is out of the bag, you'll be looked at differently in the workplace and your career will totally be effected.
That being said, some companies (like the one I worked for) will work with you to retain your services if they place a high value on what you do for them. But still, folks with UC must be VERY careful in the workplace and as Michelejc said, FMLA and the Americans w/ Disabilities act are tools that we all must use when the need arises.
Best of luck & BE CAREFUL!

I have dealt with this from both sides as well.  My experience - and I am definately qualifying my comments as being based on my experience only - is that being up front and honest is the best thing to do.  My boss has been very understanding and has worked with me each time I have had a flare and through all of the appointments.  I have not had to invoke FMLA.  I have also worked with a number of my employees on medical issues and keep them in the strictest confidence and think that is what most adults do.  Quite frankly, I don't know how you can have even moderate UC without having to involve your employer in some way unless they just have no clue about what you do during your work hours.

 

When working full time, I only mentioned it casually, but I rarely had specific bathroom issues. I preferred the private bathroom rather than the busy one...only because I liked to brush my teeth in private and not be rushed,

The few times I had to use the bathroom because I was flaring, I only explained it to my immediate workers who would be affected by my absence.

At this point I don't have a boss...all my hair clients know I have UC and other health stuff and we schedule accordingly. I've warned some before I come that I might have to run to the bathroom, but it's not happened actually.

So, in truth....unless you have issues, I'd mention it only if you have to, but stick to your med regimen and treat anything as early as possible.

Everyone has had gut invaders of one sort or another, and it doesn't mean you won't pick that up as well...in otherwords, you'll be "normal". It's difficult to separate the two, but you might be impacted worse as a result because of it.

q