I work for a big corporation. I was hired two years ago, 3 years after diagnosis. When I was hired I indicated on my application that I have Parkinson, but did not tell my manager straight. During the course of 2024 started to appear on me some indications of the diseases, like motor fluctuations and increased absences for doctor’s visits, but my overall job performance remained satisfactory. Quite recently I started feeling that something is cooking from my manager’s side. Like sidelining me and not assigning tasks to me clearly within my area of my experience. I wonder if anyone on this forum had similar experience before? What to expect next and preempt their move? Should I come straight be clear about my disability and seek the long term disability option, or wait for whatever comes?
Is my employer going to fire me because o... - Cure Parkinson's
Is my employer going to fire me because of my Parkinson?
If I were you, I would apply for Long Term Disability right away. Then you can claim wrongful dismissal if they try to fire you.
Yes! And if your job doesn’t offer disability insurance, find private disability insurance. It’s been a lifesaver for me.
FMLA
What is...FMLA?
Family Medical Leave Of Absence. If you’re working for a large company, Human Resources can help you with this. If you’re in the USA, I’m pretty sure they’re required to provide this by law. Your doctor has to fill out paperwork.
They can fire you but get a lawyer
Please wise up go to see your neurologist and tell him or her make the know th at PD has become a concern for you at work and you would like to declare permanently Disabled
Family Medical Leave Act. You can look for more info in the web. Have a wonderful day!
this was a great concern for me too. I tried to hide it until I just couldn’t anymore. When I confessed to my manager that I had Parkinsons, they were surprisingly supportive. Meanwhile, I was planning my exit strategy, as I knew it would be inevitable. I maxed my disability insurance and applied for intermittent FMLA. A Human Resources representative contacted me about my FMLA application and said that I should immediately apply for long term disability. Effective immediately! This took me by surprise at the time because I was not expecting to move so fast. But my doctor took care of the paperwork and I never went back to work since. My disability insurance policy pays 60% of my base salary and is not taxed. As per the terms of my policy, I was required to apply for social security disability, which was denied twice but approved when they sent me to an independent doctor. SSD pays a little less than my disability insurance but the insurance company pays the difference.
The reason I’m giving you so much detail is because I can imagine how stressful it is for you, as the whole situation was extremely stressful for me. I have a family to support and I wasn’t certain how I would manage. But everything worked out fine. Good luck to you!!
Thanks bassofspades! This is very helpful for me to make decision about my step. Two questions: (1) Can't you apply for short term disability benefits first and then convert it to long term? (2) I thought you get the 60% of the salary plus SSD, is this not correct?
Question one, I think you actually do start with short term disability, and then it converts, but check with your plan administrator to be sure.
Question two, it may depend on your plan. For me, disability insurance benefits are offset by other income, in my case this is SSD, but they still give me a minimum of 10% of the 60% base salary on top of my SSD. At this time, my SSD exceeds the amount that my insurance pays because I am also getting money for my child in high school from SSD, until she graduates, but insurance is still giving me the 10% of 60% of my base salary on top of that . If you get the 60% plus SSD, then you have a really good plan! Check this with your plan administrator too.
The other thing is the amount my insurance pays never increases, whereas SSD gives me a cost of living increase based on the consumer price index every year. In 2023, that was huge, due to Bidens inflation. Still, insurance gives me 10% of 60% my base salary on too of that.
Parkinsons disease is typically a slam dunk for disability approval. But let me give you one important tip. We know our symptoms fluctuate, good days and bad days. When you fill out paperwork, you should base your answers as if you’re having your symptoms as they are on your worst days. Good luck and keep us posted!
If your work is fulfilling to you and you want to maintain your full income, start by letting your employer know your condition and limitations and request accommodation that would allow you to continue to fill your current role or a somewhat modified role. In the US at least, your employer is obligated to take these steps. This also makes it much sticker for your employer to terminate your employment without cause.
Be careful not to take going on disability lightly. It would be a major adjustment and might reveal how much you actually depend on parts of your work life for your well being (i.e. social exposure, mental stimulation, sense of accomplishment). This is not to suggest that it wouldn't be best for you specifically to have time to focus on other things such as your health and spending more time with friends and family, but it would absolutely take some restructuring of your life.
Social Security Disability
Started Sinemet and my hair is falling out, switching to mucuna
Dr. Laurie Mischley her contribution to Parkinson’s treatment, my perspective. Second posting due to lack of technical expertise 
Fire ants helped me to walk today
WTF is going on with me
