Recently fired

[Raelyn71]

Hi all, so last week I was fired for low productivity. I was in the midst of a major depressive episode starting a month ago. With previous other episodes not so major. But my employer did not know I have depression. I did however, reach out to HR the same week. But still got fired. Anyone else have something similar happen?

[Dolphin14]

Hi Raelyn71

I'm sorry you were let go from your job. I'm upset that HR didn't help you. I would have expected them to work with you. Mental illness is considered a disability.

Do you have physician back up with this? Meaning can your Dr intervene with a medical note?

When my issues started I went to the employee assistance program for help. They were fabulous. I was given a 6 week time frame to get back on duty. Due to the severity of my issues I knew I was not going to be able to continue with my high stress job. I did resign.

I was told I could come back at any time. Looking back, leaving the stress behind was a gift.

I'm sorry you weren't supported. Support goes a long way and it's unfair you didn't get that.

🐬

[LilyAnnepuppy]

I’m sorry to hear of your firing. That’s unfortunate. I wish I could offer some experience but although I’ve been fired before, it wasn’t for depression.

I assume you’re seeing a therapist?

[blackcat64013]

Hi Raelyn71,

I have just resigned from the workplace for the same reason, major depression.

I had disclosed my condition and worked with my employer to develop a staying at work plan based on the template developed by BeyondBlue ( from Australia).

In the end, my executive functioning (memory, info processing, decision making etc ) was too badly affected by depression so I chose to go, after an unsuccessful return to work, rather than fight for my disability rights for the sake of my health.

There is a great information website I can recommend at executive dysfunction

understood.org/en/articles/...

There is a great reference book about working with a mental illness - "Working In The Dark" by the author, Dawn Fittler.

Wishing you all the best for the future

Black cat

[Blueruth]

hi, in the US you have to be familiar with the law to me mentally I’ll (I know). Most states are at will meaning they can fire you for any reason at anytime. But the country has something called FMLA which protects you if you or your family are ill. The catch is you need the doctor to provide notice to HR. The don’t say anything about why and neither should you. You never know what biases HR or your boss have. Additionally HR has no obligation to you. Their job is to protect the company. Anytime you approach HR you should be mindful of that fact.

[Cookie2217]

I suffer with major depressive disorder and had to resign my position in February 2023 due to sick shaming. The state loves to get you out before retirement age so they don't have to pay you your full pension which happened in my case. They began asking me for doctors notes each and every time I was out because sometimes I was out a lot because I couldn't get out of bed to go to work. I lost my job then that spiraled into losing my apartment and now my husband and I are living in my sister's basement. Major depressive disorder took so much from my life. I was on unemployment but after it ended there were no extensions and I had no other choice other than to pack up and leave the life that we built in our beautiful condo and come to my sister's to live in her finished basement which is cold and damp. Just these life events made my depression worsen and I spend my weekends in bed not getting up because I find no reason to get out of bed anymore. I do have a job which is mostly part-time and I've called out several times due to my depression and she's giving me another chance and I could get fired from this job if I continue to do that so I'm really hoping that I'm strong enough to go each and every day because we need to save money in order to move out on our own again. My plan is to move to Florida by June or July and if I have to eat ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly every single day to get out of here then so be it. I wouldn't wish MDD on anyone as it has practically ruined my life.