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After starting a new job a few weeks ago, I was wondering how I should go about revealing my chronic digestive disorder. It’s something I would love to keep a secret, but it’s something I can only hide for so long — I’ve found this out again and again. It really can get in the way some days, and if someone doesn’t know what I’m dealing with, they may sometimes think my behavior a little peculiar.
I didn’t want to come clean too early. I was afr
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September 22, 2008 9:35 am
So glad it went smoothly!!!!! You really did need to tell your boss.
September 22, 2008 10:08 am
Glad it went well. Health issues can be so personal but sounds like all handled it professionally so well done.
September 22, 2008 12:39 pm
Hey Emily, You did a great job with the timing and what you said. One suggestion I might offer - think about what feels so embarrassing about this. Perhaps if you can move to feeling less embarassed it would be easier for you and everyone else. I say this as someone who has lived with bloody stool rolling down her legs! (Imagine being in a meeting at the Statehouse with this -- or the teddy bear picnic with your children and the other kids are going "What's that stink?") Anyway -- it really helps when you can think of it as a big drag (or whatever) but not something to feel shame or embarrassment for. It's not your "fault" - Rosalind aka cicoach.com
September 22, 2008 12:45 pm
uh, the bloody stool comment made me throw up my lunch a little bit....
September 22, 2008 1:09 pm
I also deal with what employers will think about a chronic disorder (I have a long history of an eating disorder and see a therapist and nutritionist 3 - 4x per month). It's embarrassing and awkward to say the least when I have to tell an employer that I am, again, going to the doctor's office (my codeword for therapy, nutrition, etc).
I've come clean to very few employers about the history of the eating disorder (w/out going into details of course). But most of the time I just hope they don't notice my once/week late showing to work because I'm in therapy.
Any tips from people on how to handle these situations?
September 22, 2008 4:35 pm
If you have a chronic condition that meets the definition of a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, I encourage you to learn about your rights, especially at work.
In many cases, IBS may be considered a disability. Under the recently amended act that goes into effect 1/1/09 it states,
(1) DISABILITY- The term `disability' means, with respect to an individual--
(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;
(B) a record of such an impairment; or
(C) being regarded as having such an impairment (as described in paragraph (3)).
(2) MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES
(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
(B) MAJOR BODILY FUNCTIONS- For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
To learn more about your rights, check out the EEOC's "plain language" guide here: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html
September 23, 2008 2:32 am
Between you and me and the rest of the world, I have a sweet case of colitis (similar to IBS only not really), which is one of the reasons I switched to working from home. It won't kill me and it provided the extra motivation I needed to make the leap of faith and start my own business so I see it as a good thing.
September 23, 2008 9:36 am
I had IBS for about 5 years. I still do a little bit, but IBS was what caused me to quit working in sales. Glad you wrote this article because it probably will help alot of people come clean about their illnesses.
October 16, 2008 9:04 pm
Thanks so much for your comments, everybody! I didn't even see these because apparently Brazen stopped notifying us when we got comments on our blogs. I wasn't aware of this until browsing the site just now, so I never had the chance to respond.
Thank you for all of your tips and encouragement! I'm glad to hear that are other people in the same boat, even though it sucks to think that other people have to deal with this, too. You guys are awesome.
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Grad School Zone
UVA (Darden) MBA Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011
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The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business recently published its application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:
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