If you're asking for special accomodations and the employer has more than 15 employees you're covered under the ADA and the employer has to make reasonable accomodations once you disclose your condition.

When I was employed I made it a practice not to disclose my diagnosis because people are judgemental. Once I took a short term leave and had to disclose the BP. The employer never took me seriously after I returned to work.

Early in my career a supervisor told me to never tell the reason behind wanting time off (this wasn't related to BP). It's not the employer's business and if they think it's for a frivolous reason they may not give it to you.

The FMLA offers protection, too. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the details.

Are the presentations and events you referred to mandatory?

If there are things that are work related that are anxiety producing I would chalk it up to that. I do not think it is mandatory to reveal bpd.

Under the "HIPPA" law, you do NOT have to disclose any of your health report. It is legally none of thier business. There is no way an imployer can have access to your medical records unless you have signed a realese of information paper. That is the law.

To receive accomodations necessary to perform your job under ADA you must disclose so there's a known basis for the adjustments. Disclosure without a job related reason is not in one's best interest and not required. Once disclosure of a disability is made the employee-employer relationship will change regardless of the reason for telling the employer.

The ADA and EEOC websites have lots of good information for employees.

Yes, after I had been put in several situations that lead to crashes. Such as corporate functions (holiday parties) or having to entertain clients (which in essence means get them drunk and do shots) Or be expected to fly out to meetings in the early AM or do red eye flights... I realized that my BP was getting worse. It was killing my mind and body. I rarely drink, only on occasion with close family or my partner. I do not go to large formal gatherings, weddings etc. even outside of work... I am in a high level position in my company. DO i service the needs of the job? Absolutely. I don't need to be doing shots, going to a holiday party or flying out at off times to Cali to get the job done. Thats really the main problem. I of work a lot after these occurrences, as they can lead to serious depression and crashes. Thats the main issue with the job. Oh and yes it is a large company 150 employees

You might consider getting help with this one. A professional would help with anti-anxiety meds, if needed, and developing coping strategies. Can you fly out the afternoon before you're needed? If jet lag is really bad you may need to try a sleeping pill. Tell your employer you're under a doctor's care (but not why) and must eliminate alcohol and/or (whatever else). Are you able to make an appearance then leave after a couple of hours at an event? Has your employer mentioned that you tend to miss work after one of these events/trips? Just curious.

Yes,I am in the process of seeing a new Dr this week, as well as getting in contact with lawyers that specialize in this. I have an auto immune disease as well, which my employer is aware of and is understanding about. I have flex schedule due to that, and theyare aware I see Drs for that condition. I have been asked about flying and getting sick- being out afterwards, and this year I was asked to go to the holiday party, as I do not attend,because they wanted to do drinks with me. For a month I dreaded having to go to the party. I went for the cocktail hour, and regreted afterwards. I was just told this week that I may need to fly out to Cali for a corporate meeting... I do my best when I am in the office in my familiar surroundings and being the in-house director they need. I am already on Klonipin for anti-anxiety however it doesn't do anything for me for panic attacks or depression. I have high-level job, which means it pays very well... I can not afford a demotion or to lose my job completely. I just need help medically and the best legal protection I can get...thats all I can think of? And a true answer to the question to disclose or not to disclose....

I'm glad you're contacting employment attorneys. They'll be able to give you the help you need, especially on disclosure.
I wanted to help, sorry I couldn't. I'll be thinking of you this week as you see your new doc. PM, if you want. I hope you get relief soon.
Good Luck

look for my post "decided to disclose illness to employer" or close to that. also, read my other post "lost my job and not sure anymore"

my dr. said it's a crap shoot whether or not to tell. in my case i'm still trying to figure out if i did the right thing. i felt i had to bc i didn't want them to assume that i don't care or whatever they might come up with left to their own devices. i was "let go" jan 22nd. i disclosed... not sure when but look at date of my post re: this.

hope my story helps in some way. keep us posted and feel free to PM me anytime. xoxo

i just bumped my post about disclosing to employer... both posts on pg 1 for you now. xoxo

well after doing a lot of calling with the top lawyers, here is the low down.
If you chose to disclose, you should have a Drs note in hand as you disclose. Be sure that the note that the Dr writes is word- for -word in accordance to what the lawyer recommends it to be written. The basics of the letter is that you are capable of working, they may want to include reasonable accomadations to the letter, though do not quote me on that. As you disclose you hand the letter to your employer and you have the right to not answer or disclose anymore than you feel comfortable with. After that if you are fired from the co. you are protected by law..that you did disclose and were fired afterwards. They will probably be the stupidest co. in the world to let you go due to being BP, that would more than likely NOT be the case. However, for whatever reasoning that the company (if they have issues with you being BP) you can take legal action, and still have rights. If the entire building burns down and everyone loses their jobs, then maybe a lawsuit wouldnt be in the cards...otherwise you have a pretty strong case. Get that note- and speak to a lawyer. Good luck.

Wow! Thanks for doing the footwork. Sounds like you got a lot of good info. Hope it takes some of the stress off you. Good luck to you!

I guess the real question here is if you got fired or let go or whatever because you were bp or if it was because for whatever reason you were not doing your job. It is a big responsibility that I handle in my job and if for some reason I can not do my job then others in my company hurt and my job is in jeopardy. For example if my bp causes me to fall asleep on the job or make mistakes that cause data loss then I would probably lose my job because of the sleeping or mistakes. I could also fall asleep and make mistakes because I spent all night partying or had a drinking problem or was just lazy. In the end, it would be my performance that was the problem and issue instead of the cause that led to the lack of performance. What we have to do is go above and beyond to still do the job we were hired for. I know that sounds easy, but that is life. If the company is a large company with many open positions, then I think the company would offer to move me to a position of lesser responsibility (and more than likely lesser pay) until I could get my performance back up. What was the reason you were let go? Did they blame it on the bp or on the performance or on something else?

I see there are other topics about this issue. It makes me want to keep my personal information to myself and work and pray that I can keep up my performance. I think I will post my previous reply on the other topics as well.

wow! that's great info, wish i had the mindset then, before i disclosed, to know what i didn't know... ya know?

justme1207, you have a great attitude just as i did while i fought tooth-and-nail to keep my dream job. keep it up and i hope you continue to perform and succeed! and, if the bottom does fall out, i'd have to know your situation to advise.

PM me anytime

I was dignosed with Bipolar in 1998--its not a fun disease to deal with.
If anyone says it doesn't exist they are just plain nuts! I was put under a new supervisor in Oct 07--well,,,he decided that he was going to burn me because I had a excessive amount of LWOP on my record for the year 2007. I tried to explain to him about my health concerns but he said he really didn't care and his brother had bipolar, was on medications so I should be just fine. Well,,it has lead to and EEO complaint, ULP complaint and three grievances. I am a Union Steward! The only thing I can tell you is to keep complete records of how you feel everyday--what happens at work to make a panic/anxiety attack happen--I have notes for two years back. Days I worked, how I felt that day getting up, what was done or said at work that affected me. I work for the Federal Gov't sector but don't let that fool anyone--we are discriminated more against than the average bear so to speak. EEO does accept the disease and its baggage that goes along with it but it has to be medically annotated! My new boss had put me on AWOL since December everytime I am off--no regard to what he was doing to me emotionally or mentally. Physically I have been getting worse too. WELL,,,my grievances were heard today and he can no longer put me on AWOL! I have to do the FMLA leave package and submit a formal letter from my Psychiatrist--which will be not a problem at all!!
Keep the fire to their backs and don't you dare give up!!!