namelessmiracle
Active member
I had a discussion with a coworker today, and I wanted some opinions/experiences from the community!
To make a long story short, I work with boys 14-18 who are criminal/sexual offenders in a residential treatment facility. I recently found out that one of my coworkers has an anxiety and panic disorder (which I was secretly happy about because I'm not alone.) She told me tonight that a few weeks ago she had a panic attack while at work. She told the staff who were working with her at the time, and went up to the front office, out of the site of the kids, to calm herself down. She was gone for about an hour, then came back and resumed her duties.
Well apparently she had to have a meeting with our managers and they basically said that she shouldn't have been gone so long. Also, they said that if she would have went home that night instead of coming back in after her anxiety got better, they would have fired her. Finally, they said that if it happens again, they'll have to talk about if she can handle this job. Basically, she said she felt like they were saying if she has another panic attack, she'll be fired.
Many disabilities are covered under the ADA, but does that cover social anxiety?
The definition of disability in the ADA includes people with mental illness who meet one of these three definitions: "(1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment." A mental impairment is defined by the ADA as "any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities."
(Copied from NAMI | The ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act )
So I guess my question....is social anxiety/panic disorders (or I guess anxiety of any kind) protected in the workplace? If so, is it the ADA or something else that protects it? What can my coworker do/what are her rights? Can they legally fire her for having panic attacks and having to take time to compose herself, as long as she's doing her job right? I'm curious about this because of my own SA and in case I have panic attacks at work.
Anyone have any of their own experiences??
To make a long story short, I work with boys 14-18 who are criminal/sexual offenders in a residential treatment facility. I recently found out that one of my coworkers has an anxiety and panic disorder (which I was secretly happy about because I'm not alone.) She told me tonight that a few weeks ago she had a panic attack while at work. She told the staff who were working with her at the time, and went up to the front office, out of the site of the kids, to calm herself down. She was gone for about an hour, then came back and resumed her duties.
Well apparently she had to have a meeting with our managers and they basically said that she shouldn't have been gone so long. Also, they said that if she would have went home that night instead of coming back in after her anxiety got better, they would have fired her. Finally, they said that if it happens again, they'll have to talk about if she can handle this job. Basically, she said she felt like they were saying if she has another panic attack, she'll be fired.
Many disabilities are covered under the ADA, but does that cover social anxiety?
The definition of disability in the ADA includes people with mental illness who meet one of these three definitions: "(1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment." A mental impairment is defined by the ADA as "any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities."
(Copied from NAMI | The ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act )
So I guess my question....is social anxiety/panic disorders (or I guess anxiety of any kind) protected in the workplace? If so, is it the ADA or something else that protects it? What can my coworker do/what are her rights? Can they legally fire her for having panic attacks and having to take time to compose herself, as long as she's doing her job right? I'm curious about this because of my own SA and in case I have panic attacks at work.
Anyone have any of their own experiences??
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