work in progress is a column about finding your way in society. Have a question for Rainesford Stauffer?send to [email protected].
If you or someone you know is in danger, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or the National Alliance on Mental Illness Hotline at 800-950-6264.
When I first started working, I couldn’t untie the knots. Was the work environment causing severe anxiety, or was anxiety causing panic at work?I confess, even with a diagnosis in hand, sometimes I not yet don’t know. What I do know is that there is an urgent need for candid conversations about how work affects mental health and vice versa (time sensitive worried about no reply yet (unlike non-mail).
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According to a 2022 report from the American Psychological Association, Nearly 3 in 5 workers reported the “negative effects of work-related stress”. Meditation apps and other work perk subscription services may be packaged as part of employee health care, but they are really like first aid. Too many people don’t get the support they need, and too much emphasis on productivity permeates our way of thinking about well-being. , there is a deep-rooted prejudice.of APA survey is also a flag Mental health issues can be related to work-related issues, such as compensation not keeping up with inflation or an abusive environment.
“There are usually some well-paid workers whose employers provide some paid medical leave that can be used for mental health-related purposes,” Dana Bolger said. better balancea national nonprofit advocating for workers’ legal rights, said: teen vogue“Then there are all the others, such as low-wage workers in hospitality and retail, who are lucky enough to work in a state that only gives them one day of paid sick leave.” There is no national right to family leave, medical leave, and paid sick leave. “Take a mental health day” is well-intentioned advice and far from accessible to everyone. “You don’t have to choose between mental health and salary,” says Bolger.
We spoke to an expert to analyze how you can defend yourself.
identify the cause of the disorder
Understanding the nuances of mental health and mental illness can be important in knowing what accommodations to seek. Mental health is something we should all pay attention to as part of our overall well-being. Black Women’s Mental Health Institute,To tell teen vogue. Mental illness is a diagnosable concern, she adds. Dr. Richardson said she lives with a diagnosis of high-functioning, fast-cycling bipolar disorder 2, noting that there is still a great deal of stigma surrounding talking about mental health.
According to Dr. Richardson, if you feel your workplace is negatively impacting your mental health, one of the first things you should do is identify the source of your distress. “I think sometimes we do a disservice when someone is having a hard time and we hold them accountable without identifying the toxicities that may be present in the environment,” Dr. Richardson explains. “Yes, you may be dealing with mental health issues. Mental health distress can be caused by trying to perform professionally in the environment.
You can’t sleep or you can’t concentrate. Or have you ever been given an unrealistic workload or experienced discriminatory behavior in the workplace? asks Dr. Richardson. These examples can be addressed by mental health clinicians and counseling services, but understanding the causes of distress can help determine the best course of action. I think it’s about really trying to understand what causes stress,” says Dr. Richardson. “Is it the environment, or is it more internal?”
Know what protection really exists
First, “know that it’s against the law to discriminate against someone just because they have a mental illness,” says Bolger. For example, you won’t be fired or demoted because you have depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. (Bolger also says federal law only protects those who work for employers who employ more than 15 of her employees, but some states protect workers in smaller companies. .)
Bolger said that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, many workers Right to Reasonable Accommodation, “The law requires your employer to have an honest conversation with you to find accommodation that meets your needs.” To secure accommodation, according to the US Equal Opportunity Commission. The first step is to ask your boss or HR manager for accommodation. Learn more about. here.
Additionally, Bolger said many workers have access to “unpaid but work-protected leave for their own serious mental health conditions under a law called the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).” I am adding that I can. however, regulations about what treatments are suitable. “The most important thing to remember is that these laws require floors, not ceilings,” says Bolger. “Employers can and should be compelled to do more than the minimum required by law. We can negotiate protection.”
Before taking the job, Dr. Richardson recommends workers also interview the company to see if it’s a good fit. She says it’s a very reasonable question to ask during or even after the interview process what reasonable accommodation looks like in that workplace.
It also means deciphering “professionalism” in the workplace, she says. “I think even ‘professionalism’ is often the code language for discriminatory behavior,” she explains. “Professionalism means you have to look like this,” she continues. Professionalism might be like, “I need to sit in front of a computer all day,” but if my nerve divergence can’t be all I know teeth, [sitting] What about that professional who’s been in front of this computer all day?”
Managers and bosses must be held accountable. Dr Richardson said:
Be sure to document everything
In some cases, mental health care includes setting boundaries and taking time off if possible. Yet access and time to treatment often remain luxuries for too many. It’s an important step.
In addition to knowing what the law requires employers to do (Bolger recommends looking at A Better Balance by state). workplace rights hubcall free helplineor contact members of National Employment Lawyers Association The next step is to document everything. “Did you ask for accommodation and your boss made a way out? Did your boss make an offensive comment about your mental health? Like a personal email or text message? It’s helpful to write it down, preferably with a timestamp,” he says Bolger. “Even if you have a perfectly good conversation with HR, consider sending a polite email afterwards summarizing what was discussed and agreed next steps.”
“You are more than a job” may sound lethargic because work is just an obsession with living. But it’s still true. How often have you struggled at work and felt inadequate, like you had to struggle to prove your worth, or felt really difficult because you didn’t know you had options? I cringe when I think about how hard times have been. Jobs may be fungible, but you are not.
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