I told my boss I had PD as soon as I discovered my diagnosis...1 1/2 years
ago.  I have now been riffed from my job, meaning that my job was eliminated,
ostensibly due to financial crunch company is currently in...however, at age
60, with retirement only 5 years away,  I know differently.  After 11 years
with this company, I'm hopeful someone else will take me on...I'm supposed to
have priority in job placement.

If i had it to do over again, I might think twice, but then again, my illness
has affected my job performance, so I may have had to tell them.  I've had a
great deal of paranoia about my job performance, feeling they've been watching
me overmuch and blaming any mistake I make on my PD.

At any rate, I'm glad to be out of that particular dept., wasn't prepared to
retire on a disability quite yet, but may have to give it a try, or at least
take a stress leave until I can get this  all figured out... I have til year's
end to find another .50 FTE which is my current coded hours and work schedule)
secretarial job within this company, Kaiser Permanente, US's largest HMO.
I carry the insurance for me and my husband who is self employed and has a
heart problem, so it's important for me to keep it.  I know I can pay full bore
via Cobra for a few months, but I'd prefer it to remain a "benefit!"

I realize I'm protected by the ADA, but only if I sign that paperwork the Human
Resource consultant is now giving me to sign, supposedly.  I could use an
attorney about now, I guess!

Cheers,

Brenda

James Berlis wrote:

> Hi
> I was in a similar situation here in the U.K. I had only worked for a large
> International Insurance company for 8 1/2 when I was diagnosed. The first
> thing I did was to check whether I was covered by any company illness or
> disability benefits -qualifying period was 9 yr. employment - next I went to
> the union to see if they would support me and to ask for their advice. As my
> condition was not affecting the ability to do my job I decided to hold off
> telling my boss until after the qualifying period ( which was perfectly
> acceptable ). After the qualifying period I told the my boss who was very
> supportive. about 7 months later I applied and my application for early
> retirement from the company was accepted. I may have been lucky with the
> response of my employer - they were great about it - but I think it is
> important for you to be well informed of the options and benefits available
> to you before you tell your employer.
> good luck
>
> James
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: William A. Parrette <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: 02 November 1999 22:52
> Subject: Re: HELP - Telling Your Boss You Have PD
>
> Hi all,
>
>         On Tue, 2 Nov 1999, George Person wrote:
>
> > ...
> > I realize that the time is coming when I should tell my boss that I have a
> > physical problem or be direct and say those words I have avoided at work,
> > "PD".  With the possibly of a reorganization, I wonder what I might be
> asked
> > to do in the future.
> >
> > I hope that there are those who have experienced this situation and are
> > willing to share their process and insights regarding how to make it as
> easy
> > as possible.
> > ...
>
>         Well,  George,  that is a tough one.  Can't say that I've *ex-
>      actly* been there and done that.  But, I had a similar problem.
>
>         When  my  symptoms  first appeared, I was doing contract work.
>      As, the diagnosis became more clear, I determined that  I  needed
>      to find a full-time job that had benefits.  So, I started looking
>      for full-time employment.
>
>         At  nearly  the  exact  same time, as employment opportunities
>      seemed to swell up and then quickly fade away, one of the  compa-
>      nies  that  I  had been doing some contract work for called me up
>      and made me a full-time offer.  My response was that I might have
>      some  health issues that would limit the amount of travel I could
>      do (a *big* part of the job) and that I would get back to him  as
>      soon as I had investigated a few remaining, non-travel opportuni-
>      ties.
>
>         I eventually called him back and he inquired as to the "health
>      issues."  I told him about the PD, he said that  he  had  noticed
>      some  tremors,  but that he couldn't discriminate against me even
>      if he wanted to because of the American's With Disabilities  Act.
>      He  said  the job was still open, I accepted, and by some miracle
>      was accepted in their health plan.
>
>         That was some two years ago.
>
>         So,  (in  my  typical  long-winded  way)  I would say that you
>      should let your boss know as soon as possible.  And, if he is not
>      already  informed,  maybe  try to educate him as to what he might
>      expect in the future with some PD literature or Web sites.
>
>         All  this,  of course, is IMHO -- it sounds a lot easier to do
>      than it is in practice.  But, I believe, the sooner  the  better.
>      Good luck ...
>
> Bill--
>   ...who knows that two wrongs never make a right -- but three might.
> .___. William A. ....._..._ .......7177 Heritage Drive+- //\ -(42?)- /\\ +
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