Posted on 12/03/2005 by fnldriver
Viewed: 782 times
I was a DHL driver in Loveland Colorado employed by the independant contractor The Feet dba Velocity Boys a local courier company. I was hired in Sept or 2003 and shortly after being hired I informed my supervisor as I am required to legally of my Disability. That being Bi Polar Manic Depressive. Now things went well up till about Oct 2004 when I started on a "down" and asked my supervisor to require the other Laramie driver to pull his share of the load and allow me to have some time during the day to see a doctor and get on meds. To explain this, the Other driver was new and fall/winter is the busiest time of year for courier companys so when my supervisor said he was not able to speak to other driver as it might make him quit I actually did understand. I was told by Lyle, my supervisor that come January I could have some time. So I stuck it out. Well come January I still wasn't allowed time, NOw if you don't know anything about manic depressives I'll give you a hint. We have things call episodes and cycling. Well I was not happy, either crying or screaming and cussing at the other employees at any given moment. Now this sounds bad and it is, but its' also not withing control without meds. Which I wasn't being allowed to get. By August I was so bad I can't describe it and actually had a complete breakdown with me ending up on the floor one evening after work. Lyle turned and walked away then turned back and said he didn't care about my problems as he had real drivers with real problems, which by the way, two of those drivers were avoiding paying child support which Lyle knew about and helped them get away with. I was never late in 2 years, never called in sick, in fact I was a hour and half early even the several times I had to walk to work 4 and half hours one way, then work a 12 hour shift, walk back home, get up at 1:30am and walk back to work. I did that for almost a week and several other times for a couple of days when my car broke down. so I was quite surprised when I was called into Lyle's office after work sept 15th 2005 and given my last check. Fired illegally for a disability which is bad but controllable. NOw I am homeless in Colorado winter as the company used my disability as my reason for being fired and now I can't get unemployment. Al of this can be fought in court but I'm the one who has to find a lawyer and somehow live while my ex employer and ex supervisor are happily living and working and eating.
POST A COMMENTsotia(12/09/2005)
I don't care what the disability is, mental or physical, the workplace should be understanding. If people aren't accomodating, people with disabilities end up out of work, unable to get jobs and ostracized from society. It's easy to say "It's not me, so why should I care" but that is not right!
Cuboner (12/05/2005)
Eww, that's rough, and unfair. The bad news is not many people actually understand your illness, not to mention some don't even believe it is true. Unless you have, or you know someone who has suffered from this, I think it is very hard to understand the cycle and the effects. I am very sorry you are going through this, and I can't imagine this has helped your progress any! I hope now that you have some time off you have had time to get your meds, (hopefully you were offered Cobra so you can afford it). Anyway, sometimes, even though right now it may not seem to be true, but sometimes I think that everything happens for a reason. You'll find a new job, keep you head up! We have have trials and tribulations everyday in our life. My theory is, the quicker we realize every elses life is just as hard, the more we will realize that our life isn't that bad. I was jobless for 13 months in 2001, it was difficult. I sent about 50 resumes a day (mon-fri). About that time is when you start to get down on yourself, and I hope you don't let that happen to you! For every door that closes, another one opens!
mart (12/06/2005)
Man, If you don't have money to fight this in court, contact some folks in government: representatives, your state attorney general, any state or local civil rights department. Try to get someone in authority to set your former employer straight. Good luck.
2005wing (12/08/2005)
How clever of you to not notify your employer of your disability until after you were hired! Your employer should have fired you for falsifying your application.
fnldriver (12/09/2005)
THe law doesnt require Disabled persons to notify regarding disability unless specific accomadations are required. My disability doesn't require accommadations except doctor visits and meds. And any worker has the right to time off for doctors at any time with proper notice. But thanks for showing your lack of legal knowledge. Its more and more obvious that working class people have no idea of the law or their rights.
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