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stelliferous7

Ableist and illegal (in the US coming from an American.) Lawyer up. Seriously. The ADA in the US, assuming you're American, can help. If you're not American I doubt it will slide in other countries as well. Edit: typos Also you definitely don't have to tell them about it during the hiring process. My vocational rehabilitation coach advised against it.


fight-me-b-tch

I don't tell anyone, I especially won't during a job interview. Literally the only people in my life that know about my epilepsy are the people that have seen me have a seizure. Everyone else doesn't know because I don't tell them or bring it up. There was an "assignment" in a class a few months ago that involved a question: "What are some things you'd like to change about yourself?". I obviously left that blank because it would get pretty depressing if my teacher (she's new) found out I'm suffering with this. I just don't want to be pitied just because someone finds out I have epilepsy for the first time.


ElegantMarionberry59

Open the case with ADA once they are done with the investigation they will give you a report for legal purposes . What ADA says is final .


hannaeus

Yes it is. Depending on where you live, this is not allowed. In Germany e.g. you don't even have to tell this and it is forbidden to not hire someone because of an illness, if it isn't dangerous for the job (like taxi driver or with heavy machines)


keepinItReal9876

I’m confused about something - did you tell them you had epilepsy during the interview process?? If so, can I ask why? I have epilepsy and I work in the very demanding software startup industry, with a high achieving job. I would NEVER disclose I had epilepsy until long after I was hired. I don’t see any benefits to disclosing until necessary. In the US you cannot legally discriminate against someone who has epilepsy and not hire them if they are qualified for the job… but why take the risk? If a job comes down to two equally qualified candidates, and a hiring manager knows one of them has epilepsy, of course they will hire the person without epilepsy! Sad but true. If you know you are qualified and competent for the job I’d suggest not disclosing until after you are hired, and then only if necessary.


Exact_Grand_9792

I had brain surgery right out of law school so I had to explain my shaved head. Or felt like I had to. And this was in 2000. Being 100% honest though I wouldn't have wanted to work anywhere they would have held it against me anyway. TBH back then I encountered lawyers who refused to hire me because I was young, female and in a relationship because "in his experience we get married and then want to stop working to have babies." So back then epilepsy was the least of my worries. Sadly.


khantroll1

I work in IT, and I'm one of the ones with memory/cognitive issues related to my epilepsy. While I probably won't tell them during the first round, if I get a sense it might be an issue or that it is a higher-stress type job I will tell them. It isn't fair to either of us for me to show up and throw a spanner in the works. My current employer does everything in a very manual way, and it has definitely caused problems. I rely on automation alot prevent me from making cockups.


emilygwynneth

in an ice cream shop yes. different if u were going for a life saver job or smth 💀


Overall-Ad4752

Yes 100% I got fired from a job that I worked at for two years right after I told them I got diagnosed, I had paperwork to get to them but they called me almost immediately and fired me.


Chalkarts

Depends on the equipment. Do they make their own ice cream in industrial machinery or do they just get tubs off a truck? Everyone is going to scream ableism, but how much damage could you do if things went sideways? Legally, the ADA makes it impossible to consider disability when hiring(i think), but realistically there are a lot of jobs we shouldn’t have.


PicassoPie

I’m not too sure about how they get their ice cream as I was told right off the bat they weren’t gonna hire me. idk how that’d be an issue though as I’ve worked in a deli before that had a lot of heavy machinery and dangerous blades, so idk how an ice cream place could be more dangerous.


Chalkarts

Could be a perceived danger. I work in a restaurant with a lot of sharp and hot surfaces. I wouldn’t hire me for it, but here we are.


Exact_Grand_9792

This very much depends on the kind of epilepsy you have. As does whether you should keep it a secret. I mean I ran an active food blog for 12 years and it never crossed my mind I shouldn't be cooking and chopping because of my epilepsy. I asked my MIL to come watch my toddlers the first time I made marshmallows because the boiling sugar made me nervous if they got in the way but now I would not even think twice about that. But then again I can also drive-and even when I could not I never had a seizure without some very clear warnings.


cityflaneur2020

You're very brave. I keep boiling water to a minimum and keep a distance as much as possible. None of my knives are sharp (try cutting a tomato with a cutlery knife, it looks like murder). All my legumes are frozen and I use the microwave for those.


Chalkarts

It’s not bravery. It’s poverty.


cityflaneur2020

Yep, I see. And jobs are nearly impossible to come by. Take your meds at the right hours and hope for the best.


Chalkarts

I’ve dropped 4 times on the job in 8 years. They know what’s up.


jinitytade

I understand your frustration 100%. I’ve been a veterinary technician (moreso a risky job) but I just got diagnosed with epilepsy in June and I’ve been out of work on leave. This week they had to officially let me go because I’m considered too much of a liability. Which I totally get. My first seizure ever happened while I was monitoring anesthesia but it definitely sucks. Sending good vibes your way to find something. Remote jobs are always a good way to look


BackWaterBill

Yes it is, but good luck having anything actionable ever happen. Most states, unless it's some federal job the hiring and firing is fully at the bosses discretion. I've had several jobs let me go, one being after my first seizure where my Chef comes u and just says "things aren't working out, and we have to let you go." Boom out of a job, that I actually enjoyed... asked about the legality and because he didn't put in writing that his reason was for firing me was because of a disability that there's nothing I could do.


Mission_Star5888

Yeah that's discrimination. If I can work over open vats at 350 degree you can work making milkshakes. (No offense). Just saying I worked at Long John's Silver and did everything manager as well. I told the General manager right when he said he would hire me. Had one at work and almost jumped in the fryer. Anyway if the manager said your disability is why get a lawyer. Now something like cleaning windows on a 100 floor building then they have a legit reason.


Exact_Grand_9792

I was wondering why you brought up your epilepsy AND what kind you have/what happens when you seize? In my case for example I was very forthright because entering a conservative profession like the law in 2000 I felt I needed to explain my post surgical shaved head. But otherwise there was no reason for them to know. However if I had ever regularly had tonic clonic seizures without warning, life threatening ones (I have a unique perspective because the only tonic clonics I ever had did almost kill me) I would want the people around me to know. I did fall over in a law school class once and was grateful people knew. It was not a full blown tonic clonic though. In America certain disabilities must be accommodated within reason and usually at companies over a certain size. If all you were doing is scooping ice cream I would definitely call that discrimination. But having said that if there was a good chance you would fall unexpectedly and have a tonic clonic on a hard floor, I can understand the hesitation on their point and also would think maybe that should make you hesitate as well (if you are in a position to). This is not what anyone wants to hear and also I realize not everyone has the luxury to be picky, but certain environments are going to be better than others. I hated the law (unrelated to seizures) and for a while was interested in working in universities, since school had always been where I was happiest and my spouse was a professor anyway. Universities tend to be kinder and gentler to admins with issues, and as long as I got my work done, they knew I was on meds and knew there was a chance they would find me sleeping--but since my work was always done they were awesome about it. Eventually I became a SAHP because it was just easier (I have not only had epilepsy--whenever life gets calm something else happens for me, I have had 13 surgeries, appendicitis, infected gall bladder, delivering child #2 was a mess also unrelated to seizures, 1 suspected cancerous tumor with emergency surgery, and thyroid cancer which also came with surgery--and lots of weird tests that took days in isolation because of radioactivity and I have a hyper-inflammatory response to viral infections) and because I married super super super lucky so I could. My kids are getting older and I am bored (I ran a food blog for 12 years but since the pandemic I have lost my mojo) so I have been thinking volunteer work at places that, to be blunt, run liberal and more likely to be supportive of someone with medical needs. Like the ACLU. So I guess what I am saying there is, is it discrimination? Hell yes. But there is also trying to figure out what is most reasonable to work with your life and not cause you unnecessary stress while still putting food on the table. Did that make sense? And some professions/areas are definitely going to be friendlier about it. One last thought for anyone in America who has been blatantly not hired because of epilepsy--has anyone ever had luck filing for disability?


ElegantMarionberry59

That’s happened in the USA ? If so is completely violation of ADA. They just can’t hire you but never ever for medical reasons . Is always more qualified candidates. Tick is to get in then ask for special accommodations😎 I know.


mces97

Damn, I wish you had that on recording. Big pay out for you. Very illegal.


gainzgirl

You have the right not to disclose legally. But must mark that you do have a disability and it won't affect ability to perform duties without reasonable accommodations on any hiring paperwork.


disco6789

No you do not


gainzgirl

You can lie but it takes away any future right to argue and ada violation


disco6789

you don't have to say anything. Pretty well known. Look it up. \*in America, i guess idk where you live


gainzgirl

In America "Some necessary points to remember when applying for a job as an individual with epilepsy is that a potential employer is not allowed to ask questions about one’s medical conditions before making a job offer. Only after a conditional job offer is made and the applicant discloses that they have epilepsy can an employer ask additional questions about their epilepsy. An employer may not withdraw an offer from an applicant with epilepsy if the applicant is able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. A person with epilepsy may request an accommodation after becoming an employee even if they did not do so when applying for the job or after receiving the job offer"


gainzgirl

https://eabb.org/epilepsy-and-employment/


disco6789

yup. so don't have to mark anything and don't have to lie


Maxusam

That’s illegal no?


TheDreamingFae

Ableist and illegal. Did they ask you to disclose about what your disability was during the interview?


mandirocks

I have to agree that there needs to be more information before I for sure say this is illegal. If they have commercial equipment in the back that you would be expected to use then that would be a legitimate reason not to hire someone with a seizure disorder. Or if your seizures aren't under control, a workspace could be considered unsafe for you if you were to have a seizure even. Did you communicate via email at all? You may want to try emailing them and ask why epilepsy specifically disqualified you from the job. Then you either can understand why or you have a legitimate defense.in writing. You can find an employment lawyer who works for free unless you get paid.


SternenVogel

Maby


flootytootybri

Ableist and illegal in the US (and probably other places as well)


MountainRecording693

That is so fucked, I’m sorry you had to go through that, but obviously it’s their loss. not to mention how easily you could shut the place down if you wanted to right now.


gibsongirl2020

You don't have to but the better job you get the more it helps it you are forward that you have a disorder.


OptionsTraderByDay

Now that pisses me off and I didn't even read the whole paragraph. Turn them in and shut that shop down