Greetings to all,
Friday afternoon I got some devastating news: I was being demoted from my position of Program Specialist back to Customer Care Representative. Why? I did not have the numbers required to remain in the position. You see, I believed in providing quality care to my customers and I worked with them until their issues were resolved. Well, as it turns out, that was the WRONG thing to be doing. Even though our company touts customer satisfaction as its number one objective, those of us providing the care are rated on the numbers of people we can handle on any given day - not on the satisfaction we can provide them.
This news wouldn't even be newsworthy if you didn't keep in mind that my employer knows I have bipolar disorder. In all honesty, they have been wonderful to me, by retaining my employment while I have endured hospitalizations for depression and alcohol/drug abuse. I have been with them for over five years, and they have seen the best and the worst of me. That's why it was rather shocking to me that they would handle this situation the way they did.
Wednesday, I was pulled aside and told I would be given a special position, handling follow ups for the corporate leads. I was told my "special talents" would be put to good use here. Because of this news, I was riding pretty high until Friday afternoon, when my boss pulled me aside and told me I was being demoted. She did so with all of my co-workers right nearby, within earshot of our conversation. No private place; no private conversation. I asked her why she had told me just two days ago, I was being groomed for a new position, only now to be telling me I was being demoted. All she could say was that she had not run it by her boss, and it was premature of her to do that, and she was sorry.
I kept it together for about the first five minutes and then, I just lost it. I had really learned to love this job, being able to help people on a daily basis, and now being told I was not doing the job right. What added insult to injury is that anyone who cared to overhear my plight, was right there to do so. My supervisor didn't even have the common decency to take me off to a private space, where she could deliver the news. To make it worse, she just baited me by telling me I was being considered for a juicy spot, two days earlier, and now telling me I was being demoted.
Isn't there something missing here, like a little bit of reasonable accommodation in the form of: 1) privacy for a very personal employee issue and; 2) some kind of human decency that would call for not baiting an employee into thinking she is being upgraded one day - and then two days later being told quite the opposite? Don't the lack of these two things create for a less than accommodating work environment?
It sounds like your employer is trying to "wait you out". They can't fire you because of your known illness but they can play games with you until you either can't perform up to par and they can let you go or you become so out of it that you quit. They would rather you quit.
I worked in the nation's largest health insurance company once. Was an outstanding employee with awards and certificates for my performance. Then, I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, was put under a Dr's note, had surgery so I was out a lot, and though no longer Outstanding - I did meet my requirements.
I became suicidal over all the stress and strain of the CTS and had suffered a miscarriage at the same time. I was hospitalized. The employer was aware of my diagnosis because of the Leave Forms and in turn they notified my supervisor.
I returned with a note from my Orthopedic (not MH) doctor to not do OT, this made co-workers and supervisor mad. I also had "mini-breaks" to relieve the CT and depression, this further seethed my supervisor.
So after several weeks, an incident happened where I was rightfully upset. The supervisor stood in front of the entire dept. and asked me if my medication levels were right and perhaps I needed to see my Dr. to have them checked. Embarrased, I replied that my Orthopedic surgeon had me on anti-inflammatories and I was fine. "No, I didn't mean that Dr. I mean your other Dr. Perhaps he needs to check those medications."
It sounds like you are being "worked out" of your position as I was with the Carpal Tunnel. It is up to you whether you will allow them to do so. I did because I had to quit.
As long as it is labelled a work performance issue they can work you out of it. If they used the Bipolar and SA as a reason, you could sue them for violating the American's with Disabilities Act. They'll never say it's because of your illness.
Hey Tabby,
Thank you for the very thought-provoking post. I am not going to let them work me out of my job. They may be able to demote me because of my numbers, but I am going to come back fighting and show them that I can deliver the numbers AND provide quality customer care. It just won't be customer care to the degree that I had gotten used to giving. Then, when they post another opening for the position I just got demoted from, I will apply again, and have the back-up numbers to prove that I can be given another shot.
I am so sorry that you ended up quitting. It becomes so difficult to do anything but quit, when they make the requirements so strict. Still, it behooves those of us who are trying to stay in the working world, to make our voices known and to fight our employers' attempts to weed us out.
I appreciate your comments and will take them to heart. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with me.
Best wishes and big hugs,
Kay