{"id":2289,"date":"2022-09-05T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T18:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/?p=2289"},"modified":"2022-09-05T18:43:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T18:43:00","slug":"are-mental-health-conditions-protected-from-workplace-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/dev\/are-mental-health-conditions-protected-from-workplace-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Mental Health Conditions Protected From Workplace Discrimination?"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 5.5 million Californian adults have a mental health condition. While it\u2019s always been something people feel embarrassed by or feel the need to hide, one in five adults in the U.S. have a mental health condition. You shouldn\u2019t be ashamed that you have a mental health condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety disorders are the most common and affect 48 million Americans. Depression is the second most common with 21 million people diagnosed with it. You\u2019re not alone. Speak up, and you\u2019ll likely find there are others in the workplace who are impacted by at least one mental health condition. It\u2019s also important to understand that mental health cannot lead to discrimination in the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are your workplace rights when it comes to mental health conditions? You suffer from an anxiety disorder, depression, OCD, or PTSD and it makes it hard to focus at work at times. Your boss is starting to make comments. What are your rights?<\/span><\/p>\n

In California, as long as your employer has more than 15 employees or is a state or local government office, you\u2019re protected by federal laws and FMLA can also help you seek the care you need and the time off to get that care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Your Rights in Terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act<\/span><\/h3>\n

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission\u2019s Americans With Disabilities Act protects you from discrimination and harassment in the workplace when it comes to mental health conditions. You cannot be fired, denied a job or promotion, or forced to quit or take a leave of absence.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, you have been diagnosed with depression and chronic anxiety. Your boss says that makes you a threat to others and fires you. You\u2019ve never done anything to harm others. Unless there is clear proof that you\u2019re endangering others, that termination was not legal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, you\u2019re entitled to reasonable accommodations first. If you just need 10 minutes to walk around outside to ease stress, that\u2019s a reasonable request. If you\u2019re denied that request without an understandable explanation, you\u2019re not being offered reasonable accommodations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your mental health is not water cooler gossip, and you don\u2019t have to tell others if you don\u2019t want to. You are allowed to keep your health condition to yourself and are under no obligation to tell others, except in limited situations.<\/span><\/p>\n