Staying well on the job is not possible if we can’t take a sick day or a mental health day to rest recuperate and recover from illness.
In a future blog entry I will talk about my experience as a professional librarian.
Here I want to lead up to my testimonial with what I think about the fallacy of putting a devotion to your work above or instead of your wellness.
In an issue of Mademoiselle magazine a feature article on working life insinuated: “Do as your boss does” and show up to your job even when ill.
In the 1990s when that gem of advice (cue the sarcasm) appeared I talked on the telephone with the owner of an insurance firm.
He told me: “It’s okay to take one sick day. You take two or worse three sick day in a year that’s an issue.”
Right then I wouldn’t work for him. Going to our jobs when we’re ill is not healthy–for us or our coworkers.
On a union job like the one I have you can often accrue sick time to the tune of 30 days or more if you rarely use sick leave.
The trend is for workers with 100s of hours of sick time to donate their sick leave hours to a coworker who needs more.
Again the FMLA–Family Medical Leave Act–is not paid time off. Senators and congresspersons in Washington have refused to enact paid national sick leave for all American workers.
That’s why I recommend getting a union job that might offer a pension and generous paid time off.
I’m no fan of working in a cubicle in a traditional office job after the first ill-fated nine years I had jobs in corporate and law firm offices.
There’s a better way and I’ll write about the alternative coming up.
It involves having the courage to not only think outside of the employment box but to flatten those boxes. To not let ourselves be constrained in a box to begin with.
Finding the career that is the right fit for yourself is an act of healing and an act of love.
In the new year I will talk in greater detail about burnout and pressure on the job and how to cope.
A long time ago my literary agent thought I should write about the advances coming slowly but coming surely for individuals who need ADA Act accommodations.
After scrolling through a tidal wave of emails I came across this one about the ADA. The truth about the ADA Act is that you must know it exists before you can request an accommodation.
Then even though the ADA Act is a legal protection for most workers you might not be covered.
Two issues are at play:
If you foresee your medical condition or disability impairing your ability to do your job you must email the right person in your company’s HR department. I wrote what to write to them in my book Working Assets. You should frame yourself as needing a job modification because your disability is interfering with your ability to get your work done.
Then suggest a reasonable accommodation you’d like to be given. The fact is you can be fired for just cause or at least simply laid off if you don’t request an accommodation.
True stories abound of individuals with disabilities who show up to their job late every day, call in sick every week, or fall asleep on the job when they’re supposed to be awake.
You do this too often and you’ll be shown the door without recourse. This is why requesting the accommodation in the first place should ideally give you breathing room before your boss terminates you.
In the coming blog entry I’ll talk about alternatives to traditional corporate office jobs and why veering off the beaten job search path could lead to better results for those of us with disabilities.
I get via email the IncludeNYC newsletters about disability advocacy topics. One article that I read a woman with a disability wrote about disclosure. Specifically about telling a hiring manager in a job interview that you have a disability.
The writer thought that a person should disclose to the HR or other person interviewing them. The woman’s contention was that nothing in society will change if we can’t be and aren’t upfront about our medical condition.
In Working Assets the target market readers were peers with mental illnesses. I gave careful measured consideration to disclosure on the job in the Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation chapter.
I still think it’s dicey to tell an interviewer that you have bipolar or schizophrenia. Stereotypes exist of individuals like us. It’s game over if you respond to the hiring manager’s questions using neologisms or talking in a word salad.
The third week in October is Invisible Disabilities Week. Some people living with schizophrenia appear off. Other you can’t detect we have a broken brain.
My story is an open secret with coworkers who are friends. It would likely be a different story if I were muttering to the voices in my head in the stacks of books at the library.
Disclosure is supposed to be a win-win for individuals with disabilities. Only the fact is apart from mental illnesses a significant number of bosses and coworkers question the work ethic and abilities of a person who has any kind of disability (per a different IncludeNYC article).
Read again in this blog my entry on the 2018 Accenture study. It proved with statistics that companies that employed people with disabilities saw their sales and net income skyrocket.
I don’t live in hiding. It’s your choice if you disclose and it’s your choice who you disclose to and when and how and what you say.
I’ll end here by quoting a woman interviewed in the book True Style is What’s Underneath: The Self-Acceptance Revolution. In reviewing this guide I urge you to buy the book. Just the beautiful rainbow of individuals in the photos should prove the point that whoever you are and however you look and whatever your orientation to life there should be a job out there for you.
Per Cathy Cooper Artist and Maker of Stuff in Los Angeles:
“I feel the most beautiful when I can see the truth–the essence of what I am–in the art that I’ve made.”
Making art and expressing ourselves–even if we’re not Artists–is likely scary. Risking becoming vulnerable by being open and honest is not easy.
Our illnesses do not define us. They are not our identity. Yet they will always be a part of the package we give to others. It should be liberating to tell the truth. My belief–and it showed up decades ago with AIDS patient Advocates–is that secrecy breeds shame.
Breaking free of the internalized stigma about having a mental illness is when our recovery can take off. That’s when the diagnosis no longer has power over us.
There’s something to be said about being loud and proud about having a disability.
Only when it comes to disclosure of bipolar or schizophrenia on a job interview I say: Not so fast.
The choice is yours. I’d like to hear from followers your experience doing this.
I want to talk in here about what I’m going to detail in a second career book I plan to publish:
Where can we buy reasonably priced gender-neutral work clothes?
I read that in multiple states in America, it’s becoming illegal to dress in Drag. Two years ago, I watched 7 episodes of Queer Eye one right after the other. Jonathan Van Ness the hairdresser on the show was a man and wore a green dress.
Have we gotten “there” to where a guy can wear a dress to an office job? Or a full face of makeup to a staff meeting?
Should we not be there yet, how do we get to the point where non-conforming individuals can dress as they please at work? Ideally liberating them via fashion freedom to turn in stunning results for the company.
I’m not a fan of working in a cubicle in an office (after my failed attempts to do that in the 1990s). At the height of COVID in our WFH remote jobs workers coveted the ease to dress however we wanted below the Zoom screen.
It begs the question: What if a person with a non-binary or other gender expression wants to work in an office? In New York City there are Queer in Every Career networking events.
Scouring the Adidas website (where I eye the Gazelle sneakers) I’ve seen links to their gender-neutral sportswear. A quick search on the DuckDuckGo search engine instead of Google returned lists of forward-thinking vendors who sell gender-fluid clothing.
Let’s face it that no time soon is Kohl’s or Macy’s going to sell genderless clothes to the masses. Fashion magazines years ago were quick to feature articles on designers who create gender-neutral items. From then to now you’ll need the big bucks to snag this alternative attire at stores you simply can’t walk down the street to shop in.
Here’s a roundup of the gender-neutral online retailers I found on DuckDuckGo:
Kirrin Finch comes in sizes XS-3XL. This menswear-inspired line features suit pieces and separates plus well-fitting shirts. Chinos to the tune of $160 and an evening suit for $575.
The Phluid Project sells clothing of brands that focus on the non-binary. The Project features queer trans Black Latinx and women-owned vendors online and at their bricks-and-mortar store in New York.
Collusion is the line that retailer ASOS launched as a unisex collection of trendy affordable animal-free clothing.
Gender Free World has clothes with four body-shape templates in sizes 4 to 20.
Big Bud sells ethically sourced items in sizes from XXS-7XL.
I recommend you sign up to read The Muse career website newsletter.
At the end of this blog entry I’ll link to The Muse article on Gaslighting At Work.
This is a real issue. Sorry to say that when it happens to you management won’t care. You’ll be left on your own to defend yourself.
Often being led to question your sanity. Only you’re not crazy.
In Working Assets: A Career Guide for Peers I devoted one chapter to Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation on the job when you have a disability.
The fact is abusers who gaslight often target individuals with emotional illnesses.
This is why I’m confident that what I wrote in the Reasonable Accommodation chapter of my career book was a realistic assessment of disclosure on the job. Listing the benefits and drawbacks in a nuanced considered way.
Gaslighting can take the form of a coworker not telling you that a staff meeting is being held. So you don’t show up when you’re supposed to.
Or they claim you didn’t give them a project when you know you did. Or telling you a deadline is farther away then it really is. So you miss the deadline.
In a coming blog entry I’m going to talk about the corollary tactic of harassment on the job.
The books listed in this blog entry should be available at any public library that is not censoring and banning the books people can read and check out with library cards:
Black Faces in High Places: 10 Strategic Actions for Black Professionals to Reach the Top & Stay There by Randal Pinkett.
Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider by Stacy Spikes.
Build the Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You’re Not a Rich White Guy by Kathryn Finney. (I read this book at least 2 years ago and reviewed it here.)
It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage by Arlan Hamilton.
Twice as Hard: Navigating Black Stereotypes & Creating Space for Success by Opeyemi Sofoluke.
These books are geared to acing jobs the corporate world for those of us who aspire to the C-suite.
Though I’m not a fan of thinking a corporate office job is the only one you should get I understand and respect that for other people they want to excel in a traditional workplace.
The point is that these authors promote navigating the corporate life on your own terms with skills you can learn that they give you. Linked to how they got ahead from a job like film studio gopher to CEO and from food-stamp recipient to venture capitalist.
I say to you readers: Go for It if this is what you want.
About one or two years ago I posted here a blog entry on advancing trauma-informed career counseling. The link to that post is at the end of this entry.
The fact is if you’ve been the victim of racism you’ll be hypervigilant about that happening again. Going into the workplace BIPOC individuals don’t need this added stress.
In keeping with Black Business month I’m going to write about DEI topics here.
It’s not that I don’t think racism exists. It’s that I can’t believe this is still happening in 2023.
Along with reading other career books I think the above book The Pain We Carry should be required readings for victims of microaggressions which are hardly micro and for victims of any racial injustice.
Coming up in the future I will link to an article on gaslighting on the job featured at The Muse website.
Though I have a bias against working in a corporate office setting (based on firsthand experience) I understand that some of us want to work in traditional office jobs and succeed in those careers.
This just in a new article from Guest Blogger Jackie Cortez:
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From Passion to Profit: Navigating the Exciting and Challenging Journey of Building a Home-Based Business
Building a home-based business is an exciting journey that allows individuals to turn their passions into profit. However, navigating this journey can present several challenges that must be overcome to achieve success. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the key considerations and strategies involved in taking your passion and turning it into a profitable home-based business.
Stay on Top of Organization
Staying organized is paramount for building a successful home-based business. Without a proper system, handling finances, inventory, and other tasks can become overwhelming quickly. To avoid this, invest in reliable accounting software to manage finances and track expenses. Additionally, using tools can help you stay on top of tasks and deadlines.
Give Yourself a Dedicated Work Area
Designating a dedicated workspace is essential for maintaining focus and productivity while working from home. Although working from your couch or kitchen table may seem tempting, it can hinder your work progress. Instead, create a separate workspace that defines a clear boundary between personal and professional space. This could be achieved by converting a spare room, a living room corner, or even a closet into a mini-office.
Establish Boundaries From the Family as You Work
Establishing clear boundaries with children regarding workspace access is crucial for minimizing distractions and interruptions while working from home. Create a visual reminder, such as a “do not disturb” sign, to signify when you’re working. Additionally, setting up a play area or hiring a babysitter to occupy your children during work hours can also help maintain focus and productivity.
Get Ambitious With a Plan for Long-Term Success
Create your own B.H.A.G. (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) when building a home-based business to ensure long-term success. It’s crucial to set ambitious objectives and develop a plan of action to achieve them. Begin by defining what success looks like for you, whether it’s financial independence or the flexibility to work on your terms, then create a roadmap that outlines the necessary steps to reach your desired outcome.
Separate Your Personal and Business Assets
Combining personal and business finances is a typical blunder made by home-based entrepreneurs, leading to complexities in expense tracking, cash flow management, and tax filing. To prevent such issues, it’s vital to create a separate bank account and credit card for your business. This practice will allow you to effectively monitor your business expenses and simplify the tax filing procedure at year-end.
Promote Your Products or Services With Effective Content
Innovative marketing strategies are essential for home-based businesses’ success, mainly because they lack a physical storefront or office. One proven strategy is to create engaging and informative content that not only captures the attention of potential customers but also builds credibility and trust. By sharing valuable insights, tips, and industry news, you demonstrate your expertise and commitment to helping your audience succeed. But don’t let your content fall flat; consult online resources to help you craft compelling content that resonates with your audience.
Plan Your Finances
To achieve success with your home-based business, it is essential to have a solid financing plan in place, no matter what size it is. It’s vital to be proactive and investigate different finance options, including crowdfunding, loans, and grants, to determine which one best suits your business needs. Additionally, utilizing free tools or hiring freelancers for specific tasks can significantly reduce your expenses and provide you with the resources you need to grow and thrive.
Achieving success with a home-based business necessitates meticulous planning, a high level of organization, and unwavering discipline. By adhering to the tips outlined in this article and maintaining a laser-sharp focus on your objectives, you can establish a booming enterprise that not only provides financial independence but also enriches your life personally. Therefore, ensure that you stay motivated, persistent, and enthusiastic while pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams.
I checked the book in the photo above out of the library. It should be required reading.
The last three chapters were the best in my view. The chapter on housing was my favorite.
The fact is that individuals who collect SSI and SSDI should get checks that are $1,000/per month or more. Not be forced to live in poverty with a subpar income.
The chapter on housing was my favorite. Our housing should not be substandard either. Housing should be affordable and accessible for individuals of all types of disabilities.
I have ideas that I’m going to write about in future blog entries here. These radical ideas I’m going to publish in a second career/recovery book for peers.
WorkingAssets 
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