I am the supervisor of an employee who is “bipolar”.
I have allowed the flex schedule but has a hard time
coming in even then. Their work duties have suffered
and basically have to be re-done. They have admitted to
not being compliant with their meds. I want to allow them
the opportunity to keep their job but they are missing a
lot of work even with the flex schedule and the work they
do is not correct. Please advise. thanks

Thanks for the article, Sandra.
It’s the first piece of information I’ve been able to find regarding workplace accomodations for bipolar. I have been diagnosed with bipolar, ADD, and anxiety. Recently an independant examiner for state disability advised that I ask for accomodations from my employer under the Disabilities act, but I don’t know what to ask for. In general, the 40 hour work week doesn’t work for me, but I don’t know if it is reasonable to ask for pay based on work and not hours. I am only working 32 hours weekly now with 8 hour disability pay. Sometimes even that is a struggle. However, I have bursts where I am overproductive and get tons done which seems to make up for it. I have no performance complaints. The struggle seems to be affecting only me. I’d rather not stop working all together, which is what, so far, it seems those with bipolar do. I’d like to know of and talk to others with bipolar who are successful in the workplace.

I am bipolar and I was medically released from the military. Since then the longest I’ve been able to keep a job was 19 days. I really don’t know what to do. What can I do?

Sandra –

I am a co-worker of a person with bi-polar disorder. We work at a large university in the United States. This co-worker has been accommodated by the Human Resources and our boss with flexible schedule. Despite that, he has caused a lot of grief for the rest of us who work with him for the past several. We have had to return money to clients because hge failed to finish his portion of the projects. We have had projects fall apart at the last minute because he failed to be where he was supposed to be to do his part and failed to let anyone know he wasn’t going to be there.

This situation culminated in an episode two months ago that resulted in an assault on our boss and another co-worker and the destruction of several thousand dollars worth of equipment. He was charged with a felony and two misdeameanor.

He was dismissed, but is appealing this dismissal. If he is allowed to return to work, how do we deal with this? So far he is not taking responsibility for the several months of grief the rest of us have had to deal with because of his illness.

I struggle with this situation because my father is bi-polar and I have been treated for for depression for the past 12 years. I know how debilitating this disease can be. But at what point does the needs of one employee override the rest of the other 20 people in the department?

Thanks!

Being in an art trade, I’d run into bipolar coworkers all the time. I really hate to say it, but I’m beginning to lose sympathy for the disorder. Out of 5 people I’ve worked with who had BPD, only 1 actually took responsibility for herself and her actions. The rest would go on and off meds all the time–making the work place a living hell for those of us who had contact with them.

The worst was my recent ex-boss. When I started working with him (at a college) he seemed like a really sharp together guy who was both charming and creative. He always made a big deal about saying how he hoped I wouldn’t leave–and if I did to “please give 2 weeks notice.” I thought this was rather strange and made me wonder if they had problems keeping people around before me…

A few months later, I found out why. It started when he became rather grouchy for a week. He asked if I thought he was being weird, and I said no–just grouchy. He told me he was bi-polar and had gone off his meds for two weeks. Then he promised he’d go right back on them. I’ve been on and came off depressants. I know what a rollar coaster it can be so I expected things to get worse for a couple weeks…

Well, it was more like a couple months. I don’t believe he ever went back on his meds either as his behavior became more and more extreme. I saw a man I respected and looked up to make a complete @ss of himself and tear about those who were closest to him. It was like seeing a complete Jeckyl/Hyde transformation.

He went on powertrips and berated EVERYONE–from myself to the president of the college. In his mind no one was smart as he was. Then he got nasty and weird… He made sexist and racist remarks about our coworkers. Occassionally he’d let things slip about me that were borderline sexual harrassment. Well, after 2.5 months of it, I couldn’t take anymore. While, most of my coworkers were in a meeting one day I burst into tears from the pressure. The next day I quit.

I gave two weeks notice (as I promised) but I had no job lined up. I was scared, but don’t regret it. My sanity was worth it. And within a couple weeks, I found one that’s even better.

It is interesting reading about your experiences.

I don’t believe that accomodations do or should require a workplace to accept violent or distruptive behavior. Bipolar does not give anyone the right to behave abusively to others. The notion, as I understand it, is to allow those to work who can perform given some supports and flexibility to manage their condition.

Bipolar is difficult also in that it varies greatly in the severity of its manifestation in behavior. Some show striking externally observable behaviors, others merely suffer far less obviously.

Some reasonable accomodations I have heard of, but have never dared to ask for personally, are: flexible hours, quiet non-distracting work areas, and an onsite coach to help point out behaviors and redirect the person to their support team if symptoms worsen or emerge.

I struggle very hard to maintain competitive professional employment. I suffer every day. I don’t dare tell anyone of my illness because it would undermine my credibility and the trust that is placed on me.

My doctors have repeatedly urged me to find ’simpler, less stressful work’; however, I am a single mom with a child to support living in an expensive section of the country. The recommendation would leave me unable to meet my financial obligations or care for my daughter. Nor do I believe that bipolar individuals should automatically be relegated to service industry jobs as a matter of course. It actually surprised me that it was suggested, given the customer service element necessary for success in such jobs would be very difficult for me on some days when I feel especially withdrawn.

As to the meds..on or off…I give no one advice. I do suggest that fewer judgements are made with respect to them. First, those who are helped by medication, approximately 40-60% in best case figures, rarely obtain a full remission of symptoms and there is no guarantee that a new episode will appear. Best case, the medication may limit the severity and frequency of episodes…for SOME. And, this comes with a virtual guarantee of side effects, generally sedation, inability to get up in the morning, difficulties concentrating and so on…along with other more severe and life threatening possibilities, such as diabetes, becoming toxic, allergic reactions that are life threatening, heart complications, weight gain…and ever useful, the possibility of drug induced psychiatric symptoms that are mistaken for a return of the disease itself!

That was the good news…

For the rest…it either doesn’t work or works so poorly that its hard to see a benefit at all. Again, the reliable result are the side effects which appear quite clearly in most people who try these medications.

In my case, I tried very conscientiously for 10 months. My symptoms actually worsened and the side effects were intolerable. I developed severe reactions to the medication. In one case I showed up at work to be sent home because of a rash that, while not at all contagious, upset my co-workers merely to look at. They complained that they couldn’t stand to see me in such discomfort…which was very kind of them, although it unintendedly made me feel a bit like a leper. It took weeks to clear even after stopping the medication with a doctor’s advice.

I lost my ability to remember things or to integrate facts. I was unable to sit through a long commute due to the gastrointestinal distress. I became unable to work at all.

I worked with my doctor but was unwilling to keep trying more and more risky medications with even worse potential for side effects.

I knew I had to regain employment to survive and care for my family.

I went to the first few interviews still trembling from the drug side effects. Needless to say, it made a poor impression on the hiring managers.

Finally, I spoke to my doctor and asked to come off the medication. It was a hard road, and against all advice.

I am now employed and have been steadily for going on 2 years. I still have symptoms. I still struggle to cope. I am still unmedicated.

I still see my doctor for regular progress checks to keep an eye out for a point where I am no longer able to struggle along, or depart too far from the norm and may have to reconsider the alternative.

It isn’t easy. It isn’t fun. It is not something every bipolar could or should do.

But I challenge this preconception that so many have been encouraged to believe that being on meds automatically makes a person able to cope, especially in the workplace. And its corellary, that signs of poor coping are automatically a patient’s failure to properly take medication.

This is hooey.

Many try very hard to comply and still have problems they cannot manage. Others are ’successful’ on meds but unable to be successful at life due to the effects, even for a scant 8 hours a day.

Some patients are barely able to stay awake 8 hours out of 24. Still others go to their physician to report a problem and then must suffer through endless medication ‘adjustments’ which can wreck havoc on behavior and life in general. Of course, those are the lucky ones that can get their doctor to listen and make an adjustment at all, regardless of the side effects noted.

Sedation is the most employment impacting side effect I think. It makes one late, unreliable, and dopey. Patients are routinely told it is a side effect that will likely lessen over time…most I speak to have not had that experience and say its a serious problem for them. Why do doctors continue to use these treatments? I suppose if one is not conscious, it is technically impossible to be bothered by one’s symptoms. Calling that a success though is really the Groucho Marx school of Medicine. (“Does it hurt when you do this?” “Yes.” “Well, don’t do that!”)

Is it any wonder people try to go off the meds?

I think anyone would really. But when you factor in workplace considerations, where one feels vulnerable on the job and knows that they are having trouble meeting expectations, I think the motivation to try to find some other way can be seen as a sign of self preservation. I think some go off meds not because they are simply inherently unreliable or in love with their symptoms or whatever else is made out to be the case…but because they are trying to get enough functioning back to not lose their jobs.

I feel wost for those the meds work best for but who suffer the confusion and sleepiness that comes with the medications. For them, they do fee an improvement, but are faced with a situation where they can’t concentrate fully enough to do well. I think these people try to cheat ‘just a little’, enough to get the report written or the deadline made or what have you. For them this is a dangerous and bad situation. The side effects worse and they risk losing the progress they have made. And largely, from what people say, the result is the same…their symptoms return and they lose the job anyway.

In my case, this wasn’t much of a temptation. The mes were just too destructive on their own and the benefits non existent. So the decision was clearer.

But I encourage no one to choose as I have. It is hard, make no mistake. But I go to work, pay my bills, and my daughter will go off to college in a couple years. I will have accomplished that much.

Sick and Employed,
Stephanie

I am in the military and I have BPD, and I find it hard to have a career in the military because of the uneducated biased opinions of my superiors. I do take medication that allows me to cope with society but because of my co-workers mentality, they make my life especially harder to deal with. I have informed my supervisor’s and co-worker of my condition in hope’s of having a supportive work atmosphere, but that has back fired as expected, and I was specifically told by my direct supervisor that it would be in my best interest to be mentally discharged. Offended and in total disagreement of making my life easier by quitting, I now struggle with these people who no longer see my BSD in it’s totality or as compassionate human being, but as an excuse that is my own fault. I do believe that the stability the A.F. has given me the help in succeeding in life so far, but do not wish to give this up because that would make their lives easier. I also suffer from PTSD from childhood and because many military members are discharged specifically for these mental disorders, I do not believe that is the answer for everyone and is not the one for me. This is a long term disorder that I alone bare with in my mind and I do not believe the solution here is to quit but to thoroughly have more educated employers and supervisors in America and to not be discriminated against for my uncontrollable, incurable, unpleasant mental health disorder.

I have bipolar type I rapid cycling, and I find it very difficult to even find a job that can accommodate me. I am very med compliant, but the medicine “cocktail” that I am on now just isn’t working. My doc(s) and I are working on it, but the stress of being broke with a family and all the bills that come along with that isn’t helping any.

I want to work, but I can’t. I tried for disability, but was denied. Right now, we’re relying on my elderly father to help us by him paying the bills. I’m really between a rock and a hard place, so to speak.

What can I do? Where can I go for help? Everywhere I go for assistance, I get the “you need to work” speech. Every job that I try for I get the “we can’t accommodate that kind of mental illness” speech…. I’m really at the end of my rope here….

I am so glad I found your website! I have been diagnosed with bi-polar for 8 years now and lost my job in 2001 due to a “faux pas” on my part in the workplace. I felt the termination was harsh and uncalled for, since my productivity and attendance were well-above satisfactory. However, as a professional graphic designer, my line of work frequently has high-stress and low pay. And it is volatile and fickle, and one is more likely to lose a job rather than acquire one. Right now I juggle retail and table-waiting; however even combined, they do not pay the bills.

My last graphic job was at a sign company. After about two weeks of employment, I told my supervisor I had a bipolar disorder. He seemed understanding and said “he would not hold that against me.” However, in December of ‘07, the company entered a slow phase where there were few jobs coming in and right before Christmas, the boss told two of us we were being “laid off” due to lack of work, and we would be asked back after the first of the year. Well, that was 5 months ago and I called the company about once a week throughout January to see if I could come back to work. Why do I get the feeling they simply decided not to call me back because of the bi-polar condition.

Companies “find reasons” to let people go and I cannot live on my mother’s contributions the rest of my life. I just don’t know what to do any more.

Hi! I’m a highly functioning person with BPD (rapid cycling), in addition to ADD. I add that I am highly functioning because unlike many, I’ve always been able to hold down a great job, receive accolades and am often told I am the kind of assistant everyone dreams of.

However, last year I somehow got triggered and landed in a severe depressive episode that took me outta work on s/t disability for a few months… during this time a very manipulative HR rep, either acting alone or by direction of my boss (who himself was not terribly stable), called me up and told me I had no job to return to when i returned… and coerced me out the door (illegal, illegal, illegal but I chose not to fight it because of the stigma involved.)

The stress of the episode, the ensuing 5 months off (by choice), lack of routine, etc… I am finding it ***very very very very very hard*** to adapt in my new work environment.

I have had weeks where my new boss has been overjoyed with me, and other times where he questions my ability. I am med compliant for the better part ( had to drop/change the ADD meds cause I had horrible tremors), but with the stress its such a fight to control my ups and lows. I do everything I can to hide this struggle and for the most part all anyone sees is a cheerful, sweet but perhaps awkward woman who is perhaps ditzy. (?)

My own personal strife is stressful enough, but now I’m often depressed because I feel I am not adapting or fitting in. The errors are small in the scheme of the bigger picture, but add up and are embarassing, leading me to much anxiety and self criticism. I am losing a lot of sleep over this which has made this struggle even more difficult and it has also affected my health and have missed more days than seems reasonable for a new person. The cycle is vicious! I am waging such an internal war that I am worried I will further jeoprdize my employment with each passing day.

Since I started my job I have been concerned with telling them for fear that a.) they won’t be understanding thus further ostracizing myself and b.) my boss will feel uncomfortable with me and wish to replace me as soon as possible . I know that’s a great deal of assumption on my part… but the politics involved make me really very worried, anxious, paranoid, distressed… which isn’t helping anything! I am seriously worried that anytime my boss or HR goes MIA without anything on their calendars that they are secretly meeting with a potential replacement.

What do I do? Is there any guarantee? I feel so very alone and very lost and yet, I love what I do and when things are good they are exactly what I want… its just that in 5 mos… the bad is starting to outweigh the good and I’m worried not saying anything might be worse than saying anything.

Any/ All Advice is greatly welcomed!

Hi…I came to this site to look for information because I work with someone who I believe to have bipolar disorder. I am trying to learn more about the disorder so that I might be able to cope better with this person. This person is wonderful to work with when everything is going good for her..but when she hits an episode the entire workplace is in an upheaval. She is obnoxious, rude, verbally abusive and almost borderline physically abusive (very close to physical abuse).
We work in long term care and and her behavior does affect everyone in the building…it even carries over into her care with her patients. True Dr. Heckly/Mr. Hyde personality changes.
How do we as co-workers deal best with this kind of behavior? What are the right things to say or not to say? She goes into attack mode and anything and everything in her way is attacked. Truly an awful situation to be around and a bad situation to work in.
I hate for this person to not be able to work but if the normal everyday lay person were more educated or knew how to handle people with this disorder it might make things go smoother.
Any suggestions? I am not sure if she is compliant with medications or not..I know she talks of taking psychotropic medications but have no idea about her compliance. I know it may not always be the case that she isn’t complying and this is why she is acting out…it may just be the cycling of the disorder.
Apart from this abusiveness in her character I love working with this person. She is clever, funny, and terrific at her job. But this disorder and behaviors that she exhibits turns her into something that is very scary and not so nice to be around.
Help to educate us people on how to deal with bi-polar episodes (maybe these that I describe are of the more severe types of mania?) and what can we do as co-workers or friends to help…or is there anything we can do to help?
Very frustrated here and concerned here about my co-worker. I really look up to this person. Frustrated and sad and just wanting to be able to help somehow.

I have worked for a very reputable, well-respected company for over five years. Besides being born bipolar, I also suffer from Lupus, which my employer has always known. I have always been a hard worker and, while my absenteeism has been high, I have come in nights and weekends to see that the WORK GETS DONE. January 09, 2009, I gave a presentation on our records system, archiving, and company libraries. I got a standing ovation for taking over the position and turning things around two years ago. The first of February, I was absent because of a med withdrawal and was out much longer than intended. When I returned, even with my pdoc having faxed a note excusing me, I was greeted with a letter of probation. Then I got really stupid and confessed my bipolar disorder.
In the last 3 weeks, after being an exemplamary employee for 5 years, my supervisor has begun checking my work, and documenting every and any LITTLE mistake I make. Worse (and illegal) she has disclosed my illness to the one office gossip who she knows I have had countless issues with as the gossip’s guinea pig. She also has this woman checking my work and they made a big deal over a missing INDEX CARD that I KNOW I typed. From a standing O to being in trouble for a missing (?) index card just weeks after disclosing a mental illness.

I know the want me out, but I don’t know how far up it goes and I’m not sure what to do. I cannot stay in this hostile environment, mostly because people I considered friends and family are now not speaking to me, yet, I at least need the disability that is rightfully mine to use. They are trying to get me out before I cost them anything. What should I be doing to protect myself? I am in shock.

Hi … I’m curious about your comment on the fact that you are neither an employment lawyer or a therapist. If you don’t mind, could you please outline what area your expertise is in? Thanks

Hi, Ariana … having gone through something similar, my one suggestion to you is that if you do find yourself in the worst-case scenario of no longer being an employee of the company, DO NOT sign any severance or compensation packages offered. That is very important. You can leave the premises and then consult a lawyer. I wish you the best.

Thank you all for the advice. I live in a rural town of just over 10,000; we do not have local chapters of NAMI or anything else.

I went to the President yesterday after overhearing yet another conversation (these people think bipolar equates either deaf or STUPID) and demanded to know what is going on. I *think* he was mostly straight with me, but they are planning to terminate me in six weeks and I will get a termination payment based on my attendance the last eight weeks. Bottom line: I’m losing my job. I cannot promise them that I can change, because the absences have not been LIES, I have been legitimately ILL and I will be again and again. I asked if they would deny me my long-term disability if my dr. agrees I can no longer work and he would not answer. My own manager tried to sabotage me by encouraging me to take as much time off as I need (this was before I knew about the termination and the payment which will be based on my attendance [in part]). So, I will have a $1200 check and no regular income, possibly no disability payments, and no clue what I’m going to do. I am saving up a bottle of benzos as a last resort. I am lost and distraught and so very disillusioned.

Ask your lawyer if it would be beneficial for you to take medical leave soon. The sooner you follow up on this, the better.

Legally, I don’t think a company can terminate you when you are ill and on disability. Your lawyer’s advice on this may protect your disability payments and/or medical plan, and you. You may be in a better position financially. When you select a lawyer, do your research so you get one experienced in this area. Good luck

I found out I was bipolar in 2006. When I fist started taking my meds I had to take a few days off work to get myself use to the new changes. At the time I was embarassed to tell anyone, especially at work. When my boss asked why I had missed so many days I told her that I was taking meds that I needed to get use to (it is my understanding of the ADA that I don’t have to formally disclose any medical information). She asked no questions and time went on. In Novemeber of this year I lost my 15yo cousin to a drunk driver. I was really depressed but put it behind me. Then in December I stopped taking my meds and seeing my doc and therapist. I moved away from my support and stability and got my own place.I even ended a 5yr relationship. Everything went downhill from there. The depresson hit me hard. I was living in an empty apartment (i spent money but not sure on what) and missing lots of work. My new boss was concerned and she started asking questions. I never came out and told her of my bipolar disorder ( i was in denial that this was the cause of my downfall) but I did tell her that I was really depressed and was having a hard time and I really didn’t know what to do. She just told me to hang in there and things would get better. A couple days later she told me I was being written up for missing calls and I was on my last warning. Well a week later I was placed on suspension with pay. I finaly told her my situation and I thought things would get better. However they got worse. I was told to get a doc not abt my illness and submit it to HR. But when I got the letter HR told me it would not be needed. In the end, I got fired. Is there anything I can do abt this? How is this fair? I am back on my meds but don’t know how much longer bc I can’t afford them if I’m not working. What do I do? PLEASE ADVISE.

So glad to find your site. I was diagnosed BP in 2002 after the death of my daughter and a five year drug rampage which ended up with me being homeless. (Self medicating) This after a 22 year career in financial services. I have been on various med ‘cocktails’ since rehab and diagosis, have seen various therapists, and somehow managed to work for the last seven years at a small town newspaper. Tomorrow I have another ‘meeting’ w/the owners about my ‘issues’: I am perceived to be a whiner with a negative attitude. Now I realize I have been asking for accomodation of my disability and they’re just not listening. I keep saying I need to be moved out of the hall in the front of the office to a more quiet location so I can focus and concentrate, as my workload has steadily increased. But they don’t have the money, or they need me upfront; they are unwilling to change things so that I can keep my livlihood. I am in tears two or three times a week because I can’t seem to please them no matter how hard I work, or how many lunches I work through to make up for doctor’s appointments. So, I’m terrified of what will happen at tomorrow’s meeting: will I be fired? reprimanded yet again for having a bad attitude and mood swings? or totally lose my temper and quit without another job in the wings? You’re guess is as good as mine. But at least now I know that I’m not alone and I do have some rights. Wish me luck. Thanks for listening.

I work with a person whom I believe to be bipolar, possibly something else. She mentions “meds”, but I have never pursued this, as it really is not my business. She is a very bullying,abusive and manipulative person. She has stalked people both in and out of the office, eavesdrops and snoops. She causes a lot of disruption when she cannot quit talking, and her monologues are all negative gossip and vicious opinions about others. She purposely “bumps” into people in the hall and seems as if she might get physically abusive at times. She appears to be trying to get a medical disibility due to asthma caused by scents in our building. She has ordered people to not wear perfume or after shave, and has even complained that one woman’s shampoo or creme rinse was making her sick. Before she was (very recently) diagnosed with asthma, she did a lot of “tattling” trying to get people in trouble. Now they are all making her sick. How do coworkers who would like to come to work to work, get their jobs done when there is so much disruption? This a small company and the owners don’t know what to do about the problem. Is a group of people that basically gets along well required to be held hostage by this person? Thanks so much for any advice you might have.

I’m bipolar type II. I am an intelligent and creative young woman in a professional career. I have had the same career for more than 6 years (since I graduated from college) and moved once and have been in the same job for more than 5 years. I’m very good at what I do.

I never had problems at work until I disclosed to my supervisor that I was bipolar. 6 months later I suffered from a depressive episode and was triggered into a crying spell by an email I received from a colleague. My supervisor sent me home. He told me to take FMLA and when my doctor released me back to work – I was put on administrative leave and my supervisor says I’m “unfit” for my position.

I take my medications faithfully. While I was out on FMLA I had a major skin reaction to my Lamictal – I was taken off it by my doctor and he is tapering me back on to my original dosage very slowly. In addition, I have agreed to start taking lithium as a good faith effort to do whatever it takes to get better. The side effects from lithium (and depakote) have always caused me excessive weight gain that led to diabetes and liver problems.

I’ve had the unfortune of experiencing discrimination and really feel for others in my shoes. People don’t know a whole lot about what bipolar disorder is and the spectrum. One shoe does not fit all. There are bipolar individuals who are very responsible and dedicated to their work. Not all of us swing from the chandeliers … not all of us chase Captain Crunch down the cereal aisle… and not all of us think we are god.

I don’t know mania… I know hypomania and mixed episodes. I have tremendous sleeping problems. I want my job back!

When people get mad at Bipolar individuals for not taking their meds – please understand that the side effects of the meds can be horrible. These individuals need to go back to their psychiatrist and negotiate getting on medications they can tolerate and be responsible in participating with.