[Jackie07]

Thought I'd share my story...

I had been 'fired' from numerous jobs since my first brain tumor surgery. The law states that a person's position is protected for up to a year after the onset of a illness. I was always dismissed a little over a year after rturning to my job following a major surgery.

The neurologist explained to us after my first job loss that my 'movement and reaction time' was slower than I perceived myself - typical for patients who are recovering from a head injury. In other words, I did not know that I was slow and forgetful. How can one remember what he/she had forgotten? The neurologist stated after examing me: "She could have stayed on her job if she had a more compassionate boss..."

I was warned (by my boss) that I shouldn't 'burn the bridges'. But my Father-in-law had threatened to 'disown' me if I resign (due to the concern of the unemployment benefit - he had been told by his local unemployment agency: "Tell your daughter-in-law not to resign." So I bit my tongue and received the 'registered' letter a couple of days later. It was more depressing than my brain tumor diagnosis!

But three months later, by divine intervention, I was offered a job at the local Chinese New Year Dinner Party (which I had grudgingly organized after being pressed by the former President of the Club) And even though I'd had more cancers/surgeries and more job losses, I worked (including doing job search while on unemployment) 18 years continuously after that crushing experience of job loss.

Our employers are supposed to 'accomodate' our disability - especially when the situation is so 'temporary'. The head of Personnel of the City (I had been the reference librarian of the City Library for almost 5 years) even came to the restaurant with her staff. Most people agreed that my dismissal was not justified, that my ex-boss did not treat me fairly. Less than two years later, that library director who had 'fired' me was forced to resign due to some inappropriate relationship/poor judgement.

"Living well is the best revenge." I'm not a vengeful person, but I do feel that many employers don't regard us as 'human beings' when we continue to be loyal to them. My ex-boss was not a bad person. She felt she was doing her job - and I was doing my job to protect myself and my family.

ps. By the way, I was the sole breadwinner back then because my husband was going back to school to get his degree. We continued the insurance coverage through COBRA for 18 months before switching to the plan offered by my husband's new employer.