this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2024
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I once had my employer perform a wellness check when I was having a mental health episode.
I was working remotely, but my mental health was in the toilet. I had a candid conversation with my supervisor where I told him I needed some time off because I had been feeling suicidal. He was an absolute bro, told me I was doing a good job, and that I earned some time off. He agreed that our conditions and the demands from management were absurd. He tells me to just take some time, and he'll clear the way with HR.
Well, I'm logging off my computer when I get a call from his boss. He's asking why I'm suddenly taking some time off. I tell him that I haven't been feeling well, but he keeps badgering me for a specific reason. I tell him that I'm very vulnerable and don't want to disclose a reason. That's between me and my doctor.
Well he keeps pressing and he tells me that, "sharing our vulnerabilities is what fosters trust." So I'm like fine, you really want to know, this job and your management style are making me suicidal.
Tone immediately shifts. He's going into full damage control cover-your-ass mode. He tells me that I should consider a different career if I'm not up to the task. I'm already having like the worst day of my life (so far) and I start to have a panic attack.
I tell him you know what, it's not his business and I'm going to call my doctor. Before I can get on the phone with my doctor, HR is calling me. They tell me they have to get hold of my emergency contact to make sure I'm not currently killing myself. I tell them my emergency contact is out of town (unrelated), so they say they have to call the police. I ask her not to, there's no risk to myself and things have been taken out of context. HR insists that it's company policy.
So while I'm hyperventilating because my boss pressed me for more details than I was comfortable sharing about my health, they sent a man with a gun to my house to check on me.
I understand that the company is protecting its liability or whatever. But I really felt that my rights had been violated somehow. The police are not suitable to intervene in a mental health episode. I had a new fear that I wouldn't be able to calm down when the police arrived and I'd end up shot or something.
TLDR - I know this post is fake, but companies really do feel like they own their employees. A wellness check from your employer is absolutely bullshit, but that won't stop them from trying.
Pretty sure you have clear grounds for a lawsuit on that one. I feel like you'd easily win compensation. (This is my guess. Obviously consult a lawyer ha)
For future reference though, just keep things high level and say it's a mental health concern. Or even just a general health issue. NEVER disclose that much information to an employer again.
But yeah, you should totally file a lawsuit.
As someone who was very mentally fragile years ago, it's very easy to say "just don't engage, hang up the phone". But, when someone is verbally beating you down, it can slip your mind under the pressure.
OP said they were keeping it high-level but their over-boss kept pressing for specifics. I don't think they need a reference guide in this instance.
Yeah, not to mention the anxiety of "If I don't satisfy them with some answer now, they're gonna drag me into a 'little talk for a moment' later that'll feel like an interrogation."
I think we really need workshops on training and resilience on how to talk to bosses and not break under pressure.
Lord knows these sociopaths have plenty of "management training" on how to coerce, intimidate, and interrogate employees!
That's why you practice this stuff. It's the only way to make sure you won't slip under pressure.
It's what I had to do - just make it a natural response. "I'm not well, I won't be in". Just keep repeating it, regardless of how many times you're asked why.
Yea for sure. That's why I'm saying he/she should file a lawsuit. That's completely inappropriate