Equal work, sure...
May. 1st, 2009 12:56 pm![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dechantThe story, my ducks, of why I didn't go back to S Company after my leave of absence expired:
It wasn't a matter of couldn't or wouldn't, not precisely. I could have gone back, I suppose, under the same circumstances as when I left. Of course, by not correcting for what landed me home in the first place, I'd be setting myself up for the same disaster. I would have gone back had the company bothered to comply with my doctor's request and set me up, no questions asked, in a work-from-home position, same hours, same pay, same benefits. Since the company claimed to the last that no such beast existed, what was the point?
Because no, I'm sorry, it's stupid to come back off disability knowing your work was causing the problem and agree to relinquish benefits. "Equal work" ought to mean work a person can do, for the same pay, for the same benefits. Not being shunted to half-time and told I've got to give up medical coverage or pretty much pay all of my new wages for the privilege.
All this because we're an outsourcer, and the client either never heard what was going on or disapproved on the spot. Had our client given the go-ahead, I might have been able to do my old job from the comfort of this computer here, instead of struggling with an unhealthy workplace. That was pretty much what I needed. That was all I needed from them. That was still too much of a concession.
I told my Human Resources representative that I was out of options on April 9. She terminated me. Later, I would get a letter from MetLife (who had paid temporary disability) regarding any payment of benefits past March 30 -- not possible, which I had known, but this because I had theoretically resigned on April 1. I was still waiting to hear from the company on April 1. I can only presume the termination was backdated nine days and labeled as resignation.
All this and the company claims it has followed the Americans With Disabilities Act. Very well. It may have done, to the letter, but the spirit of the law is altogether different. Perhaps the wording of the law should change to reflect certain corporate realities -- such as the one where they won't do a thing for you that might put them out the slightest bit.
[note: Written for Blogging Against Disablism Day '09.]
It wasn't a matter of couldn't or wouldn't, not precisely. I could have gone back, I suppose, under the same circumstances as when I left. Of course, by not correcting for what landed me home in the first place, I'd be setting myself up for the same disaster. I would have gone back had the company bothered to comply with my doctor's request and set me up, no questions asked, in a work-from-home position, same hours, same pay, same benefits. Since the company claimed to the last that no such beast existed, what was the point?
Because no, I'm sorry, it's stupid to come back off disability knowing your work was causing the problem and agree to relinquish benefits. "Equal work" ought to mean work a person can do, for the same pay, for the same benefits. Not being shunted to half-time and told I've got to give up medical coverage or pretty much pay all of my new wages for the privilege.
All this because we're an outsourcer, and the client either never heard what was going on or disapproved on the spot. Had our client given the go-ahead, I might have been able to do my old job from the comfort of this computer here, instead of struggling with an unhealthy workplace. That was pretty much what I needed. That was all I needed from them. That was still too much of a concession.
I told my Human Resources representative that I was out of options on April 9. She terminated me. Later, I would get a letter from MetLife (who had paid temporary disability) regarding any payment of benefits past March 30 -- not possible, which I had known, but this because I had theoretically resigned on April 1. I was still waiting to hear from the company on April 1. I can only presume the termination was backdated nine days and labeled as resignation.
All this and the company claims it has followed the Americans With Disabilities Act. Very well. It may have done, to the letter, but the spirit of the law is altogether different. Perhaps the wording of the law should change to reflect certain corporate realities -- such as the one where they won't do a thing for you that might put them out the slightest bit.
[note: Written for Blogging Against Disablism Day '09.]
Jesus.
He's writing letters to as many people as he thinks can help.
I don't know what to say about your situation, save that is awful.