Know Your Rights at Work with MDD

You don’t have to tell your employer about your health, but it can be helpful. If you’re often late because you can’t sleep, for example, you can explain that you have been diagnosed with anxiety and it is keeping you awake some nights. That may make your boss more understanding. If you don’t want to talk to your supervisor, it may be easier to talk with someone in human resources.

You may want to request an accommodation, which is a reasonable change to your work environment or work process that would make it easier to do your job. That might be something like a quiet space, more flexible hours, or more short breaks throughout the day.

It’s better to ask for a change at work before you have any problems with your job performance. You can go to your supervisor or the HR department and tell them that you’d like a change because of a medical condition. You’ll have to disclose your MDD if you haven’t already, and they may ask you to put your request in writing.

Once you’ve asked your employer for an accommodation, you may have to sit down with them to see if what you requested is reasonable. You may have to discuss other options and be willing to compromise. You should come out of the talks with a plan that is fair to both you and your supervisor.

Your employer is not allowed to discriminate against you for having a mental health issue. That means they can’t fire you, pass you over for a promotion, or force you to take time off. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects you as long as you are still able to do all the functions of your job and as long as you don’t pose a threat to anyone’s safety.

The ADA doesn’t apply for companies with fewer than 15 employees. If you work for a small business, they don’t have to provide accommodations. But that doesn’t mean your employer won’t try to work with you. If you know you need some change in your schedule or environment in order to do your job, talk to your supervisor to see if they would consider it.

Your employer may offer an employee assistance program. These are free and offer confidential resources to help with personal issues that might affect how you work. This could include referral to counseling or in-house programs. It could address issues like job-related stress, family problems, or friction with co-workers or managers. Ask your HR team what’s available.

If you can’t do your job well because of MDD, you may be eligible for unpaid time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This applies if you work for a public agency or for a private business that has at least 50 employees. You may be able to take up to 12 weeks off work with your job protected when you come back.

Sometimes accommodations and time off aren’t enough to help you do your job. If you aren’t able to do the work that your job requires, you can ask your employer if you can be moved to a different role. There must be an open position and you must be qualified for the new job in order to request the reassignment.