Could I lose my job if I end up in the psych ward? (US)

[Chr0nicAnhedonic]

I'm probably going to do it here pretty soon, but I want to plan for if I fail. I'm not going to be able to keep my attempt to myself, and when I open up it's off to the psych ward I go. The last time I had to go was when I was in high school, and I had to change schools afterwards because of it.

If I do end up getting institutionalized, how likely is it that I'll lose my job over it? It's the only stable thing in my life right now, and if I lose it I am truly fucked. I won't be able to get a better job than the one I have now, if I can actually get one at all. I know that it's technically illegal for employers to discriminate against those with mental illnesses/disabilities, but we all know that employers can easily skirt around that.

 

[Shadows From Hell]

Probably depends on time lost from work, or whether or not your workplace could deem you an insurance asset because it is considered a hazardous place for you(machines, knives, chemicals, etc). Different jobs have different protocols.

 

[Mukuro Ikusaba]

I'm probably going to do it here pretty soon, but I want to plan for if I fail. I'm not going to be able to keep my attempt to myself, and when I open up it's off to the psych ward I go. The last time I had to go was when I was in high school, and I had to change schools afterwards because of it.

If I do end up getting institutionalized, how likely is it that I'll lose my job over it? It's the only stable thing in my life right now, and if I lose it I am truly fucked. I won't be able to get a better job than the one I have now, if I can actually get one at all. I know that it's technically illegal for employers to discriminate against those with mental illnesses/disabilities, but we all know that employers can easily skirt around that.

I'm a NEET...but I have the same concerns... I fear for my fate if I fail...

 

[trapdoor]

It depends on the job, but honestly it would be very shitty of ur employer to fire you for that reason. In the US (in my experience), involuntary psych stays are 7-10 days, which is not a reason to be fired at all. I kept my job even after going to rehab for 30 days. So I guess it depends on the job but I doubt you would lose it for a psych ward stay.

 

[futurecorpse]

I recently got out of the psych ward and lost my job because of abandonment. I didn't keep in contact with my former boss nor did I really think to do so while having a crisis mindset. Although I had access to the phones on the wall, I didn't really want to talk to the person that influenced my suicide attempt. I didn't think he would text me or email me, but he did and of course I wasn't able to answer. I also didn't think of having someone in my family tell him that I don't have access to my phone and won't be able to communicate until I get out. He doesn't know I was in the psych ward, but even though I told him that I can give him more details, he wasn't willing to hear me out and reconsider his decision. If your employer or HR department is supportive, you can let them know that you're going to be away from work for some time and won't have access to your phone. Check out your company's FMLA policy (if applicable). Tell someone you can rely on to keep your employer informed on what's going on and when you'll be back. You can decide how much you want to share with your employer. I wish you luck and peace x

 

[maniac116]

In the USA you are protected by the ADA. So the short answer in no, you can't be fired for receiving mental (or physical) health treatment.

 

[parasite_eve]

There may be legal protections like ADA but all employees are at will if not in a union and an employer can easily skirt laws by making up another reason. I managed to keep job after my attempt and being locked up in an insane asylum, but was fired years later for citing a hostile work environment and asking for disability accessibility, with no recourse because they made up a different reason.

I'm sorry you're experiencing this and wish we could remake the world such that no boss has this much power over our lives.

Peace, love, and solidarity <3