- Jurisdiction
- New York
So some background. I was diagnosed with depression when I was 15 and I have been on and off meds since then. 12 years. I am 27. I have lost 1 job and left 2 due to depression. The job I lost, I was fired due to absenteeism.I had bad post partum after I stopped breastfeeding and my doctor put me on Zoloft and it made me have panic attacks and delusions. I would cry on the kitchen floor because I had to leave for work and would end up calling in sick.
It took me a year and a half to find a new full time job. I live with my mom, dad, 6 neices and nephews, my sister, her boyfriend and my son. Its only a 3 bedroom house. Its tight. and stressful. I like my job. I dont want to lose it. however. My depression and anxiety have been bad. I have been nodding off at work and having anxiety while I work. I have been reprimanded 2 times and asked to leave because I was "unfit for duty"
Thing is, I only felt sleepy because of my anxiety medication.
I work in healthcare in an Urgent care. I came into work on a thursday, having a panic attack. I was seen by the provider (my coworker) and she gave my hydroxyzine 50 which made me drowsy. I usually take hydroxyzine 25, but i was out and had to wait for a refill. the next thursday I work, I took the meds 2 hours into my 12 hour shift because my supervisor brought me in her office to ask about my mental health. So I got anxious again after having to talk about my situation. I took the 50mg pill and a few hours later I was nodding off again. They asked me to leave because I was "unfit for duty"
My question. The employer was made aware of my condition, was made aware my meds me tired.
Can I be fired for sleeping on the job when my employer gave me the medication that made me sleepy?
It took me a year and a half to find a new full time job. I live with my mom, dad, 6 neices and nephews, my sister, her boyfriend and my son. Its only a 3 bedroom house. Its tight. and stressful. I like my job. I dont want to lose it. however. My depression and anxiety have been bad. I have been nodding off at work and having anxiety while I work. I have been reprimanded 2 times and asked to leave because I was "unfit for duty"
Thing is, I only felt sleepy because of my anxiety medication.
I work in healthcare in an Urgent care. I came into work on a thursday, having a panic attack. I was seen by the provider (my coworker) and she gave my hydroxyzine 50 which made me drowsy. I usually take hydroxyzine 25, but i was out and had to wait for a refill. the next thursday I work, I took the meds 2 hours into my 12 hour shift because my supervisor brought me in her office to ask about my mental health. So I got anxious again after having to talk about my situation. I took the 50mg pill and a few hours later I was nodding off again. They asked me to leave because I was "unfit for duty"
My question. The employer was made aware of my condition, was made aware my meds me tired.
Can I be fired for sleeping on the job when my employer gave me the medication that made me sleepy?