Tag: Bipolar Disorder

5 Tips for Accommodating Depression, PTSD, and Other Mental Illnesses

An estimated 16.1 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2015, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). That number represents 6.7 percent of all American adults who are 18 or older. Seven or eight out of every 100 people will have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) […]

Mariah Carey Won’t Let Bipolar Diagnosis “Define” or “Control” Her

Mariah Carey, known as an iconic singer-songwriter and a dramatic diva, disclosed to People magazine last week that she has bipolar disorder.  Although she was first diagnosed in 2001, Carey says she finally sought treatment recently after “the hardest couple of years [she’s] been through.” (Among her recent personal and professional issues, you may recall […]

stress

Dealing with the unseen: Tips for traversing legal terrain of hidden disabilities

Work can be stressful for anyone, and employers are wise to ease the burdens when possible in the interest of maintaining productivity and the general well-being of the workforce. But disabilities can complicate the issue, especially when the disability isn’t obvious.  Human resources professionals may be well aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), […]

EEOC provides guidance on mental health conditions in the workplace

by Howard Fetner The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued a resource document explaining the rights of job applicants and employees with mental health conditions. The document explains that applicants and employees with mental health issues are protected from discrimination and harassment based on their conditions, may be entitled to reasonable accommodations, and have […]

leadership

ADA interactive process: When does your obligation to engage begin?

by Susan Hartmus Hiser Q We have an employee whose work performance has been slipping lately. We have reason to believe that she is suffering from depression because she was diagnosed as bipolar and had a bout of depression a few years ago that led to a similar decline in her work performance. We allowed […]

Understanding strengths, weaknesses of bipolar employees

Disabilities of all types pose challenges for employers and employees alike. As employers struggle to find ways to help employees with disabilities do their jobs, they also must fulfill obligations created by laws designed to prevent discrimination and violate privacy. Like other disabilities, bipolar disorder presents its own unique challenges—concerns that will be explored in […]

Keep Your Job Descriptions FEHA-Compliant!

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) expands upon federal prohibitions against discrimination. As it applies to employers with five or more workers, your organization most likely needs to comply—and your job descriptions need to be crafted carefully to stay on the right side of the law. Here’s some help from attorney Marc L. Jacuzzi.