Meesh Holswich
Like Minds Administrator, Case Consulting, Wellington
I worked for a retail chain store, twice a week while studying at university. My mental health went downhill after a few events in my life and I checked myself in to a psychiatric ward. I was there for a week and a half. The psychiatrist gave me a letter stating that I had been in her care for that time, which I gave to my work supervisor to account for the weekend I had missed at work.
While in the ward, they changed my medication; I experienced nausea and fatigue and was having trouble getting up in the morning. I was late for work on my first day back after hospital. My supervisor scheduled a meeting with me, the manager and regional manager who happened to be in town.
They gave me a verbal warning for being late. I explained to them that I was on new medication and would appreciate being able to start a little bit later, while I adjusted. They asked why I had not told them about my medication in my resume and I explained that the medication I was on when I applied for the job did not affect my ability to do the job. They gave me two options, resign, or continue to be late and accrue verbal/written warnings until I was fired. They also pointed out that it is not good for your resume to be fired.
Feeling intimidated, I felt my only option was to resign.
