My job for example requires that I have an excellent driving record. I work for an auto dealership and am frequently driving company and customer vehicles. It may be for very short distances (50 feet or less) or for 30 miles, so for insurance purposes I have to maintain a stellar driving record. I disclosed my medical history to a previous auto dealership I worked for and they were actually the most understanding out of everyone. Tho' at the time I had been seizure free after surgery and was also unmedicated. They actually respected me for what I had been through and didn't have a problem with my memory issues. The job was pretty set in a daily routine which I think really helped to minimize with any memory issues.

I have to add that I very very rarely have a seizure now and when I do they are confined to simple partials (auras) unless I am at a concert or am around loud music with particular notes. Then they are complex partials at most. I am medicated for both the seizures and migraines so I don't really feel its necessary to tell them about the seizures because they aren't really the issue, the memory is. I'm of no harm to anyone else or myself and try to control my environment pretty strictly (the music, lights).

Most employers aren't brave enough to outright fire someone for seizures or memory issues, they will however make conditions undesirable enough to "weed you out" and make you leave on your own. I know those tactics, I've been in management. They work quite well. Illegal but successful. Hard to prove in court however. Regardless, who has the time or the money to pursue it let alone the energy?

Someone on another site once mentioned saying you have a "seizure disorder". I tried this once & though my boss had a 'oh no' look on her face, I wasn't fired or given the worst job/duties. What do you think of saying you have a "seizure disorder"? To the boss, it 'sounds better than "epilepsy" '.

I never have told an employer. In fact I rarely tell anyone. Most people dont understand epilepsy. I have found in the past that people think about you differently. They think you are not capable of taking responsibility. So I never tell anyone. And I dont apply for jobs where I could cause injury. No driving jobs or anything like that. But it is hard to function sometimes.

Again, my concern isn't the seizures (which are practically non existant now that I'm on meds). It's the memory issues. If I were to mention seizure anything in my job I'd be in trouble (again, I drive for my job). Brain surgery tends to give people a bad feeling in general even though things are much better now (I think I'm doing great, it's actually been a pretty positive experience all in all). Most people tend to think that you're inadequate after you tell them you've had brain surgery, as if you're not all mentally there... know what I mean? Damaged goods so to speak. Literally, I'm not all there anymore ;) but hey, I make the best of what I've still got, which compared to a lot of people who've never been through the surgery is pretty darned good. I just don't remember things all that well. Sometimes better than others. But then everyone has days like that now don't they?

This is a bit off-topic but the words: " Most people tend to think that you're inadequate after you tell them you've had brain surgery, as if you're not all mentally there... know what I mean? Damaged goods so to speak. " .....
WOW...... I thought I was considered and looked at as "defective" and inferior because I had epilepsy THEN I brain surgery. LOL LOL LOL.
Best illustration is my husband's brother (a college grad :p of course) phoned the house soon after my surgery and I answered with, "Hello". The poor, astonished man man yelped, "NANCY?!?! YOU can use the telpehone?!!??"

I know exactly what you're going through! I used to work for "Country Wide Home Loans." When my seizures started up in the middle of working for them, they just decided to lay me off. But as for telling an employer in an interview, that can go 2 ways. #1, don't tell them, and when they see your seizures while you're working. Then they don't have the right to fire you. You can take them to court. But that's to get your job back and all the pay checks you have missed since they fired or laid you off.
#2, Tell them about them during the interview. Then if they accept you, you can see they are a pretty decent company in accepting problems.

Sincerely
shawn33

Peppermint, Since you are laughing you are apparently taking it 'lightly' (good that you can). Therefore I was thinking of something else...maybe someone has surgery because of a tumor. Therefore they accually had something extra. The patient was simply brought down to most peoples' level. :rolleyes:

Honestly, I think companies can get around this legally. My husband is a contract worker and he has missed a few days due to seizures. His reporting Manager knows about his Epilepsy.

Last week he pulled David aside and told him he wasn't working to his full potential and didn't feel David listened to directions. Give me a break - he's been doing financial reporting for about 5 years! He knows what he's doing (just a little slower these days due to meds) but he definitely know what he's doing.

So as a contract employee, I think they could easily let David go and tell them it was a business decision or that the position was phased out.

Yes Jerri, They know they can't get rid of you legally. So they 'find' some other way to legally get rid of you.

It's so very true, they will just come up with some other reason to let you go. Ultimately it will have something to do with e or some effec that it has on your performance. I actually just did tell my supervisor about my surgery and my e (although I told her I don't really have seizures anymore except with certain types of music- which is true now that I'm medicated again and post surgery). So far so good (I told her about a week before Christmas). I wonder if I did the right thing or not, but I do consider her a friend of mine (although I also considered my last supervisor at my last job a friend too and what a mistake that turned out to be). I must admit that I do feel more vulnerable now. I wonder if it was a mistake to open my mouth or not. Guess only time will tell.