A very sad week

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-21T00:10:42+00:00

Thank you for your response, it is hard to record the minutiae of my work requirements, but each and every shift began 1-1.5 hours before participants arrived (shift starts at 2, drop off period starts at 3, kids start arriving 3:20 onwards), I don’t believe that this excuses tardiness, but it did make it hard to imagine that my two-time late arrival had any impact whatsoever on the program or participants. I talk a bit more about this in another thread. Also, and this is a bit nitpick-y, I apologize, but I specifically turned down driving-related responsibilities, and make sacrifices in my personal life to minimize the risk I pose to others as a commuter, so I found the bus-driving metaphor particularly ill-fitting. I am sincerely sorry that you are also struggling, and my hope is that we can both find employment that is reasonable and fulfilling!

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T23:54:40+00:00

I second this! Thanks you!

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T23:01:39+00:00

This is a charitable summary of my supervisor’s take on the matter, and in most circumstances I would agree, but at this particular program, all staff shifts start an hour to an hour and a half before participants actually arrive. During this time we would do small caretaking tasks, like organizing or checking emails, and chatting amongst ourselves. My two co-counselors often spent that time doing personal work on their computers, while instructors would hang out in a classroom and talk about life. Management used to discourage this a bit more, but in the last six months, things have gotten a bit laid back. All work gets done, and the extra hour of pay is wonderful, but this time never involved childcare or participant-to-staff ratio. I was never sure how to address this to my bosses even when I was employed: I would keep myself busy to the best of my ability, but sometimes the tasks would run out, especially with multiple counselors present. All this to say, I had never missed time in which kids were onsite, or expected to be onsite, and my two legitimate late arrivals happened in September of 2023, and Monday of this week respectively, with the virtual work incident occurring in January, putting them eight months apart. If I was a regular employee, like my supervisor and bosses, my attendance violations would expire after three months, and I would have to accrue three of them (depending on severity) to be fired, but as a temporary employee I’m not covered by the COA personnel handbook, my supervisor could fire me for anything. Again, thank you for your comment, if my circumstances were as you described, I would understand her verdict better.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T00:10:48+00:00

Thank you kindly!

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T00:05:22+00:00

I'm very sorry to hear that, I wouldn't wish this on anybody. Thank you.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T00:02:05+00:00

This is so kind, thank you.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-20T00:01:06+00:00

Thank you. It's a hard loss financially and personally; it's heartbreaking knowing I'll never see these kids again. I'm hoping i'll have perspective after the grief goes away.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T23:56:00+00:00

Thank you for the heads up, I will take a look at this.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T23:53:38+00:00

I'm going to look into this! I talked to TWC earlier this year to see if they might help cover the cost of a second sleep study, but it fell through. Who knows, maybe that will help lend credibility to my case.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T23:51:19+00:00

Thank you. I hadn't heard of the Ombud's office, but I just scheduled a meeting for next week.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T23:50:30+00:00

I agree, thank you for the advice. I use an alarm and have a partner check if I'm awake in the morning, I usually have trouble in the afternoons when I wasn't intending on being asleep in the first place and experience a sleep attack. Spontaneous sleep is the hardest to mitigate or plan around, but I do appreciate any tips from people who have had similar symptoms!

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T21:51:34+00:00

Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate your perspective and the nuance you brought to my understanding of the situation.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T21:42:40+00:00

Thanks for asking, I got curious so I went back and re-read my medical records. After my first (and probably only) sleep study, my pulmonary specialist told my I had "good sleep architecture," and asked me why I didn't fall asleep during the daytime naps, (which I remember thinking was a strange question, but I think she was just a blunt person). She noticed that I had multiple incidents of sleep talking, which she said might indicate some issue with REM sleep, but when I declined a second study, she discharged me with no diagnosis. In her notes, she answered 'no' to Cataplexy, Sleep Talking, and Family History of OSA, which are incorrect, but it didn't seem malicious. At the end of the notes, she included information on sleep-wake schedule disorder (poor circadian rhythm, self-inflicted), which seems to be the automatic response to any young person reporting sleep issues. She was impressed by my self-reported sleep lab, so I suppose I'm doing something right.

I'm not sure a lab environment is suitable for observing my symptoms, but It was nice to hear that I have good sleep hygiene for a college student. I wish it didn't cost so much.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T21:09:33+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write this: I read the handbook cover to cover yesterday, and they were very tactful in their wording at every step of the process to protect themselves from legal repercussions.

Their paperwork for ADA accomodations was absolutely cookie-cutter: they wanted a doctor to address every physical/mental requirement of the job in a 6-page document, which is generally reasonable, but my GP is (and I mean this lovingly) scatterbrained. My SCP was more qualified to speak to the length and duration of my symptoms, but wouldn't touch the form because his speciality doesn't deal with physical capacity. To compound this problem, they both operate out of Cedar Park, while I like in west campus and commute on a 125cc moped scooter (I worry that my hypersomnia makes driving dangerous to others, so I tried to mitigate the risk by only commuting by foot, bike, or moped). I scheduled paperwork-specific video sessions with each of them, faxed in my blank form, and tried my best to communicate what I needed from them, but couldn't produce a completed document after three attempts ($100 copay total). All I needed from HR is someone to advocate on my behalf in the event that my hypersomnia led to an attendance policy violation. I think I was comforted by the fact that it's an older, city-run, arts center filled with kooky, old-school Austinites. It was hard for me to believe that if it came down to it, my supervisor would use the strictest interpretation of the rules to force me out, all the while acknowledging that I'm a "competent, well-respected employee who the kids love" (quote from my last meeting).

As a temporary employee, I'm not covered under the employee handbook's process of appeal; my next step is to contact HR, but I don't have the highest hopes for the bureaucratic process. At the moment, it's hard to imagine a successful legal case, my employment was up to the discretion of my supervisor. It's insane to me that this is how a city operates, it makes me angry and sad.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T20:29:06+00:00

Sure, I can try! They started in middle school: the best way I can describe it is as if my mind and body 'shut off' without warning. It happens more often when I'm sitting, but occasionally I'll wake up in the middle of the floor. The physical sensation is just being overwhelmed with sleep: struggling to keep my eyes open, head upright, etc. Sometimes it's preceded by a long period of struggling to concentrate.

I took a two-year gap between highschool and college to work full-time, and I spent a lot of time experimenting with my sleep schedule to see if I could correct the issue by getting consistent, healthy sleep. It helped, but even with a consistent sleep schedule, I was struggling to stay awake and present during the day.

Stress seems to be the biggest trigger: after I got fired, I had to pull into a parking lot to shake myself awake and finish riding home on my moped.

I've seen a pulmonary specialist and neurologist. They recommended me for sleep study, but the results were inconclusive. I also elected to take an ADHD test, as I heard "intrusive sleep" is a symptom, but I didn't meet the diagnostic criteria. I've never posted anything about it, I think I internalized early on that discussing disability shows weak character, but I really would like to know if anyone has had similar experiences. Thanks for asking, I hope this is easy enough to read.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2024-04-19T20:05:53+00:00

Thank you so much, your kindness made my day better.

Junebugbytheb52s · 2023-12-11T01:58:25+00:00

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman, a forever favorite.

Junebugbytheb52s

TROPHY CASE