Medical Leave in PA

I have been having an issue at work for the past three months am going to try to give the short version if there is such a thing.

There has been some childish office hearsay going on and initiated by my immediate supervisor for the last few months - she has been pretty much intimidated by my since I started (not physically, but the amount of knowledge I have about our job). She cooks up a scheme that involved her immediate supervisor - in short telling the women that I had been saying negative things about her. Of course she believed her (they had a relationship prior to me starting) and it has been downhill ever since.

I mean just siily stuff - for example she likes to park in a certain space (no we don't have assigned parking) one day I parked there because there was no other spaces - she comes into the office in the middle of a meeting and tells me that I have to move my car.

My last performance was excellent I was able to get the highest raise since this foolishness began I have been getting all kinds of emails in reference to my work:rolleyes:

This office is usually ran by three people the week before last there was an event that everyone in the office was invited to except for me. I was left to run the office alone - I go home that night because at this point I am fed up with all of the nonsense look on Craigslist and I see my position posted. I automatically get sick to my stomach - head starts to ache.

That night I applied to several jobs and have had 3 interviews in the past week and a half. The only problem is that two of the interviewers were former employees of the company that I work for. So you know how that goes people talk - word gets back - work situation gets worst - much worst.

I go to my doctor explain to him that I have been having these bad headaches - eye twitching etc..he gives me a note for a week off. I call my employer let them know I wont be back - they email me at my home email address and request that I fax the note over (company policy states that upon my return I must present a note) anyway I send the note. They immediately call my doctors office and wanted to know what was wrong with me and stated that the note was too vague. My doctors office only verifed that the note was written by my doctor and stated that they would not release any other info. After the phone call was placed to my doctor's office, I was immediately contacted and alerted that my employer had called and was asked did I want them to release any info I stated that I didnot.

My employer continued to email me at home during my time off stating that my note was not acceptable. I was called by my employer and she was quoting some imaginary policy about doctors notes. I told her that the handbook stated that the note must be submitted upon return and it doesn't state that my doctor has to give specifics.

So here we go again she feels as though she can't win that argument so she starts on something else. I get yet another email stating that my work hours have now changed during the week I stay two hours later used to get off at
4pm I now work every weekend when I used to alt. Saturdays - they are opening the office on Sundays just for me. Problem is daycare closes at 6pm closed on Sundays - get the picture, they are trtying to force me out.
This schedule is to take effect immediately.

This whole situation has caused an extreme amount of stress and discomfort. I am to return to work Wednesday, the thought of it makes me physically and mentally uncomfortable. I feel very queezy, sometimes lightheaded, having headaches. Since I have been off I try to avoid that part of the city pretty hard because my grandmother lives around the corner and depends on me to help her. I literally would lose focus experience rapid breathing when I approached the area.

They even changed the locks and started interviewing people while I was out for the week. The corporate office is very careful about firing folks so they are just trying to force me out.

I don't know what I may do when I have to return to work, I only sleep about 2 or 3 hours per night and have gained about 50 lbs in the last 4 months.

Should I go see a psychologist or some sort of specialist and request to go on medical leave (12 weeks) so I can recoup and find a new job? Is this a hard thing to do? I have disabilty insurance independent of my employer (Allstate) would it be an issue if I put in a claim?

Any advice would be helpful

Thanks
 
I do not have answers for you, however, you need to validate everything that has and is taking place. Keep copies of all emails, record of phone calls, etc. You may need this validation later on.
 
Thanks so much for your response - I have been thinking the same thing.

Just an update:

Today I am on my way to work, felt very uneasy during the whole ride to work feeling very queasy and nervous.

I go to work and nobody is speaking to me, I think to myself this is not a good idea at all.

I go outside to take a walk my breathing becomes short and fast I am feeling caged in next thing I know EMTs are there and I am on my way to the ER.

They told me to go to my doc and get a Psych referral - I called my doc will see him in the am at 9:30 am.

I really hope he will give me the proper documentation called HR and will speak to them in the am to see what forms need to be completed.

Anyone go through this? Is it a difficult process?

This is really rough......
 
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