Ignored and Invisible in the Workplace

Our country comforts its people, saying that we live (more) inclusively and believe in diversity, but don't believe in the facade. While the situation has improved over several years, there are still areas for improvement.

Masking is a workplace survival tactic

Invisible disabilities, like epilepsy, are placed on the back burner with a few silent whispers, which barely results in any change. What makes matters worse is when you are trying to get accommodations for a job when the employer doesn't believe in the existence of the disability or lacks knowledge (even with a doctor's note).

Masking becomes a personality as we have to fit into a world that suits neurotypicals. Along with masking, another side effect is that we have to continuously prove to others about our disabilities, even while waving doctors’ notes in their faces.

Employers often dismiss seriousness of epilepsy

Anyone with a disability understands the difficulties of working while living with a chronic illness. Social anxiety makes it difficult to speak about your disability. What makes matters worse is having to explain the situation to your boss/supervisor or human resource manager, who you know does not think it is serious.

Several reasons, such as the lack of seriousness, are what make people not inform employers about their disabilities, especially invisible ones. Of course, as with everything else in life, especially with epilepsy, things can drop in a dime. One seizure is all it takes, the one that changes your life all over again.

Get ahead of the seizures

It's essential to disclose your disability before an employer decides to hire you to get you ahead of the seizure. You can give them a doctor's note, and they will still assume you're lying. Their responses are the true cause of anxiety, if anything else, because of the fear of losing the job, especially given the current state of the job market.

Besides the job market stress, we are forced to make other accommodations, yet the world can't understand us. Hierarchy and work politics have created great difficulty in surviving a day and can eventually lead to mental breakdown or periods of burnout.

Besides management, it's an essential move to inform a trusted co-worker about your epilepsy so they are aware if a seizure occurs, or to educate them on seizure first aid. You don't have to tell anyone, but the humiliation when a seizure happens in front of people is less shameful because you have someone else to advocate for you. Sometimes it is easy, and other times it can be complicated. These reasons are why it's essential to stand up and advocate for yourself.

How my employer failed me

While my experience isn't as horrific as others, their disappointment is the same. In truth, I would have loved the direct "you're fired" rather than feeling discouraged, trying to start a professional relationship, as they saw me as an odd creature.

It all began in April of 2025 after having 6 seizures in one day. I had a discussion with my human resources manager about switching from the night shift to the morning shift. As requested, I sent a doctor's notes and bus schedule so she could accommodate me accurately.

No day shift after 6 seizures

I was ignored until I messaged the store manager and requested a transfer. What surprised me is that she allowed someone to switch their days off 2 times in less than 6 months but neglected my request to keep my days off for convenience to see my neurologists and make other appointments. If this was not insane enough, I provided her with two doctors' notes, and yet my request was denied.

A few months later, I received a promotion, which seemed like fantastic news, but it came with a catch. Both my store manager and operations manager informed me I was working the night shift, which confused me. I assumed my doctors’ notes were on file. I had to ask what would happen if I had another seizure. The store manager responded, "We'll see," as the operations manager mocked me as if I set myself up for failure on purpose.

No accommodations meant more seizures

The words strung but made it worse. Not even 5 minutes later, they asked about my availability. Most people would have left, but I needed the job, so I didn't say anything. Unfortunately, what I knew would happen occurred. I had multiple seizures in a short period of time. I knew they never truly believed me because I was not informed of essential information and didn't even get my badge until I snatched it from the manager's desk.

In a professional matter, I emailed the managers to schedule a meeting about reducing my hours to take another day to recoup. Before I could speak, the store manager assumed the meeting had something to do with my seizures while the operations manager accused me of not being able to handle the job.

Finally, I quit

When asked if I could reduce my hours to re-coup another day, they informed me that the job is full-time with flexible hours. With these words, I asked the store manager, "Would I lose my job if I officially report my seizures as a reason I want fewer hours?"

He said, "Yes."

Right there, I informed them that my last day will be the end of January. As soon as I put my two weeks in, I took a breath of fresh air and chuckled for the first time in a long time. You would think it would be over, but I wish it was.

When I came back to work on Friday after being off for two days, people kept asking if I chose to step down. In response, I clarified that I put my two weeks in. The next day, the schedule came out, in which I did get an earlier shift. I was like, "Great, I get this after I informed them of my two weeks."

My health comes first

Their hopes were that I would not follow through with my words, which helped me realize the schedule change wasn’t made out of consideration, but as manipulation—a way of putting the blame on someone. This was confirmed when a co-worker who had my shift accused me of lying about my leaving at the end of the month.

I replied that I was telling the truth, and that I wasn’t sure why the human resource manager put me on the schedule. In truth, I'm glad I had the opportunity to leave, which is crazy to say, especially with the job market how is. In the words of my mother, "Health is wealth."

We won't be inclusive until everyone is included

Until there is an honest discussion about disabilities (invisible or not) in a work setting, we will be the last to experience a genuine, inclusive, safe workspace.