Difficulties Between Employers and Employees
It is illegal to discriminate against someone because of a medical condition, including OCD. For example, if you are otherwise qualified for the position, you cannot be denied employment simply because you have OCD. Although the law is quite clear on this, the actual experience of prospective and current employees with OCD can, unfortunately, be quite different. However unfair, there is actually quite a bit of incentive for employers to terminate or pass on hiring someone whom they know has a chronic illness, whether mental or physical. On average, such an employee’s health costs are higher, they may be absent more days, and they may even have to go on long-term disability leave—all of which can impact the employer’s bottom line. Although it is illegal to terminate someone on the basis of a medical condition, there are many ways that employers can do so indirectly. For example, the employer can give the employee progressively more undesirable tasks until the employee decides to leave. Even if someone believes that they have been denied employment or relieved of a given job on the basis of a medical condition, it is often very difficult to prove. That said, these types of situations reflect the worst-case scenario.
Should You Disclose?
Choosing to disclose your OCD to a potential or current employer can be terrifying. People in this position often:
Wonder if their potential or current employer will be supportive, reject them or even know or understand what OCD isFear being passed over, fired or forced out through attritionAre concerned what people around the office will thinkWorry that they’ll regret their decisionFear being blacklisted within the industry in which they workWorry they will not be trusted with important tasks or responsibilities
Considerations for Disclosure
It is important to know that if you are in this position, there is no right answer and that you need to weigh this decision for yourself.
There Is No Obligation to Disclose
There is no legal obligation for you to disclose your diagnosis either before or after being hired for a job. However, telling a potential or current employer about your diagnosis is the only way you are able to preserve your right to any accommodations you may need to get or maintain employment. Also, accessing certain benefits may only be possible through disclosure of your health status.
How Severe Are Your Symptoms?
If your symptoms are particularly severe, it may be exceedingly difficult to hide them at work. For example, if you are spending hours washing your hands, questions will eventually be raised. In cases such as these, disclosing your illness to your employer may be a part of a constructive and proactive way of dealing with symptoms that you experience at work. On the other hand, if your symptoms are mild, manageable and/or invisible (as is the case with obsessions), then there may be no need to disclose. It can be helpful to do a cost-benefit analysis of how stressful it will be hiding your symptoms versus telling your employer what is going on.
Potential or Current Employer Has a Track Record of Being Supportive
Different employers are going to vary in how supportive they are of employees with a chronic illness such as OCD. While some will do only what they are legally required to do, others will go the extra mile in arranging accommodations such as reduced workload or scheduling adjustments. It may be helpful to try to get a sense of what your employer’s track record is in this respect.
Potential or Current Employer Has Clear Workplace Equity Policies
A proactive employer will often have clear policies in place regarding equity in the workplace and how accommodations are to be handled. In the best case scenario, adherence to these policies is treated as a priority within the organization, that these policies are freely and publicly available, and that there is an expectation that all employees will follow the policy. Be sure to check the documentation available within your organization to see the kind of protection you have (human resources is a good place to start).
How Comfortable Are You With Having OCD?
You may simply not be comfortable disclosing that you have OCD, regardless of how supportive your employer might appear. Nagging fears of discrimination and stigma may make disclosure seem far too risky a proposition. On the other hand, you may be the type of person who is completely at ease with your illness. If you have generally shied away from telling others, especially people you are close to, this is probably a good clue that you are not comfortable enough (at least right now) to disclose that you have OCD to your employer.
How to Disclose
If you decide that the benefits outweigh the risks and that you are comfortable disclosing that you have OCD to a prospective or current employer, it will be up to you to make sure that your employer understands the nature and severity of your symptoms. This doesn’t mean that you need to tell your boss everything, just what she needs to know and what accommodations you might need. If your employer does not fully understand the challenges associated with OCD or doesn’t even know what it is, it may also be helpful to educate your employer about your illness. It may even be possible to enlist your healthcare provider to advocate for you. Finally, check and see if your employer has retained the services of an employee assistance program or EAP. This service may be able to assist in or facilitate the disclosure of your OCD to your employer.
