Would you tell your employer you have add | ADHD Information

 I am newly diagnosed with add.  I stumbled into all this by accident, but now that I know, it explains a few things.  I'm a registered nurse.  My job requires a great deal of precision, concentration and good time management skills.  I work in a busy intensive care unit.  No stress there huh?  Anyway, I am often behind in my charting and tend to be the last one done.  None of my co-workers know I have add and I get criticised a lot about my time management.  I'm afraid to tell anyone because I don't want them thinking I'm not capable.  I've been doing this since 1999.  But I'm coming to a point where I just want to scream "GET OFF MY BACK ALREADY".  I'm doing the best I can and if you really knew how hard I'm working...

How have people responded when you tell them you are adhd/add?  Has it been beneficial or should I just keep it to myself and press on?

I recommend keeping it to yourself, unless you are very comfortable and trusting of your boss, and unless its to the point of your job being on the line. 

If the average person heard you were ADHD they would immediatly think disability. Then you have to defend ADHD and your charts still aren't getting done. Even if they simpathize, your charts still aren't getting done.

Ultimately your boss can't make allowances for you unless you are labelled disabled, and then your going to have a whole new set of problems once your labelled disabled.

Bottom line, unless you can see a very clear positive reason to tell, keep it to yourself and spend some time learning how to componsate for ADHD to get the charts done.

hi addjorn

i admire you in what you ppl do in your job (nusreing) if i was in your shoes i would tell my co-workers about my add.

i bet your ontop of all the other dutys that come with your job and i bet you do them well just because you are late to work and always last to get your charting wrote up i undstand it doesnt look good to an employer but you might be suprised to see more understanding from them if they knew why you are like you are

i really cant hide my adhd im not dx yet so no meds im very hyper talk ten to the dozen cant stand still people usuly ask if im on drugs lol but unlike you i dont work and everyone who knows me knows im adhd and treat me no differant than others

I agree.  I'm in the medical field and don't tell people about the condition.

 

Why? 1)There's still alot of stigma and misperceptions around ADD.  I'm not ashamed of it, but at the same time, I can't control other peoples' biases.  2) I don't necessarily want my actions viewed in the framework of ADD.  The last thing I want people to say is "Oh, he just has ADD.  He's just that way."  Or "There he goes again...he has ADD you know."  3)  I never never want to use ADD as an excuse for my behavior.  Yes, I have it, but I'm still responsible for what I do and say, and I'm still responsible for doing the best work I possibly can.  If I told my employer, part of the feeling in it would be to excuse some of my behavior...I just know that about myself.

So, for the above reasons, I've chosen not to tell anyone at work.  You may be different, and may get a great deal of benefit from telling someone.  I would just advise you to be very very careful about who you tell, and how the conversation is framed.  I don't have a victim mentality, but sometimes I feel like we're similar to gay people 20 or 30 years ago.  We accept our condition and take responsibility for it, but, for good reasons, stay "closeted" so to speak.

 

Best of luck....

 

[QUOTE=addjorn]I'm afraid to tell anyone because I don't want them thinking I'm not capable.[/QUOTE]Good point. Have you considered trying medication?
  "Closet ADHD" I like that. There has to be some jokes in there somewhere.ya this is a tough one. i always thought of the ADD as being both beneficial and a handfull in the workplace. i'm a lifeguard and swimming instructor, and concentration is almost a definite requirement but so is silliness. This lead me for quite some time to keep secret my insecurities and qwirks in the workplace. However, i've found that sharing my story with 'some' of my co-workers and most recently my employer to be mostly beneficial. I do worry a lot about my abilities, and the 'what if's', but i am capable, and i have proven this over many years. I have also found that most people are very supportive and want to know more. I try not to portray it as a weakness and so mostly i get very thoughtful reactions. I could see this to be more difficult in a new workplace or in more competitive professional atmospheres. 

On a side note i read that the Canadian government has very little-to-no protection for people with mental illness/disorders in the workplae. Apparantly the United States is leaps and bounds ahead of us on this one. Um, ya, slightly worrisome, but hopefully this will change. Its bad enough that we we're worriers already...but troopers too

good luck addjorn

Addjorn-

It sounds like you've figured out how to manage your ADD well enough to do your job well.  Of course your coworkers see you as "different" and some of them will try to make you feel bad because of it.  I struggle with the same thing, but the truth is that we ARE different.  We have ADD.  Its just a fact.  It's always a struggle to be able to say "If they get me, fine.  If not, its THEIR problem."  The truth is that because of ADD, we just have to work harder in some ways than people without it, can perform our jobs better, and still be viewed as sloppy, lazy, or incompetent by some.  Frustrating as hell, I know, but try to stay positive and try to just ignore or avoid the haters!

Addjorn,

This! "to tell or not to tell" consern is a real practical stickler. Since this adhd profile seems to be responsibility of Psychiatry/Medical there may be questions as to your self management abilities. Put it another way! Could it be seen as reasonable to conclude that; "ADHD is known to have deficits in impulse, Attention/Focus management. Exaggerated Sensitivity to Criticism often results in Extreme Reaction from an individual with ADHD.

Is it part of your Employment Contract that you must reveal that you have an ADHD Profile or is the onus on Employer to discover by asking appropriate questions.

 A profile of ADHD could in certain circumstances label a Person, "Irresponsible"

This very convenient label is justifiably applicable to cover for actions against ADHDers in Suitability for Employment Disputes.

Hope this assists in your decision as to "Tell or Not to Tell"  

Your point about bias is true.  I do feel that it is misunderstood and people might view it as a cop out.  I worked hard to get to where I am and I’ve always gotten good reviews from my boss.  On the other hand my co-workers sometimes poke fun at my lack of expedience in certain areas because I tend to double check things frequently (especially medications).  They may view there jokes as lighthearted, but for me they stings.  I believe you are right about not telling my employer.  I don’t want to be defined by my ADD.  I am a very capable professional with excellent critical thinking skills.  I am always on time getting to work and there are no complaints about the quality of my work.  It just takes me a little longer to complete it.