Started working for my ND after 3 yrs
Hi there thank you so much for taking the time to read my post
I'm a young disabled person I had been seeing a naturopathic doctor for a number of years (3.5) and during a tricky turnover situation where their receptionist was leaving a little bit earlier than the anticipated and they were having some family issues they pressured me to start working for them on a temporary basis I never signed a contract and have no benefits and the clinic is run out of a property that they own,
Essentially we agreed that my care at the clinic would be my benefits and the care has essentially disappeared. They also said that if my health were to deteriorate that we would look for a different way, and that I would be there for about a year before I started school. My health has now taken a severe nosedive to where I am being assessed for a power wheelchair (work isn't accessible) I've been in the hospital multiple times this year but she has always encouraged me or pressured me to come into work because I'm the only employee we have no one to cover me and many of the things that I do aren't things that she's used to doing.
My disability has become significantly worse since starting to work here because it was stated and implied that diet and exercise and supplements would cure or better my disorder now we know that it's a genetic issue but they do maintain that it will.get better with herbal treatments. Meanwhile I've been diagnosed with ehlers-danlos syndrome chronic fatigue syndrome/post covid pots dysautonomia fibromyalgia reactive arthritis, MCAS and just like an annoying cluster of diseases that make my daily functioning terrible
This year I've developed intracranial hypertension and now there's talks about doing some kind of surgery that would permanently alter my spine and the base of my skull I'm being encouraged by specialists not to work but this naturopathic practitioner doesn't necessarily believe in the assessment of the specialists my doctors are connected to and thinks EDS is just like asymptomatic hyper mobility, her philosophy is that everything's fine
Anyway now that my health is actually worse and I am requiring more care it seems like she's not willing to give it or even willing to give sick time or breaks and I know that pressure and criticism is a part of the work environment and we are alone together in an apartment that she owns I don't have any co-workers or HR or anybody to stick up for me and I know that the work environment will be hostile once I say that I no longer want to work there and I know that the transition period will be about 3 weeks minimum and I'm concerned how I will deal with that stress given that stress heightens my symptoms and I still have to take care of everything I'm the one who manages the whole clinic from inventory to billing to patient scheduling to records yeah I do it all.
I kind of can't imagine quitting on my doctor 4 years when we're alone together in her apartment it's just a lot of pressure and stress and I'm not sure what my rights are in this situation to leave even let alone to like document how I've gotten worse at work or get some kind of employment insurance from this I'm really lost and have no supports
Anyway I'm so sorry for going on thank you so much for reading this and taking the time and thank you for any help or tips that you can provide again I'm really sorry for making it so long
Posted Jun 3, 2025, 7:38 AM UTC