So I was working at Menards for about a month. Came in one day late, 8 minutes to be exact. I refused to sign the write up, I explained to them about what I have and the hr counsular would work with me about it. Yesterday I come into work with a note from my psychatrist giving them the dx of serious clinical depression and adult attention deficit disorder with the medications I was taking. 2mg of Klonopin, 80 mg of strattera, 10 mg of lexapro. They wanted me to guarentee that I was not going to be late again and I couldn't bring in a doctors note each time I was late. This was only one time. I asked for an ada accomidation of being able to be 10 minutes late or a different schedule. If I went on afternoons my hours would've probably been cut in half. They told me if they didn't agree with their policy it was deal with it or there was the door. I went back to work, about 10 minutes later I went up to the hr rep quit...Did I do the right thing here? I tried to work it out with three of the supervisors over me.

I hate to say this, because I do sympathize with your position, but the fact that you have ADD and depression doesn't exempt you from the responsibility of showing up at work on time.

They SHOULD treat you with understanding and compassion, but they aren't required to just let you be randomly late without consequences. It's all academic now as you've quit the job... but for your next job, I suggest you find a way to make sure you are on time, at least on the majority of days...

I know it's not easy, but it is possible. I'm sure others here would be able to offer suggestions as to what works for them to help them be on time.

I was only late one time, thats the thing. They wanted me to guarentee that I wouldn't be late again, that was like looking into the future. I mean I can't do that. It's not like I did it on purpose. The medication the doctor has me on sedates me, that Klonopin stuff? That's the reason I was late, and alls I did was tell them that....they didn't even know what the ADA was nor did they have a policy on it. The HR guy wouldn't even let me talk to the home office hr department. I do understand what you are trying to say wayward. Maybe a different shift would've worked, but with being in college full time and wanting to work full time, that job was only part time, I wanted to work more hours because of having so much energy. My dad came down on me because of quitting...But the way they said it, your a good employee and we'd just hate to lose you....see what I mean?

I had the same problem. I was late all the time. My company is huge so they are aware of the ADA guidelines. I use to run 45 minutes to an hour late everyday and the reason is because I was on Trazadone and had so much trouble getting up in the morning. While on the Trazadone, I ended up befriending a new contract employee and she gave me wakeup calls.......but with her, I would still roll over and go back to sleep.I then found a friend that I work with that moved in across the street with her and she started calling me and waking me up and it worked because I rode in with her and she had a differnet tone when waking me up. We rode in together for about a year and I was never late, and some things took place at work with her that was bearing on my nerves, so I took a break. I now no longer ride in with her because we not have different schedules other than month end close. I also got off the Trazadone and now have insomnia. I have temporarily gotten back on trazadone because I have been ill and not sleeping well. My primary care doctor has suggested that I have chronic insomnia and he knows it is not sleep apnea. He wants me to see a sleep neurologist which I have never heard of. (I am getting off topic)

But Oct 1 was month end close I had my alarm set for 4am and it continued to go off with the alarm buzzing for 45 minutes until she called me at 4:45 and we were leaving at 5:25. I didn't even get to shave my legs and that is crime, but I was on time for work.

But your company should be aware of the ADA requirements.

As far as being late a different schedule could have been set up. But my company went as far as trying that with me and it did not work. I had the option of a 30 minute time frame. My schedule started at 8 and if I got there at 8 I left at 5. If I got there at 5:15 I left at 8:15. The time frame was set up for 30 minutes. It also didn't work because of the trazadone. But what got me is they started docking me for being late because they were trying to send a message. But one of the girls that sat behind me was and still is constantly 10-20 minutes late everyday, and I know her time is not docked. Her being late still continues at this time.

I am listed through my HR department as having a disability because I also have Tourettes, OCD, and ADHD.

Also, on your next job, once you get going, see if you can find someone who may be able to give you a wakeup call or yet, find a friend.

Another suggestion that did not work with me but may with you; I had callnotes and it would allow me to receive a wakeup call Monday through Friday at a certain time. The problem for me was my own voice. I needed another voice.

You may want to try several alarms set about in your home. Make sure you get one of the really loud annoying ones. Also to add to that, throw obstacles down on the floor that you have to walk around such as pillows, stuffed animals, but don't use a dangerous obstacle.

Also, let your doctor know what is going on with you. I take two miligrams of Kolonipin and it does not phase me for sleep.

I honestly don't believe you did the right thing. Once you went to the HR department you should have told them of what you are going through and request accommodations. However, becuase you quit it that is out of the question. I suggest that in future interviews, you find out what your schedule will be and make sure that you can work with that schedule on being on time.

I think the fact that you quit just confirms the illness. That's the type of action I've taken many times in my life. I think our perspective is to stay a few minutes later or to compensate in some other way. Being held to an exact time every single day, is just impossible. True, we are not exempt, but also true, quitting is a way to take a stand for yourself. Now that I know so much more about this, I would force myself to wait at least a day or two before quitting.
As for myself, I don't have a job requiring a day in day out routine, and I'm still not on time...:)

I actually apply that theory of waiting a day before making changes to many things now not just work related decisions.
ian