Comments | syncretistfool: I seem to have entered the Twilight Zone.

syncretistfool

I seem to have entered the Twilight Zone.

Aug 17, 2006 13:21

The new job I started in May has been fascinating so far. It is just what I wanted in terms of very present-tense, in the moment work. It is very demanding while I'm there, but I don't carry stress home with me. I like the people I work with a lot. The main concerns that I've had are that the directors (especially my direct supervisor) are nigh ( Read more... )

health, work

Comments 8

yip95 August 18 2006, 13:14:42 UTC

Also spend time healing and strengthening your back (and the rest of you) so that, if you don't find/don't want to find another job, you'll be more ready to take the occasional hard restraint.

Chiropractor, physical therapy, yoga. Those are my suggestions. but definitely the chiropractor for now. back injuries are their raison d'etre.

syncretistfool August 18 2006, 15:14:26 UTC

Yeah, I have been thinking about this stuff too, it just didn't make it into the original post. Seeing as our family actually has a chiropractor we like now, the one the Family Life Center referred for Nadia, it only makes sense to try it. I'm waiting to go through the MD's office first, try to have it as an official referral so it will be documented for (and maybe covered by, who knows) Worker's Comp.

I walked by the Yoga Loft this week too, a few minutes before my usual class there, to talk to the teacher. She gave me some feedback about what postures will help to keep things balanced without straining the owie parts. She actually recommended *less* stretching than I have been doing right around the injury (which wasn't much to begin with), and more passive positions that might open things up a little. Glad I asked.

kombu August 18 2006, 23:04:30 UTC

The immediate problem here is that your job has sucky sick/other leave pay, at least for the first 6 months. What's up with that? Does it get significantly better later on? Cuz the chances of this happening again at some point are high enough that even if it doesn't result in cumulative injury, it will result in financial/emotional strain each time it happens if they won't just cover you for the time you need off to recouperate. Plus the stress of knowing that this could happen, and wanting to save your sick days for it, or save up financially for it... Doesn't sound great, unless everything else points to staying being the best option.

"Hell hath no fury . . . brigadoondays August 21 2006, 03:44:33 UTC

. . . like an indignant Godfather." As I sat rocking Nadia and listening to your patient and skillful navigation of phone menus and various agency workers, I was trying very hard not to be an overprotective Mommy and just empathize and appreciate your repertoire of coping skills.
George, fortunately, felt no such constraint when I spoke with him, and left no question on his position vis-a-vis the level of training and challenges to safety in your ordinary line of duty. The words "liability" and "risk" and "irresponsible" come to mind.

So I got to be an angry Mama Bear vicariously. Once again, Yayyyy, George! And, Yayyyyy, You!

thatpoetrykid August 21 2006, 14:07:53 UTC

I do not believe you should return to this job. As long as you have any back problems you should stay out on Workman's comp, and if need be, go from there to disability. Re-injuring an already injured back can do serious damage!

I think you sould sue the fascility as well. I is absurd to expect you to retrain a 250 pound out of control client with autism. Your role in such a situation should be to get yourself and the other clients to safety and call security. Not only is this safer for you and the other clients, it is more thereputic for him.

In the time it takes for security to come he may very well get himself under control which is much better for him psycologically and socially. It does not take more staff and a higher budget to do things this way at all, in fact, the money saved on workmans comp, disablity, and lawsuits makes the safer way cheaper too.

syncretistfool August 21 2006, 15:43:23 UTC

There is no security to call. It's just us direct care staff. Security would just be another person with a breakable body to do the same thing ( ... )

thatpoetrykid August 26 2006, 02:20:36 UTC

Thanks for clarifying that. I assumed they required you to retrain in such a situation. I wasn't there so it is totally unfair of me to second guess your choices, but it seems like number 2 could have some truth to it. You are right, having had the option they aren't liable and it wouldn't be fair to to them to sue ( ... )

thatpoetrykid August 26 2006, 02:21:30 UTC

woops, I wasn't signed in. That was me.