BAH!

[shanmonster]

In an attempt to fight off the pernicious migraines, I've been wearing hoods to work. They've been doing a pretty good job of keeping the flickering down, and slow my migraines down significantly.

But today I was just called aside and told I cannot wear hoods, not even for the rest of today, without having a doctor's note.

It's only been about fifteen minutes without the hood, but I can feel the flickering, the headache, and the wobbliness returning.

I am NOT a happy camper.

Comments

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

What the hell difference does it make whether you wear a hood or not, since your business is conducted entirely on the phone?

That's bizarre. I hope your doctor complies without any razz.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I agree it's bizarre.

This is what happens when corporate procedure wins out over humanity.

Just another reason to find another job....

[liquid-quaalude.livejournal.com]

My inclination would to be hurl a brick upside their head and goes now that is sorta what I feel like with a migraine!
Hence why Im wearing the hood..so i CAN come to work and well work.

But thats me.
I cant belive they will not let you wear it.
You have a history of being out sick from them?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I've had to go home early several times over the past year because of migraines.

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

What's their policy on hats? No go?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

No hats or head covering. At least, not without a doctor's note. I don't know when I can get in to see the doctor. The earliest I can foresee is next Monday. Eesh.

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

The doctor knows you suffer from migraines, right? You might try calling and seeing if they'll fax or mail a note.

[elanya.livejournal.com]

That is what I was going to say. It may not be necesary to actually go in if they can write a note you (Shan, or Dave even) can pick up.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can do that.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

No good. She's on vacation until the 27th.

But I did get an appointment to see her on the 27th at 1pm, for whatever that's worth. Bah.

[sidruid.livejournal.com]

You need a visor. Like a news reporter. Worn very inelegant, and ideally with their logo on it. I'd also recommend a lamp of your own on the desk - a bright one. Your eyes will focus at that level and it'll wash out some of the flicker.

After a few bouts of disorientation caused by my kitchen's flourescent, i grabbed a screwdriver and removed the thing. Had no light in the kitchen for a month while i decided on a replacement, and it was SO much better.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'd love it if they'd just turn off the overhead lights. My monitor provides all the light I need. But that's not going to happen.

I wouldn't want a bright light. Bright lights are one of my migraine triggers.

[glitterybint.livejournal.com]

Wear sunglasses to work?

Wear a visor? It won't *cover* your head so wont be a head covering.


gah! anal rules just make me want to break them in the most petty way I can find.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I need to find myself a pair of sunglasses which will block out all outside unfiltered light. I'll have to check out Zellers, I guess.

I suspect the visor would make them freak, too, because it's like a lidless hat.

[forestmaster.livejournal.com]

Can you bring a portable tent or other pseudo-roof? Don't know how much space you have in your work area...

Sunglasses?
Climb ladder or chair to disable light in your area?
Find another doctor to write a note?
Good luck... :(

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I actually did ask about getting a roof like thing for my cubicle, but that was pretty much laughed down. It's pretty unlikely, I figure, and they're not going to put me in a private office where I can keep the lights turned off, either.

This will just make me try to find a job elsewhere all the quicker, I guess.

[snowy-kathryn.livejournal.com]

What is their policy on religious headcoverings?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I've wondered this from the very beginning, but somehow doubt they'd believe I've converted to Islam only during my hours at work.

Heh...

[zombienought.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was going to suggest a burka.

Are you sure this isn't an American country?
It reminds me of the tech support centre for
Unisys here in Austin. Their rules have been
getting worse over the years, and they were
making the guys wear ties a while back.

I always hate working on the computer with
flourescents above me. At my last fulltime
job, I'd always work by the light of the moni-
tor, but someone else, usually the manager,
would turn on the lights at some point.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I avoid sunlight, and bright lights make me ill. I'm such a vampire.

I guess there's no escaping it. Once a goth, always a goth.

[zombienought.livejournal.com]

Oh, then might I recommend bathing in the
blood of young virgins? I hear that some-
times helps.

Sorry you'e been suffering this migraine
thing for like two straight months. :(
Perhaps it is an allergy to working for
shitty corporations.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think crap jobs are my trigger, for sure.

[sageincave.livejournal.com]

First, it's hoodies.

Then, someone starts wearing colors.

Then it's all gang signs being thrown across the cubicles, and then gunfire will break out on the night shift.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

That's awesome!

[y3korean.livejournal.com]

pernicious is such an awesome word.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd suggest trying to get the refresh rate of the monitor turned up as high as possible. I used to have this problem in the University computer labs until I spoke with the guys who did the system images and they didn't know that low refresh rates bothered some ppl.

Hope that works/helps for you.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think the monitor's ok, actually. I've had some in the past which hurt to look at, but this one's actually pretty good.

I'm pretty sure it's from the overhead lighting. I can feel it bearing down on my eyes.

[potbelly13.livejournal.com]

While you're looking for another job, might I suggest you NOT try to get one with the federal gov't? I used to work for StatsCan and the bosses were really cruel. One woman had the same problem as you have Shan - migraines that were triggered by the overhead lights. She was not allowed to wear a hat or visor. She wore one anyway and they fired her! Then there was the woman who had chemical sensitivities and some problem with her muscles so she had a doctor's note that said she had to leave her computer every 20 minutes for a brief leg stretch/walk around the office. She was not allowed to do this and so she left the job.
This is the topper though. The big boss came ocassionally from Edmonton to check up on his Winnipeg team (us) and if he saw any woman wearing leggings, she was sent home. Huh?
We did telephone interviews with farmers at this office and no one from the public was ever allowed in. Why these rules??
While I watched all this happening I was appalled at their lack of compassion and sense. In the meantime I was offered a job reading Tarot cards for a week at the casino. They paid me $60 an hour for a 42 hour week, so I quit my stinking StatsCan job and lived for 3 months off of the wage I got reading cards! HA! That'll teach....somebody?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

$60/hour for Tarot readings? Holy cow. Am I EVER in the wrong field.

Still, the end is in sight. It's looking more and more like I'll be free of this job within a month or so. And what an enormous relief that shall be.