How do I tell my employer that I am depressed and require reasonable accommodation?
This is unusual behavior for an employer, and your new boss will likely be offended or weirded out if you suggest they will act in this way toward you. I have to agree with this as a possibility. Presuming from the start that your new employer is going to behave crazily or abusively will not get you off on the right foot, and makes the situation not about the facts of your disability (and your legitimate needs for accommodation) but about an assumption you’re making about their workplace culture. Besides, I am under the impression — IANAL! — that “reasonable accomodations” for disability means accomodating your needs in a specific, material way — for example, making a workstation physically comfortable or accessible, allowing time for regular doctor appts. (as is applicable in your case), giving instructions in a written form, etc. I don’t know that “reasonable accomodation” means dictating how other people in the workplace are allowed to interact with you.
I do what Ironmouth does, only in California. For local-to-you resources, you might try the American Association for People with Disabilities (president Andy Imparato has bipolar disorder) or the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Or you can call me at The Legal Aid Society — Employment Law Center. (I hate our web site, and have no control over it — don’t judge.) Re legal stuff — this is general information and not specific to you or your situation. People with nontraditional or less visible disabilities who are seeking nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodations in the workplace face some uphill challenges in many jurisdictions, primarily around the definition of disability.
When I worked retail, I had PTSD plus panic attacks. My employer was surprisingly understanding about letting me off my register for a few minutes when I needed it. It wasn’t often, and it usually happened when it wasn’t so busy that they couldn’t spare me, but when it was busy I usually had my mind kept off it anyways.
