I like your approach. small and brief short answers!

I know it is against the rules not to say we have a disability and against the law. But I want to know how I can prevent something like this happening again. From my understanding, the only one that knew about the disability when i was hired was the person that wanted me for the job. It was all jealousy because i did a better job than he did as well as patients requesting me because i was nice and gentle. I am not sure he told his main boss and that is where things got stirred up. There were no findings in the investigation.

How is a company or job supposed to know about our hearing disability and know that it won’t affect my work? Do i tell them in an interview or after being hired? Or Never?

Thanks,
Lia

I’m so sorry you had this happen. I know how hard it must be for you.

I really don’t have any foolproof answer to give you. I wouldn’t volunteer the information, but if they ask if you’re still working there, you can explain that you were let go, even though you did your best to makes things work out. They are going to call the company, so you know more about what they might hear than I do. Then the best advice I have is to read the article again. It tells you how to do the delicate dance of explaining and then moving on to the new job and what you can do for them. Never put down the other place or your former boss. And as I also say, you need some great references to help, so make sure to line those up ahead of time.

Good luck!

This is a tough one. If you’re in the U.S., I don’t think an employer can fire you for a disability, especially if they knew about it when they hired you since you’re protected by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). If that really was the case, you may be able to still contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or your state Division/Department of Human Rights.

As for interviews…your former employer will not admit having done that for legal reasons, so you really can’t say that’s why you were fired. You can say that it turned out not to be a good fit and then go on and explain why this new one is. If you want to mention that there was an issue with your hearing ability and then again explain why this would not be a problem in the new job, use your discretion. For the right employer, without actually saying that was the reason you were fired, they’ll get it.

And if they press for details, you can say that you were told you had been late but always punched in early, so even you are wondering why. Again, a smart employer will read between the lines. Still, a short answer and focusing on your strengths for the new job is always the best first approach.

Good luck finding a great job where you’re appreciated for who you are!

How do i explain in a job interview the reason i was fired from this job? And i was fired because of my “disability”? I know we are not allowed to talk or speak of our disability…but how do explain this?

Thanks!

The article above and the linked article explain how to handle situations like this. It helps, of course, if you admit to yourself this was wrong, you learned your lesson, and will be a stronger employee from now on becausse of it.

I wish you much luck!

Thank you so much for letting me know. I’m so glad the article helped you. I understand – from a good deal of personal experience as well as from readers – just how hard all this is. And so more than having answers, I try to help people keep going. I know they’ll get there, but sometimes it just helps to have someone tell you that.

Best of luck!!! Please keep in touch.

Ronnie Ann

Ronnie Ann