Mental health at Google

Amazon
parandroid

Go to company page Amazon

parandroid
Nov 12, 2019 20 Comments

I suffer from schizophrenia (closeted, high functioning). I take daily medication and visit a psychiatrist regularly. Making a move to Google (cloud) as a software engineer.

I failed at my current job due to a lot of unfavorable and adversarial factors. I'm very apprehensive about whether I'll make it in my next gig. My medication has side effects that include severe drowsiness. I have had a psychotic episode twice so far and have been in the ward for about 10 days the last time.

How supportive is Google of employees with severe mental disabilities?

Also, what is a good health insurance plan at Google for someone like me?

Google
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 TOP 20 Comments
  • Netflix
    xxgb88

    Go to company page Netflix

    xxgb88
    I don't have the answer but I wish you luck. I wish this wasn't even a question.
    Nov 12, 2019 0
  • I can't answer your question either, but congrats on being far more successful than most despite the extra hurdles. Best of luck at Google!
    Nov 12, 2019 0
  • Adobe
    aeVJ16

    Go to company page Adobe

    aeVJ16
    Good on you for taking your health issues seriously. I've been part of the loop for a dozen or so interviews for my team when I worked at MS and have had a candidate disclose his issues with mental illness unsolicited. He was on the shortlist for the role and ultimately didn't get it but that was purely based on his sphere of knowledge and experience not quite matching what we were looking for.

    That being said the reason his mental illness didn't factor into our decision was that he very clearly described what his illness was, what treatment plan his doctor had implemented and how keeping to that plan was a priority. He also was very candid about what symptoms he might express in the workplace and the mitigation plan his doctor had recommended. As far as we were concerned it was a non issue as his professional record demonstrated an individual who was stable, competent and a well recommended by peers in his field.

    Be honest, tell them how you treat your illness and put together a plan to present how to deal with a situation if your illness expresses it's symptoms during work (with consult from the doctor of course).

    Remember, if you had a 'traditional' medical issue like allergies or say IBS this wouldn't even be an question. Society still has some catching up to do on mental medical issues.

    Best of luck!
    Nov 12, 2019 0
  • Yelp
    IC9000

    Go to company page Yelp

    BIO
    IC7
     IC9000
    It seems like this would fall under disabilities (Google search ADA). You can talk to your manager as well as HR about "reasonable accommodations".
    Nov 12, 2019 1
    • GE / Ops
      PK-RC10

      Go to company page GE Ops

       PK-RC10
      I agree this is how I would approach it...
      also talk to your Dr. there may be medications that cause less drowsyness... i had similar situation and switches medications
      Nov 12, 2019
  • Microsoft
    Windozed

    Go to company page Microsoft

    PRE
    Google
     Windozed
    OP, not at Google (though I’ve worked there) but at MS and had a couple severe anorexia relapses and a depressive episode ending in a suicide attempt that got me committed and the company was behind me 100% the whole time, and it didn’t hugely impact my career - as long as you do well they rather have you than have you at a competitor. Feel free to DM if you have questions.
    Nov 12, 2019 0