Retaining a job

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Hi guys:

I need advice.

I get fired from jobs because I follow rules and not the reverse.

I am an RN and an ex-paramedic, so my employer will say things like: "If you're smart enough to complete school and become an RN, then you're smart enough to know how to not be autistic."

Or you know how people with Asperger's often have an obsessive, single, all-consuming interest in a specific topic?

I get told that if I made "being normal" my special interest, then I would be normal. Since I choose to not make normalcy my special interest, then I choose to be autistic.

Or "If I accommodate your autism, then that's like making me the enabler in an alcoholic relationship. Alcoholism gets worse when there's an enabler, so accommodating your autism will make your autism worse. So, you deserve to not have a job because it's for your own good . . . you should not work until you fix your autism."

What does one say to an employer who says these things?

I live in Florida, which is a "right to work" state.

The EEOC says they can't help me.

Any ideas, please?

Just to preface, I am not a lawyer nor can provide official legal advice but If your employer said those exact words that you described then in my opinion that is absolutely discrimination and breaking the law. If they are making harassing comments specifically about your Autism(classified as a disability) then I believe it's discrimination based on a protected class. I am not sure why the EEOC wouldn't be of help here as it seems like your employer is violating ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act).

I would look into seeing if you can find a lawyer to get legal advice. Some states have legal aid societies that provide legal services for low cost or free. I would start there. A lawyer can assess your case and help you file a complaint with the EEOC or take other action like a lawsuit. Here is a link I found for Florida. No employee should have to be subjected to comments like that. It angers me that there are employers out there like this. I hope this maybe helps and am sorry for what you are experiencing with this

https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Self-Help-Information/Legal-Aid

Link from EEOC regarding Harrassment
https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment

Have you found that all your employers say things like this? Because it sounds pretty specific to one person's prejudice. Can you look for another job that is not with this person?

Thank you both very much.

I have sued employers before on 3 occasions in the past 15 years over things like this, and you can Google my name on the Internet and these lawsuits come up.

As a consequence, I believe that it has become hard to get a callback from a job interview. I can't prove that my prior lawsuits are what are keeping me from getting a job, but I suspect this.