Bi-Polar Disease and discrimination - bit of a rant *warning*?

I work for a small library that offers a book delivery service to people local but unable to get to the branch. A gentleman phoned today enquiring about this service and my manager 'got a funny feeling' about him so phoned someone who lived near him to ask about him.





Turns out he has bi-polar (according to the neighbour) and has spent time in a local hospital for it, he also has a carerwho visits daily and (acording to the neighbour) is 'care in the community' and the police have also been involved in the past for whatever reason.





Because of this 'gossip' my manager is considering refusing him the service 'in case he gets violent with the driver' (who drops the books of).





Personally I am aghast at this - I feel we can't not offer someone a service based on hearsay that he suffers from mental health issues. It is blatent disrimination!





I just feel there isn't a lot I can do - the decision isn't mine to make.





I just can't beleive such views still exist!Bi-Polar Disease and discrimination - bit of a rant *warning*?
Your manager is talking (and thinking) out of their backside. I'm bipolar and I get really angry at times but it's at me and my feeling that I can't communicate or join in with the world when I'm ill. The police could have called for any number of reasons including the fact that maybe the beat manager knows he has problems and is just keeping an eye on him. I suggest that your manager speaks to the Shift Bureau (who I used to speak for) and be educated in the mysterious ways of those with mental health problems.Bi-Polar Disease and discrimination - bit of a rant *warning*?
Just because people are bi-polar they are not necessarily or always violent. Police may be called out for odd behavior, (running around in the snow in a bikini) but most bi-polars on medication live pretty normal lives. Your boss is being prejudicial to this person because he is mentally ill. Your boss would not stop delivering to someone with cancer would he/she? If the person answers the door acting strangely, the driver can just turn around and leave. This person probably really depends on this book service to stop listening to gossip and keep the books coming
It's not right to discriminate for any reason. Especially one so petty as this. Your boss should read up on the disease and maybe inquire if this person is on meds....maybe drop off when the Caretaker is there.....I agree w/ you.
It would actually be against the law to refuse this man service on the grounds of his disability, or any behaviour caused by his disablity. tell your boss he needs to pull himself together, that person could be his son or anybodys son. Treat him with the respect, you'd expect to be treated with. Bipolar or not, this man has no less rights than your boss. If you are any kind of decent person and your boss does refuse service, you would lodge a formal complaint on the grounds of disibility discrimination. You are right these views should not exist in todays world. So help put a stop to it.
No, he shouldn't discriminate him on hear say. What if he turns out to be a wonderful man, but just can never get a break? In my opinion, your boss should at least give him a trial run, if you will. You never know unless you try! Good luck with this.
This is one of those times when someone has to stand up and say something and that someone is you and the time is now! You must make a strong complaint to your manager and tell him/her that its totally unacceptable to discriminate in this manner. He is just as entitled to your service as anyone else and taking the word of an unqualified neighbour is probably the most unprofessional nonsense I have heard in a long time. If you get no joy from this manager tell them you are taking it further as you are very unsatisfied. Go above their head if you have to. But don't do nothing - thats as bad as being the bigot! Good luck.
Shouldn't the driver say if they feel uncomfortable or not? Are you not going to deliver to people of different races or sexual orientations because the manager ';feels uncomfortable.'; Unless this guy is under house arrest awaiting trail for murder, I don't see how you can't deliver his books!
That is disgusting, tell your manager to read the mental health books you stock. Its likely the police were involved with him during a manic phase (for anything - even reckless driving!) and his weekly visitor could be his CPN dropping off his meds.
That's awful. Tell your manager to read ';An Unquiet Mind'; by Kay Redfield Jamison.