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I think the average employer favors reliability because it's not acceptable for an employee to ever freak out co-workers or clients or just disappear - even if

I think the average employer favors reliability because it's not acceptable for an employee to ever freak out co-workers or clients or just disappear - even if 99% of the time they are fine. There are people who have odd personalities, but that is not the same as a person who has psychotic episodes. I have been around the latter and it tends to make people very uncomfortable, which is just not acceptable for certain jobs unfortunately. There is a gray area as well where some people are socially awkward or just enjoy being "weird." But it's not the same thing. As for jobs like programming where some degree of eccentricity is acceptable - I think it depends on how amazing that person is. If you're a genius you probably will find opportunities that will accept a decent amount of erratic behavior. If you are a below-average programmer, your employers are not likely to be as accommodating.

michaelochurch 14y ago
I can't speak for psychotic episodes, because I don't know anything about those diseases, but I think that employers are at fault for this. These packed, open-plan work environments are awful and create a lot of mental health problems. Being fairly neurotic myself, I'd be a bit unsettled if someone was having a psychotic episode at a desk 5 feet from me... but there really shouldn't be a desk 5 feet from me. I wouldn't want even a well-treated schizophrenic flying a plane, but for most jobs, I think it's possible to make an arrangement where the person's health problems don't pose a safety risk or freak other people out. Regarding "99% of the time they are fine", how many people don't have 2-3 sick days per year? If nothing else, that rules out everyone with kids. I suppose it depends what they are doing during that other 1% and how easily they can manage it, and when it comes to psychosis (with which I have no experience or expertise) I am way out of my depth on that one.
- jakejake 14y ago
  I admit I'm not a fan of those office setups either. But I don't really know what they would do. Most of the time that setup is due to space constraints. Kinda my point - some people would not do well in that situation. They should find an employer with a different setup or work-from-home arrangement.

michaelochurch 14y ago

I can't speak for psychotic episodes, because I don't know anything about those diseases, but I think that employers are at fault for this. These packed, open-plan work environments are awful and create a lot of mental health problems. Being fairly neurotic myself, I'd be a bit unsettled if someone was having a psychotic episode at a desk 5 feet from me... but there really shouldn't be a desk 5 feet from me. I wouldn't want even a well-treated schizophrenic flying a plane, but for most jobs, I think it's possible to make an arrangement where the person's health problems don't pose a safety risk or freak other people out. Regarding "99% of the time they are fine", how many people don't have 2-3 sick days per year? If nothing else, that rules out everyone with kids. I suppose it depends what they are doing during that other 1% and how easily they can manage it, and when it comes to psychosis (with which I have no experience or expertise) I am way out of my depth on that one.

jakejake 14y ago
I admit I'm not a fan of those office setups either. But I don't really know what they would do. Most of the time that setup is due to space constraints. Kinda my point - some people would not do well in that situation. They should find an employer with a different setup or work-from-home arrangement.