Work Benefits That Helped Me As a Person Living with Bipolar (That Aren’t Salary)
I’ve worked in career advisement for nearly a decade. I also live with bipolar disorder. When most people think about a job offer, salary is the first thing that comes to mind — but there are other benefits that can be just as important, especially if you’re living with a chronic condition like bipolar disorder.
Here are just a few workplace benefits to consider that can be extremely helpful if you’re living with bipolar disorder:
1. Health Insurance
Health insurance is extremely important for everyone, but if you’re living with a chronic condition, it’s a necessity. I’ve also developed relationships with my care team that are important for me to maintain to stay well, so ensuring that I can see them regularly is crucial to maintaining my well-being.
2. Therapy/EAP Services
Just as important as having access to medical care when needed, access to mental health support services can significantly improve one’s quality of life. This is even more necessary if you live with a mental health condition like bipolar disorder. At one of my previous employers, they had a therapy office specifically for staff offering free, confidential sessions. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) also offer referrals to therapists subsidized by companies.
3. Ability to Work From Home
I am sound sensitive, especially with bass-y noises. Having worked in an office that was right across from where a marching band warmed up, this could be torturous. The ability to work from home eliminated a stressor and made a huge difference, so that I could get the things that I needed done without needing to take time off. It was a win-win for everyone involved.
4. Noise Management Tools/Quiet(er) Areas
For many jobs, working from home isn’t a possibility. But there are definitely ways to make it a little easier on yourself. Noise cancelling headphones and being allowed to work out of conference rooms at certain points of the day helped me manage noise sensitivity while staying productive.
5. Medical Leave/Disability
I have been fortunate enough to have never been hospitalized. However, living with bipolar disorder has taught me to be proactive rather than reactive when I start to notice my symptoms. Understanding your employer’s policies around medical leave — and how things would work if you needed to take one — can give you peace of mind knowing that should you need a break for your mental health, you don’t have to worry about losing your job. Some employers also offer supplemental disability insurance that preserves more of your paycheck during a leave. That additional layer of security is worth knowing about before you need it.
6. Sick Time Separated From Vacation Time
A lot of times, when people think of paid time off they think of vacation time. While that is of course important, I’ve found sick time separate from vacation time to be of tremendous benefit, too. Sick time can be used for mental health days as well as medical appointments — all things I need on an ongoing basis as someone with bipolar disorder. When I need to take time away from work to care for myself, I don’t have to worry about using my hard-earned vacation time to do it.
7. Pet Insurance
I have two cats, Adelaide and Butterscotch, who I adore. Not only are they family members, but they play a huge part in my ability to manage bipolar by giving me a regular routine, responsibility, and unconditional love. If my cats don’t feel well, I certainly don’t either. Pet insurance has alleviated a lot of anxiety for me, knowing that if they needed medical care, I wouldn’t have to compound stress about their health with stress over the cost of that care. Many employers are starting to offer discounts on pet insurance, which has been tremendously valuable for me and my family.
Workplace benefits take many forms, and your situation is unique. But I hope this gives you a starting point for thinking beyond the paycheck — because for those of us living with bipolar disorder, the right benefits can be just as important as the salary that comes with them.
Author Bio
Dr. Caroline Fraissinet is the Founder of Career Wavelength, a career coaching and consulting practice centered around helping people managing mental health conditions build careers that are both meaningful and sustainable. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) California chapter, and facilitates support groups with the DBSA City of Angels chapter in Los Angeles. Caroline lives with cyclothymia, OCD and ADHD. You can learn more about her and her practice at https://careerwavelength.com/.
A version of this post originally appeared on International Bipolar Foundation’s blog: https://ibpf.org/work-benefits-that-helped-me-as-a-person-living-with-bipolar-that-arent-salary/