Amend the Family Act H.R. 804/S.248 to include Bereavement
Amend the Family Act H.R. 804/S.248 to include Bereavement
The Issue
In August of 2017 my mom passed peacefully at home with me. I went back to work after a week because the bereavement act only gives you 3 day's paid leave when someone dies. I went on my first appointment and could not finish the day. I remember getting in my car and calling the appointment desk crying uncontrollably. I told them my mom had just died a few days ago and I can't do this. I ended up being out of work for a month unpaid. It was still not enough time, but I was already going into a financial crisis that would take me 3 years and a pandemic to come out of.
My primary doctor would not approve disability unless I went to a psychiatrist. I was in therapy but a psychologist was not enough. It has to be a medical doctor that approves your disability. I dont know if you have tried to find a therapist in the last 5 years but it is almost impossible. By the way, psychiatrist do not do regular therapy anymore, they are just pill pushers.
On March 1st 2022 I lost my son Garrett to suicide. Once again I found myself unable to work or deal with the outside world. Disability is my only hope. I know what to do and how to play the game this time. But at what cost? My primary doctor gives me the same speech. Nothing he can do you need to see a psychiatrist. So now I have been completely traumatized, cant eat, sleep or even think straight and I am afraid I will go into financial crisis AGAIN. I am forced to take medication because that is what a psychiatrist does, and if I dont he can't help me and I don't get disability.
It is hard enough dealing with all of the decisions you have to make when someone dies. Grief is a very powerful emotion and can take months if not years to recover from. No one should be forced to take medication just to make other people happy or to work the system.
All of this can be avoided if we Amend the FAMY ACT H.R.804/S.248 to include Bereavement. The Family Act provides workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take off for there own serious health, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery; the serious health condition of a child, parent or spouse or domestic partner. They give you 12 weeks when you bring a person into this world but only 3 days when a person leaves it.
I need your HELP I cant do this alone.
Valerie Pugliese
Grieving Mother
124
The Issue
In August of 2017 my mom passed peacefully at home with me. I went back to work after a week because the bereavement act only gives you 3 day's paid leave when someone dies. I went on my first appointment and could not finish the day. I remember getting in my car and calling the appointment desk crying uncontrollably. I told them my mom had just died a few days ago and I can't do this. I ended up being out of work for a month unpaid. It was still not enough time, but I was already going into a financial crisis that would take me 3 years and a pandemic to come out of.
My primary doctor would not approve disability unless I went to a psychiatrist. I was in therapy but a psychologist was not enough. It has to be a medical doctor that approves your disability. I dont know if you have tried to find a therapist in the last 5 years but it is almost impossible. By the way, psychiatrist do not do regular therapy anymore, they are just pill pushers.
On March 1st 2022 I lost my son Garrett to suicide. Once again I found myself unable to work or deal with the outside world. Disability is my only hope. I know what to do and how to play the game this time. But at what cost? My primary doctor gives me the same speech. Nothing he can do you need to see a psychiatrist. So now I have been completely traumatized, cant eat, sleep or even think straight and I am afraid I will go into financial crisis AGAIN. I am forced to take medication because that is what a psychiatrist does, and if I dont he can't help me and I don't get disability.
It is hard enough dealing with all of the decisions you have to make when someone dies. Grief is a very powerful emotion and can take months if not years to recover from. No one should be forced to take medication just to make other people happy or to work the system.
All of this can be avoided if we Amend the FAMY ACT H.R.804/S.248 to include Bereavement. The Family Act provides workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take off for there own serious health, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery; the serious health condition of a child, parent or spouse or domestic partner. They give you 12 weeks when you bring a person into this world but only 3 days when a person leaves it.
I need your HELP I cant do this alone.
Valerie Pugliese
Grieving Mother
124
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Petition created on June 22, 2023