Coping with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) in any aspect of your life is a challenge. Dealing with PMDD at work can be especially difficult. Maintaining a business demeanor when you are experiencing violent mood swings, fatigue, anxiety, and often physical pain related to PMDD can seem an impossible thing to do. You may find that you need to be absent from work while your PMDD symptoms are at their most severe. You may wonder if you can do that without losing your job. There are some measures you can take to ensure that you can take the time off work that you need in order to cope with your PMDD symptoms without losing your job.
What you should know
You may be entitled to job-protected leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when leave is needed due to the symptoms of PMDD.
You may also be entitled to receive reasonable accommodations at work under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There is no comprehensive list of accommodations that employers are required to consider/provide and so each situation must be addressed case-by-case. A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that enables you to perform job duties when limited by your medical impairment.
To receive an accommodation under the ADA, you will need to explain that you have a medical condition impairment that limits your ability to perform job duties/meet standards or may require you to sometimes take time off from work.
If you request an accommodation, or time off from work, you may need to have your healthcare provider substantiate that you have a medical impairment or serious health condition that requires accommodation and/or leave.
When to Disclose
Deciding when/if to disclose information about your medical impairment to your employer, or a prospective employer, is up to you. You will need to disclose in order to access resources, receive reasonable accommodations, or invoke protections that may be available to you. Choosing to disclose should include preparation. Steps to take before disclosing include assessing how you feel about sharing information about PMDD and obtaining the necessary documentation needed to substantiate the existence of your medical impairment.
If choosing to disclose when applying for a position, perhaps during the post-offer stage of the hiring process, have a well-documented plan for working around your PMDD days and share this plan during the accommodation negotiation process. When deciding to disclose during the interviewing process, it may be beneficial to seek out companies with a solid background of supporting those with mental and physical disabilities. It is also important to remember that disclosure should occur before performance suffers, not be reserved until right before termination is imminent. (i.e. you're about to be fired).
https://iapmd.org/pmdd-and-the-workplace/