I'm a Software Engineer, and I used to have a manager who in a 1:1 suggested me to start taking Ritalin to improve my focus. What are your thoughts about that? It's legal to suggest that kind of medical advice in a work environment? I don't feel like my focus is a problem.
Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
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Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#2Better off taking Alpha GPC nootropic supplement. It’s cheap and more effective, helped me recover
From a concussion recently and I’ve kept taking it. Stuff is amazing.
Also - find a new job your manager is terrible. It’s probably illegal and/or against company policy but you’d have to go around/above him to report this and honestly that never works out well.
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#3Was (s)he a body hacker? I've seen people also experiment with nootropics in an aim to improve their output. The fact that it was a boss in a 1:1 is a bit weird but ... what if it had simply been a coworker telling you what worked for them?
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#4"Oh wow, I didn't know you were a Medical Doctor as well! Where'd you go to school?"
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#5Disclaimer: Neither a doctor nor a lawyer nor HR. In my opinion, it is probably not appropriate for the manager to suggest a drug unless you asked their opinion. For sure, they could not prescribe it to you or require you to take it.
You might ask them why they feel you lack focus. If they do not have a good answer, then perhaps you could request a skip level 1:1 with their manager, or if you feel that is a no-win, you could speak with HR, or decide to let it go. You know your work environment better than any of us and would have to weigh the pros and cons. I agree with others that say this doesn't always end well.
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#6Find a way to get it in writing, and start looking for a new job, because your days there are numbered if your manager is giving unsolicited medical advice.
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#7wouldn't be the first employer to suggest that the employee might be more valuable if they started doing speed
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#8Fireable offense in some environments. Big tech company or startup?
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#9Find a way to get it in writing, and start looking for a new job, because your days there are numbered if your manager is giving unsolicited medical advice.
I already left the company and found my dev shop. It took me like a year to process that suggestion. This is the first time i write something about it.
Re: Ask HN: My manager suggested me to start taking Ritalin
#10Was (s)he a body hacker? I've seen people also experiment with nootropics in an aim to improve their output. The fact that it was a boss in a 1:1 is a bit weird but ... what if it had simply been a coworker telling you what worked for them?
Doesn't make any sense for a manager to suggest a specific drug, especially one that is a controlled substance in most countries or outright illegal.