Not Ready To Go Back To Work...

[missmachine 100]

Hello all, I was hoping to get a bit of advice. I just started a new job as a stylist at a salon a couple months before my surgery. I told my boss before I got hired that I had a family vacation planned and booked a year ago for two weeks (which was actually for my surgery) and she allowed me the time off. Since I have been there, I am glad I did not tell her the real reason I needed time off because, while she is a very nice person, she is kind of gossipy, and as you can imagine I work with several snooty b*****s that I don't want knowing my business. I am not telling anyone other than my family and close friends, and when I start losing weight if people ask, I will just say that I am dieting and exercising (which isn't a lie). However, I am supposed to go back in a couple days, but I have had some problems with my recovery and I am not ready to run around a salon for 8 hours a day yet. If it was an office job this would be different, but we get so busy there is barely time for a break sometimes. So I am wondering what to do now. If I should just go in and deal with it, or if I should tell her something happened on vacation, maybe I needed an appendectomy or something? I have been talking about my "vacation" for a while now so I can't just come out and say I lied and I really had some kind of surgery instead... I just don't think this looks very good since I just got hired. Any advice??

[Star1221 270]

If you don't think you are ready, then you're not. Your dr will let you off for as long as you need I am sure. As long as you have a dr's note, nothing can be done. I know you said you were on vacation, but all you have to tell her is a medical emergency came up, and you will bring her an excuse when you come back... You don't have to tell her what. Good luck honey. I hope you feel better.

[chitowngirl 886]

Did you tell her where you went for vacation. If you said Mexico you can easily say that you had a bad reaction to the food, and your stomach is really queasy. Explain to her the nature of your job it is not feasible to really stop working to go th the bathroom every few minutes. I tend to get this reaction every time I go to Mexico.

[sarcasticwriter 0]

Are you an independent contractor renting the space, or an actual employee? Do you work full-time? How many employees work for your company?

If you're a full-time employee, and your company has enough employees to qualify, you'll be protected by the Family Medical Leave Act, as long as your health issue is documented by your doctor. You can research if you qualify for FMLA here: http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/ .

However, you'll have to tell the truth that during your vacation you had a medial procedure (you don't have to tell her what it is) and that you had complications from it. And you'll potentially have to fill out some FMLA paperwork for her.

Tell her ASAP. She's probably going to be deeply annoyed that she only has a couple of days notice, but if you qualify for FMLA protection, she legally *can't* fire you.

[kyllfalcon 768]

That's gonna be one whopping big salon if it qualifies under FMLA!! And even if it does, to be protected the employee has to have been employed for at least 12 months, not necessarily consecutively, and have worked 1,250 hours in the most recent 12 months.

The original poster says she just started the job a couple of months ago, so FMLA will not apply in her situation, unfortunately.

Might be time to just come clean with it, rather than risking health.

[missmachine 100]

Well I am going back to work tomorrow. I don't really feel ready but I've been getting around the house by myself ok, and running errands. Still having shortness of breath, coughing, and pain shooting up my right side but I think I can handle it. Thanks for all the advice. I can't risk losing my job in this economy.

[xlr8ahead 40]

Hello all' date=' I was hoping to get a bit of advice. I just started a new job as a stylist at a salon a couple months before my surgery. I told my boss before I got hired that I had a family vacation planned and booked a year ago for two weeks (which was actually for my surgery) and she allowed me the time off. Since I have been there, I am glad I did not tell her the real reason I needed time off because, while she is a very nice person, she is kind of gossipy, and as you can imagine I work with several snooty b*****s that I don't want knowing my business. I am not telling anyone other than my family and close friends, and when I start losing weight if people ask, I will just say that I am dieting and exercising (which isn't a lie). However, I am supposed to go back in a couple days, but I have had some problems with my recovery and I am not ready to run around a salon for 8 hours a day yet. If it was an office job this would be different, but we get so busy there is barely time for a break sometimes. So I am wondering what to do now. If I should just go in and deal with it, or if I should tell her something happened on vacation, maybe I needed an appendectomy or something? I have been talking about my "vacation" for a while now so I can't just come out and say I lied and I really had some kind of surgery instead... I just don't think this looks very good since I just got hired. Any advice??[/quote']

I own a hair salon.an if u not ready dont go in just yet.tell them while u wer away.u got taken in for your gallbladder to be removed . Its a simular op.so they wont know any different.i know how you feel with the gossippers.i wont be telling either.

[missmachine 100]

It's too late for that now, I'm due in in one hour.

[ssriley 52]

Hang in there missmachine. I went back to work pretty shaky at day 10 and it was rough, but each day has been a bit better. I'm at day 13 now and I can feel a little more strength and stamina each day. Remember, each day farther away from your surgery date is a day closer to the new life and health you are working so hard for. Let us know how it went.