How did you not lose you jobs?

[tamarlarae 11]

Hi all!

I am a teacher and unfortunately got SUPER sick this year between strep and the flu. I am now out of PTO, vacation, and sick time and I've got my psych eval that I HAVE to do for surgery approval as well as this training seminar the doc requires. Everything else I am pretty sure I can schedule when I am off work (blood tests, other tests, etc.), but I am also in school and have had to take 2 days off as unpaid so I am on THIN ice with my boss... I have a meeting with HR tomorrow and told her I am having surgery and she has reassured me that I do not need to elaborate or explain what the surgery is for because of confidentiality reasons, since I will have to miss at least part of the day any advice?? I'm so nervous I am going to lose my job (which I need for surgery), but these things I absolutely have to do in order to be approved are only available in the mornings. Anyone else run out of time or could offer me advice?

[TES 858]

Can you put in FMLA so that even if you take unpaid time off related to the surgery/presurgery etc., your job should be protected?

[Houston17 115]

Hi there, sorry you are having this trouble. When you talk to HR, you may want to check into filing FMLA. As long as your doctors shows it is a medical necessity, they should approve and this would protect your job.

[joatsaint 2,814]

I work in an education related business. We get the same days off as the schools. I had my surgery done during the Xmas vacation days. But I could have done it over Spring Break. I had all my tests done and was in surgery all within 3 weeks. I only took 1 day off for the initial testing.

[sarsar 824]

Can you schedule everything you can now around work and then do the rest when school is out? It's not too much longer and you will be out for the summer. You could finish your tests and have your surgery during summer break. You said you need the job for the surgery so I wouldn't push it with taking time off if you are already on thin ice. It's not worth it in my opinion, especially since I assume you will be off this summer.

[makemyownluck 785]

definitely if you're in the US, you're covered by FMLA. You have 12 weeks per year that you can use for medical related absences. Talk to HR about it. You don't have to disclose what you are taking time off for, you just have to get your surgeon to fill out the paperwork and your job is protected by federal law.

good luck!

[melissa130 135]

summer will be here in a minute. Just be patient. You are lucky to get the summer off. I hunted until I found a psych appointment available on a saturday so I would not miss any work. Took a few phone calls and i found somebody.

[DrmBig4Evr 152]

I have to mention that you only qualify for FMLA if you have been there over a year. I'd wait til June! Good luck!

[NurseGrace 509]

you are going to have to keep HR in the loop, not that you need to tell them your surgery but you need to be realistic with them about how long you are going to be out of the office and whatnot. Also, if you can schedule for the summer or something that would be ideal. There is no reason to strain your work relationships.

[JolieBug 82]

I'm a teacher, too, and had surgery last Monday. Recovered over Spring Break. I am feeling great and going back tomorrow.

So...will you be replaced... Do you have tenure? What are your evaluation scores? Have you met the Compass criteria? When you HAD to be out, what did your sub work look like?

We hate to miss because our kids need us, but when necessary, tell your HR person up front why you took the days off. Document it in an email with a read receipt. That way, if you have problems, you can have protection for your job.

Best of luck!

[popsicle_20721 27]

I'm in HR and I concur with everyone who suggested that you apply for FMLA if you meet the eligibility criteria e.g. 1 year, 1250 hours worked in the preceding year, serious medical condition (which WLS is) The good thing about FMLA is that you can take time off intermittently, which will be a help to you in terms of attending medical appointments etc. Then when you have the surgery you may need about a week more (hopefully with no complications). The point is you probably will not run out of FMLA before the end of the 12 week benefit. The down side about FML is that it is unpaid; however, most employers allow you to use your own accrued leave to run concurrently with FMLA.

I don't know exactly what you do in the school system, but if you don't have to be in a classroom everyday and your job is more administrative in nature, you may want to talk to your boss or HR regarding some sort of alternative work schedule or flex time. 4 10 hr days, which gives 1 day off to do your appointments etc. You also may want to check to see if your job can be protected via ADA (American's with Disability Act). ADA requires your employer to engage in a discussion with you about work schedule alternatives. Employers are encouraged through the regulation to work with employees to find a reasonable solution. Use of this regulation is a stretch and it can be a little tricky; however ADA regulations have changed such that you may be able to pull it off. Obesity is considered a permanent condition (if not treated) which then makes it a covered disability under the ADA. The fact that you require periodic treatment to treat this disability may in fact be covered under the ADA. Again use of this regulation is tricky, but it can be done.

I wouldn't necessarily disclose the particular nature of your medical condition, they may figure it out anyway depending on the forms the physician will need to complete. However, I would strongly encourage you to explain to HR and your boss that you want to do anything possible to minimize the disruption; and, that at some point you expect your condition to stablize such that the current amount of time off you need now will be greatly reduced in the very near future.

Good luck.

[tamarlarae 11]

I do not get paid over the summer so financially I need to work summer school. I am wanting to get the surgery done the last week of May so I will have a week and a half to recoup. Then work summer school (taking it easy, it's only 4 hours M-Th). I work at a private day behavioral special education school and we often have to go hands on with the kids. I know I'll be protected to not do holds because obviously I'll have a note for that. However, if I don't get the surgery the last week of May, I'll have to wait till the end of June. Then I will definitely have to wait 6 weeks and do my re-certifications at another time.

I have made the 2 appointments that I can for now. Doc won't do any other tests until after approved or denied. So right now I only have my psych eval (which was the hardest to schedule) and the 3 hour class I have to take scheduled. I'll only miss half the day so I'm hoping that will be in my favor...

[tamarlarae 11]

Popsicle- I have worked there for 3 years so that is definitely not an issue. I don't plan on telling them what I am specifically having surgery for, but that I have had fertility issues and docs think it is medically necessary I have surgery. Like someone else said, they'll probably figure it out, BUT that isn't a lie and is why I'm having surgery. I was told I can't have babies unless I drop weight so this is what was recommended. Does my boss (administrator) have to see the docs paperwork? She is extremely gossipy and breaks confidentiality a lot (that's another issue though) do I'd rather tell HR what is happening and tell her as little as possible. Am I protected to do that?

[sarsar 824]

I know this is off topic but I wanted to say thank you for what you do! Being a teacher is a tough job. Having 3 children has made me appreciate teachers so much and I am thankful for all you do. I hope all this gets worked out for you without any issues!

[taurabird 142]

I just found out today that the first available surgery date was June 5th so u may want to find out how far out the surgeries are being scheduled. I was originally told 4-5 weeks.