How do I tell work I am having surgery?

[tfarr 270]

I work at a long term / rehab.

Staffing is always an issue.

I got my date and now it's time to tell HR. Problem is, I don't know how?

I used about half my FMLA earlier this year and now I only have enough left for about 4 or 5 weeks and I need 6 weeks off.

I want to be open and tell them I'm having VSG, but don't want the whole facility to know lol

Uhg, I need some advise

Thanks

[BigGirlPanties 957]

you go in and tell them you are scheduled for surgery and will be out for several weeks, using FMLA, and ask them for the paperwork that is needed...

technically they cannot ask you what is going on... if they do, it's best to tell the truth to HR(or you have the option to say "I'd rather not discuss it"), but you DO NOT have to get in to details..

Good luck

Edited October 24, 2014 by BigGirlPanties

[sophie'sChoice 269]

Yep, what she said!! And HIPAA keeps them from saying anything to anyone else. Your DR's office will fill out the forms and tell them how long you need to be off work. If it goes beyond the FMLA that you have it depends on where you work as to how they will handle that. They should be able to let you know up front. They should be nothing but professional about it. Don't worry!! Good luck!!

[tfarr 270]

Thank you Ladies. I wish I wasn't so nervous. But I will do that.

Tell them I have a surgical date and need X amount of time off.

I'm such a chicken lol

[MisforMimi 760]

FMLA restarts every calender year. So, you could run it through the end of the year

[Miss Mac 6,262]

If you feel like you have to justify the time off to HR, just tell them you are having a medical procedure that requires some time for rest and recuperation. You doctor's letter does not need to say anything more than "tfarr" is under my care and due to a medical procedure will need to remain off work for ___weeks.

If you do volunteer to be more specific with your information, HR is bound by law to keep it in confidence. If you say anything to co-workers (and are not a patient in your own facility) they can (and will blab it all over the place. Take as much time as you are allowed and do not feel bad about it.

I am guessing that any one of your co-workers would take the time off and not worry about the place being under-staffed or how hard you have to work to cover them.

[tfarr 270]

This is all making me feel more confident going in to HR I guess for some reason I feel I need to always explain myself lol

Not this time!

[dinosaurateme 4]

I'm having the same problem. Originally, I just kept telling work that I needed to have my gallbladder removed. Which was true. The plan was to get sleeved and have gallbladder removed at the same time. Unfortunately, my gallbladder didn't want to wait, and was removed 5 weeks before my scheduled surgery date of November 17th. Now I really don't know what to tell my job, and it might be odd to them that I had two surgeries within 5 weeks.

[tfarr 270]

I told HR on Friday. She said i may not any FMLA time left ( I was out for a month earlier this year and then didn't return full time immediately )

But she said I have to take care of myself first.

But, I think I have 4 weeks. Oh well, I'm still doing it lol

[BigGirlPanties 957]

FMLA dates usually run from the first date of "incident" until it rolls off the next year....very few companies start the year with a clean slate.

Be careful of the "take care of yourself" thing... find out exactly how many days you have... if FMLA does not cover, ask about disability coverage. Please make sure you aren't losing your job because of this...

GET IT IN WRITING (been there, done that) almost lost my job

But, to reiterate...with FMLA you DO NOT have to tell anyone anything, and if HR knows they cannot share! Tho, for myself, if someone asks, I tell them...especially those that may "need" it ... education is really needed about the process.

Good luck...stay strong... you've got this!

[tfarr 270]

@@BigGirlPanties

I do have short term disability at work. I called today to start the process. I'm just worried because this is " elective" surgery. I wonder if that makes a difference or not.

I do have to check back with her tomorrow to see if she figured out how much time I have left

[BigGirlPanties 957]

good...better to check than be sorry...too bad they couldn't take care of you when the gallbladder was done ...oh well

[tfarr 270]

I spoke to my HR, come to find out I have 4 1/2 weeks of FMLA left. I knew it

[warrene 4]

With FMLA you have a total of 480 within a rolling year, which means everyday you can get another day back if you took time off at the same time last year. So go back and calculate how many hours you have missed, so that you know exactly how much time you have actually used. When I had my surgery I was back at work the following week but I have a desk job, so it might be different for you. Also, after my surgery I did not experience any pain so working was not an issue.

[nikki9 70]

I don't know much about FMLA but I thought you can get it for each "incident" like Migraine and asthma would be 2 separate banks of FMLA time.