Telling your employer about surgery

[jenc427 32]

when/how to tell employer about the surgery/request time off

@@jenc427

WELCOME

the more the merrier

congrats on surgery January 4th

great way to start the new year

I have heard of FMLA, don't know the specifics - sounds like a good suggestion

how long have you been at this job??

good relationship between you & boss??

it is true an employer is NOT allowed to ask "what surgery you are having"

some employers might ask anyway (not knowing the rule)

you could say something while "smiling"

this has been an ongoing health issue, (true)

i appreciate your thoughts and concern but...........

I have heard some people used the "I need my gall bladder removed" or some other false problem - i would not say that

my opinion, just my opinion - the truth can/will somehow slip out eventually/ at some time in the future

you have about 5+ months before you have surgery

call docs office now

try to fix your appt times for early in morning or end of day??

hopefully at least a few appts can be adjusted

good luck with surgery

kathy

Hey! Thank you! This forum made me feel so welcomed already!

I have been at my job for 6 months. But interned for them previously. So technically a year. My relationship with my boss is good. I just need to get comfortable opening up, i guess.

I'll keep trying to reschedule appointments. But it doesnt look like it'll work.

Thanks for your input!!!

[jenc427 32]

Good luck on that @@jenc427! It takes a big load off of your mind.

So I basically just blurted it out lol. My boss doesnt know the specifics. And I guess I will tell him eventually. But Im just happy he's okay with me leaving the office a few hours for my appointments and he's totally supportive of me putting my health first. I feel much better. ????

[jenc427 32]

January? Do they schedule that far out? I'm in the preliminary stage 4th appointment out of six for insurance I thought I would get on the schedule shortly after 6th visit. Am I wrong for thinking this way.

My insurance requires 6 months of weight management visits a part from all the other appointments. On my first day they gave me a list and dates of all the required appointments. And the woman i spoke to told me my appointment is scheduled for January 4th unless I miss any appointments which leads to a delay. I am guessing once the date gets closer I will know if the insurance approves me. *fingers crossed*

[The Candidate 3,215]

@@jenc427 Wonderful news! It's nice to have that out of the way, isn't it? Sometimes the anticipation is much worse than the reality. I'm so happy for you!

[The Candidate 3,215]

And I have both my fingers AND toes crossed for you! ????

[jenc427 32]

And I have both my fingers AND toes crossed for you! ????

???? thank you. I am really starting to see that I am on a new journey to change my life for the better. I want to embrace it. So thank God I don't have to worry about my job. Im kind of excited!!!

[FocusOnMeNow 599]

So I am a boss myself, and know that it is definitely easier in my line of work to be out at certain times compared to others. And I am also lucky that I have a great boss. But most bosses are people too so they might be more supportive than you think. Anyway, I told my boss before I even had my first consultation (I think the same day or day after I scheduled them I told my boss). He actually had to have shoulder surgery last year so told me how to research and go to consultations with at least 3 docs to make sure you are getting the best doctor. At his suggestion I scheduled mine for mid August so that I can take off the last two weeks in August which is the closest thing to downtime we really get at my job.

They initially gave me umpteen different appointments on different days but now I have asked them to consolidate them so I am out of the office less. And by the way if your surgery is not until January and they cannot consolidate or reschedule any of your appointments, then I personally would look for another care team who would do so. But again I am lucky to be living in a major metro area where I have my choice of excellent surgeons.

Good luck and I'm glad that you told your boss. For many others, I truthfully tell them that I am getting surgery "for" my knees. In all honesty it is the pain in my knees that was the final decision maker for me. I actually had gotten a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, and then realized that what I REALLY needed to do for my knees was to lose the weight:-)

[Ms. Nunya 126]

I'm not telling my boss crap. He is a real "motor mouth!" I don't even know how he was ever promoted to supervise anyone. If he knows, the world will know. I'll just have my FLMA papers and short term disability papers in order. All he will know is that I'm out and now I'm back. Period.

[snapdragon05 44]

I'm not telling my boss crap. He is a real "motor mouth!" I don't even know how he was ever promoted to supervise anyone. If he knows, the world will know. I'll just have my FLMA papers and short term disability papers in order. All he will know is that I'm out and now I'm back. Period.

Ha! Good for you. You have to use your better judgment.

[twittymilk 51]

I only told my friends at work, did not tell my boss or my immediate team members. I just used by PTO time and scheduled the surgery around a long weekend to the additional time off.

[trekker954 421]

My boss is a motor mouth as well. So unprofessional. If I were to tell him, he would close the door and call as many people to gossip as he could. What is sad, is he is only in his forties (younger than me) and extremely obese and his young son on the same slippery slop.

I may have no choice if I wish to request episodic tele-work which I know I would be eligible for my second week at home. I already work from home on Mondays. I will likely have my gallbladder removed during WLS though.

I have plenty of sick leave stored up, but anything more than a week, I'd kind of have to disclose.. Then take vacation time the second week. Not to keen on that. Guess I will have to decide soon.

[RoscoColetrain 103]

I didnt ask work, I told them. Theyre being very nice about it, and im being as flexible as possible. But I've decided that health now comes first.

A paycheck is nice. Not as nice as not having heart attacks, strokes, cancer, dying young, diabetes, copd....