Question:
How do I Set aside 4 weeks from work without becoming an
Maybe I'm just a little paranoid.. I've been holding 40 hours of vacation to add to next year, in preparations for my RNY in march, I should get a final date in about a month. The only thing is that I work for a smaller company, and we've had a lot of health insurance claims this year, many babies being born, etc... I know that's something the President is taking a hard look at as our rate went up this year through Great Western Life. I'm afraid that if I ask my boss for 4 weeks off, that I will become expendable, and lose my position before the surgery dates, thus my insurance.. I know... Lawsuit-city if it happens, but it's really eating at my confidence. If it was maternity leave or something, I feel I would have added protection while on leave. Should I tell them it's just intestinal surgery, etc? Justifying it against the presidents worries of rising medical insurance costs? I haven't told anyone yet, and I have a few weeks to figure out my plan of attack. Dr. Boe said my surgical date would be around February, but I have to wait until March anyway because of previous business commitments. How did others deal with this, or did you have a similar situation? I hate to think I'm paranoid, but in this unstable job market, I really am... — [Anonymous] (posted on November 20, 2001)
November 20, 2001
How long have you been at work? If it's been at least a year, you are
protected under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). You have the right to
take off up to 12 weeks without pay. Pull up a few search engines and look
up FMLA rights. You should know your rights upfront. Don't let fear keep
you from doing what is best for you!
— Goldilauxx B.
November 20, 2001
Does your company offer short-term disability? Most corporations offer
short-term disability. I took 5 weeks off and was paid full wages in
short-term disability the entire time. Your boss never needs to know what
type of surgery you're having--only the benefits department needs to know,
and they are prevented from telling your boss or anyone else you work with
due to confidentiality laws.
— artistmama
November 20, 2001
WOW! This is amazing, I was just talking to a friend of mine about the
exact same dillema. I work for a Fortune 500 company in management.
Management frowns on taking disability time for elective surgery. All of
us here know this is far from elective surgery, but those people who have
never experienced this have a very different view point. I, unfortunately
in wanting to do things the right way have already told my immediate
supervisor about my surgery, and plan to take vacation time. I am
scheduled for a LAP RNY in January, and have scheduled 2 weeks off for
vacation. I am now concerned however because my friend, who had an open RNY
told me that if for whatever reason they have to convert to open, that will
not be nearly enough time to recover from the surgery.
I know about my rights under FMLA and disability, but my company is in the
midst of layoffs, and as management I am very expendible. You are not
alone in your concern.
— Terri R.
November 20, 2001
I realize you are NOT a teacher, however, I am having surgery on 12/12. I
have E mailed many other teachers to find out the answer to this exact
question. Although
I have around 3 weeks of saved sick days, I also have 2 sons
that may get sick and need me too, so I don't want to use more than I need.
The ones who had a LAP said 10 days was pretty good,( one older lady told
me she had surgery on Tues. and was back on the following Mon. cuz she was
getting "cabin fever") although I'd be very tired
in the afternoon and should go right home and rest (right!)
I am a "workaholic" and stay 2 hours extra sometimes, so
this is going to have to become a priority!! REST. I am
not worried, but if I do happen to have to be opened
up I have 2 weeks additional of Christmas break. All in all
I'm planning on missing 6 working days 4 weekends total of 10 days. I
teach kindergarten so I don't sit at my desk at
all.
— Cindee A.
November 20, 2001
How much time you need depends to a great extent upon what your job is.
Short haul truck drivers might need eight weeks while, for most of us, the
heaviest thing we lift is ourselves from one desk to another. Can you get
by with two weeks? I'm a teacher and, while one week would have been much
too soon, I feel I could have gone back to school after a sixteen day
interval. As it happened, I scheduled my open RNY for summer when I'm not
working. In any case, good luck!
— Chuck O.
November 20, 2001
I wouldnt tell a soul, not a single person. Just call it intestinal
surgery. Get it done LAP if you can, and ask them for 2 weeks off with the
possiblity of more depending on how you recuperate. If your job has a
paperwork component offer to do some work at home while your off to help
out. Once you start loosing tell everyone you had WLS so they dont think
you have cancer or something... Remenber the MOST important thing, you
health comes FIRST, without it you cant do any job.
— bob-haller
November 20, 2001
After my 1st consultation with the WLS surgeon, I advised my boss that
there was a good possibility that I would be having surgery and be out. I
work part time for a company I have been with for 11 years and I have Short
Term Disability insurance Plus FMLA. I never told anyone what my surgery
was for. When I got my surgery date, I activated my STD and then sent the
paperwork for the FMLA. This is all handled outside of my company. They
sent the paperwork they needed directly to the doctor.
As soon as you know about your surgery date, my suggestion is to submit
your request for FMLA. (Family Medical Leave Act) If you don't get paid
with an STD insurance during your time out, at least FMLA will preserve
your job.
You don't have to tell a soul what is going on.
However, what I am finding now, at 6 weeks post op, and 3 days back at
work, that people are wondering what is wrong with me...I am down about
40lbs and they see the difference. Only now have I began to share,
briefly.
— Kim M.
November 21, 2001
I am four weeks post op,openDS. I have been so fatigued that it would have
been impossible for me to return to work sooner than the 6 weeks I had
planned. I feel somewhat better this week but at times I am so overcome
with tiredness that I get chills,shakes and tears. When that happens I
need to lie down immediately. I plan to return to work on Dec 3rd which
will be 6 weeks, I do not know if I will be able to do an 8 hour day then
or not but will give it my best shot.
There are no guarantees where jobs are concerned. I have only been in
my present position 6 months and my boss and coworkers understood and
supported my need for this surgery. When I return to work it will be to a
new position which is a promotion.
In another job I was laid off after 6 years for no reason. I think
when employers want to get rid of you they do, most places are " at
will." FMLA should give you some protection. Good Luck!
— [Anonymous]
November 21, 2001
You didn't say whether your surgery was open or lap? I had lap RNY on
Thursday Nov. 8th. I originally had planned to be back in work on Monday,
the 19th. Since it is a 3-day work week due to Thanksgiving, I decided to
take the extra week. I will be going back to work on the 26th. Amazingly,
though, I have been driving and shopping and doing everything. I could
have been at work and saved 3 sick days.
— Dianne K.
November 21, 2001
I just want to point out that not everyone is eligible for FMLA. Smaller
companies (less than 28 employees I think) do not have to follow the FMLA
guidelines. I was also under the impression that you had to be a fulltime
employee for a certain amount of time (though I read below someone who was
PT who applied.)
— [Anonymous]
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