Question:
Am I required, by law, to tell my employer what surgery I am having??
I am trying to keep things pretty calm,quiet, and discreet regarding my surgery. I was wondering if I am required to tell my employer what kind of surgery I am having. Is major abdominal surgery enough? Can they hold anything against me at my job if I don't tell them that I am having WLS? What are my rights and protections regarding this?? Thanks — enjo4 (posted on June 5, 2000)
June 5, 2000
Erin, In no way, shape or form are you required to inform your
employer of the type of "personnal" surgery you are having.
— Becki S.
June 5, 2000
erin,
that is a very good question, which i was wondering myself. i also would
like to know if short term disability insurance thru work covers this type
of surgery too, as we are going to be out 4-6 weeks. i believe we have to
be honest what type of surgery we are having because our doctors note will
definitely have the type of surgery on it anyway, but i am sure they cant
hold it against us.please let me know if you find out more on this subject.
i live close to you. if you would like to e=mail me privately, my name is
[email protected]
joyce brewster.
— joyce B.
September 21, 2001
dont you think they are going to be even more concerned for you when you
keep dropping weight in front of them? not knowing what you have done?
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2003
The only reason that I know of for your employer to have to know what kind
of surgery you're having is if your insurance is a self-funded plan.
That's one where your employer actually pays for the procedures, and/or
pays an intermediary for them, and has rights to much more information.
But depending on the size of your company and division of duties in your HR
department, the person with knowledge of the particular surgery may or may
not be the same person as the STD rep. Either way, it would be
confidential information that would stay within your HR department - I
don't even think that your supervisors could be given specifics.
— Danielle T.
August 21, 2003
I am also trying to keep it quiet at work, so I only told my HR director
and my supervisor. If it gets around, I will know who said something. The
'concern' some of my co-worker's express is only nosiness so they can then
gossip about me later. Legally, the HR person where your work CANNOT tell
anyone about your procedure, thanks to the new HIPAA laws. You have to sign
a release to have them do anything on your behalf, and even then, they
can't talk about to anyone else. So, if you only tell your HR person and it
gets around, they are violating the right-to-privacy laws. As time goes by,
people will realize something is amiss when you start dropping the weight,
but then it is up to you if you choose to tell them.
— Shannon Z.
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