Short-term disability for morbid obesity? Is it allowable?

I have been on short term disability for depression and anxiety for almost two months. I am having a lot of physical issues in relation to my excessive weight problem. My boss had made some comments that were hurtful and between that and my physical limitations I do not feel that I can physically or emotionally be functional at this time. The nurse from work said that 2 months is excessive for short-term disability for depression and that I need to go back next week. When I explained to her all my physical problems as well she said that is not why I am out and proceeded to end the conversation. I feel that they look at the obesity as something I can personally fix if I want to and that I am just trying to get out of work! I am working with Barix Clinic right now to schedule surgery and have completed all the requirements to qualify for the surgery, just waiting on final approval letter from insurance....how can I maintain short-term until I have surgery? I still have four months left that is allowable per my company policy.... Any guidance would be appreciated, Thank you- Lisa

Hi Lisa, I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. Depression is hard enough on it's own, but when you are in an uncomfortable work environment, it can make it worse. I don't know much about short-term disability (outside of what a person gets due to surgery), but don't you have a doctor involved in this too? I always thought a doctor had to be involved in the first place to even qualify for short term disability. Maybe I am wrong about that. Either way, I would get a doctor involved. Are you currently having any psychological care where your counselor could go to bat for you? I'm sorry I can't offer any practical advice, but please know you aren't alone in all of this and if you have to go back to work, it sounds like you may be able to get your surgery soon anyway. You do want to have enough short term disability available for your recovery time from the surgery, right? Hang in there! Denise

Denise, Thank you for the support! I am seeing a counselor at the moment and my primary care physician has signed off on my short-term "estimated" through 6/20/05. It is the company nurse for whom I work that said I need to come back to work. I have an appt. set up for Wed., June 15th to see my primary doctor re: some blood test results, etc. My counselor feels that I should take some more time off, but the nurse at my work said since my counselor is not a Psychiatrist and since she is not putting me on medication, I need to go back to work. I do not want to go on meds. for depression, I know what my problem is and it was only accelerated by problems w/some people I work with. Once my surgery is complete I think work will be easier to deal with. It is the talking behind my back and comments by co-workers that make me not want to go back....I still have 18 weeks of short-term available if needed. I just don't see how my employers nurse has the right to determine what is best for me- over and above my counselor or doctors recommendations? Thanks for the support, Lisa

Truelly i don;t see how a nurses orders can override a doctors make sure you see you doc beforehand and let you doc decided and explain to him my situation wasn't exactly the same but my employer did say i needed to come back to work and my doc said no way and i didn't and wasn't nothing they could do i later quit once i admitted to myself i couldn't get back to work and followed my docs advise and applied for SSI it's prob a case of your employer trying to bully you hopeing you don't know your right is my guess (happened all the time at my previous place of employment) GOOD LUCK!!!