Question:
When is a good time to return to work?
I have a sitdown desk job where I answer phones in customer service and sales. The job is very mentally stressful. My insurance company is granting me 4 weeks to start, but various other women in the office have taken 6-8 weeks. Now, let me explain our job! We have to sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day with 2 -15 minute breaks. I do not have the type of job that if I start to get sick and have to go to the bathroom I can just get up. If you are offline more than 6 minutes in a day, you get written up. Also, let's say I go back in 4 weeks and then I find in the 5th week I have a real bad day, my incision gets infected or I am extremely tired I still have to go in and work my full shift. There is no calling in or asking for a half day off, if you call in that is considered a hit and you can only have 3 hits in a rotating one year period and then you get fired. So what I need to know is there anyone out their that has the same kind of job restrictions as me and how long did you take off and was it hard sitting 8 hours without being able to walk around every hour or so? — Denise G. (posted on May 5, 2003)
May 5, 2003
If I were you I would get a new job. In any case the sit for 8 hours puts
you at big blood clot risk. I would say 2 months. But you really should ask
your surgeon.
— bob-haller
May 5, 2003
Whoa! That's some job you have there! :-/ Given the situation you
describe I would take AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE... go for the 8 weeks and
use some of that time to look for a new job :-)
— SJP
May 5, 2003
Get documentation from your Dr., first and foremost to make sure you cover
your backside. It doesn't have to specifically spell out what kind of
surgery you HAD, if you don't want it to. Legally, your employer can't ask
why or what kind of surgery you had. (I know mine won't know when I have
surgery. It'll just make my life easier there)Employers can not do that to
you. Are partial days an option for you? (Short term disability)
Depending on how long you've been with this company, and hour many hours
you have logged in for, you ALSO may have the option of FMLA (family
medical leave act) which covers yourself (a spouse, a child) legally. Or
again, even STD (short term disability) Did you get a job manual,
something that would list your benefits? I say this respectfully, but KNOW
your rights. Trust me when I say, SOME of them won't give them out to you
willingly!!! God, and I thought MY job/employer was anal and HR challenged.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 5, 2003
Hi, I had lap RNY on October 8th 2002 and return to my desk job in 4 weeks,
I know everyone is different but I found 4 weeks to be exceptable. But
again you should ask your doctor.
— Tricia A.
May 5, 2003
By being so inflexable, your company is really doing itself a huge
disservice as they are really encouraging people to take off way more time
than they really need. However, there is nothing you can do about that, so
I agree with a previous poster who said to take as much time off as you
can. And look for another job while you are off! No one should have to
sit that long or not be able to get up and use the restroom when needed.
They need to lose the sweatshop mentality.
— koogy
May 5, 2003
wow, I worked in a call center environment a couple of years ago, and what
you described would have caused a strike!!! Talk to your doctor about
going back to work with restrictions.... ie having to get up once an hour
or so to walk for a couple of minutes, job security if there are
complictaions down the road etc....
I found that 4 days after my surgery I felt I was ready to return to work,
Boy am I glad I didn't....one day I felt great the next rotten....Don't
push yourself unless you are in need of the money....take care of you...
and do what you need to get healthy.
Best of luck!
— Peg L
May 6, 2003
Hello! Like you, I have a sit down job. I am a medical transcriptionist
and some days I am lucky if I get a 30 minute lunch break. I had open RNY
on Jan 13, 2003 and only took two weeks from work. The week of surgery and
the week after. It was very tiring sitting and typing for 8 hours a day,
but it got better the second week after returning to work. Four weeks
seems like an awful long time to me, but I would consult with your
physician. Each person is different and if you feel like you can only work
half a day, work only half a day. Listen to your body and don't overdo
yourself. It will get better. Good luck to you on your journey! Daphine
(open RNY, Jan. 13, down 51 pounds - down from size 24 to XL tops and size
24 to 16 pants)
— Daphine C.
May 6, 2003
Under the Family Medical Leave Act - unless you work for a very small
company, you are allowed 12 weeks of leave (not necessarily paid time off,
just time off). I would personally take the 6-8 weeks just so that you
don't get "in trouble" although it sounds like your work
environment is pretty tough - I hope they pay well 'cause it sounds
miserable. Anyway, if you can't afford to be gone that long, you could
request "work modifications" which is like when an injured worker
goes back to light duty. You might be able to work out with personnel that
for the first 4 weeks after your return to work (after your 4 weeks off, so
weeks 5-8) that you will be on a "no hits, no write-ups" status
and you could offer to email your boss if they want you to be in touch each
time you need a longer break or something - the idea being that they will
give you a relaxed accountability - and it can be counted as part of your
12 weeks. If they want you back bad enough, they may be willing to work
with you on this - if they are not flexible like that - stay off work
rather than risk loosing your job.
— bethybb
May 6, 2003
I agree! I went back to work after the 6 weeks when the Doctor cleared
me....I ended up quiting b/c I could not do my job, I was not ready. I went
back to work after a couple months and was fine. I did have a pretty easy
job, but it was still hard on the body that just went through such a
dramatic change. Talk to your Doctor. Good luck!
— Sandy M.
May 6, 2003
I had LAP RNY 4 weeks ago. I went back after 1 week. I sit at a computer
alot, however I can get up and move around. Moving around is very
important. It keeps you from getting blood clots and it helps to break up
the gas. Check with your doctor in your case. As for the job, I agree with
Bob. In most states, if you are sick, your employer can not just fire you -
but that's a side issue you might want to consider researching.
— M B.
May 6, 2003
With your type of job I would take longer and I agree with Bob, get another
job. Or you can talk with your supervisor and get her opinion on it, see
if they will work with you. I was back to work after 3 wks. I also have a
sit down job, but I can get up and move around. Good luck!
— TLLessor
Click Here to Return