Question:
HELP I JUST GOT A NEW JOB AND PLANNING TO HAVE SURGERY PLEASE HELP

I JUST WAS HIRED FOR A NEW JOB ON 6-18 MY FIRST APPT WITH THE SURGEON IS ON THE 24TH I HAVENT GOTTEN A START DATE YET BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF MY DOC APPT BUT THEY DONT NO WHAT ITS FOR I AM SCARED THAT WHEN AND IF I AM APPROVED FOR THE SURGERY WHICH I SHOULD BE(HOPEFULLY) THAT IF I TELL THEM I WILL BE HAVING SURGERY AND NEED TIME OFF THAT THEY WILL LET ME GO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS I WANT THE SUGERY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE JOB PLEASE HELP    — JENNIFER S. (posted on June 21, 2003)


June 21, 2003
I am in the exact same situation, I have just been hired after being out of work since October! I can't afford not to take the job, and I am just waiting for approval from insurance. I can't pass up the wls, I have wanted and needed that for a long time. I am going to take the surgery(if approved) and pray the job will be there when I am done. Good luck! E-mail me how your situation turns out. Judy Davis
   — heyjude51

June 21, 2003
I think that you should tell them up front that you will be needing to have surgery but as of now you are still going through testing and such so you are not sure of the exact date.Maybe then they can arrange your vacation time or sick days so that you can be off.I just started a new job in May and as luck would have it Im going to br out the entire month of july (school vacation)so I will have my surgery then.I would not give them any more info than they really need just in case there are major delays due to the insurance but at least if they are aware its a possibility they can think of ways o work it out. Good Luck
   — Lisa F.

June 21, 2003
Hi, Jennifer: I agree with the other posters; you should tell your employer that you are going to be needing surgery, you don't need to tell them exactly what kind, you could always say it's for something "female related" and usually they won't ask any more questions. You can let them know that you're waiting on pre-authorization from insurance before you find out exactly when it will be, let them know approximately how much time you'll need off, and see if perhaps they can either get some temporary help in for that time or if someone from another department could help out. This way, you're not necessarily lying or keeping anything from them, but so many people still consider WLS cosmetic, not medically necessary, and I might be afraid that they wouldn't look fondly upon that. However, if you say it's female related, people usually don't question that. Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!
   — Moysa B.

June 21, 2003
hi there good luck on your journey, i say tell them up front your looking into having surgery if you feel comfortable with that. if you don't feel comfortable with that don't tell them until it actually arrives at your surgery time. i'll tell you it took six months from my consult with the surgeon till my surgery date to actually arrive. all the pre op testing and insurance approval and psych evaluation and all the rest of the rigamaro they put you through it might pay to just wait it out and by then you might be past your probation at work. just my two cents. best wishes, kimberly open distal rny 11/12/02 -100lbs
   — kimberly T.

June 21, 2003
If you want to make sure you don't lose the job, do NOT tell them about your needing surgery! Would you insure a burning house! I think not. I know it's great to be honest, but at times you can really cut your own throat. Personaly I would continue pursueing the surgery and more than likely it will take alot of time anyway. At least I had to monkey fart around with my insurance for 9 months before they would approve me. Most people are probally luckier and it's shorter. My "guess", to be on the safer side, would to have your job for a minium of 3 months, preferabley 6 months before surgery. "That way you are established", and hopefully they find you a valuable employee. Surgery leave too soon after hiring my leave you vulnerable to being replaced. Would you like to hire someone and the first thing they do is come to you saying they are going to have surgery? Heck no! You have a business to run! Why not be safe and have both the job and sugery? :) Don't tell them at this time. It's none of their business right now anyway, unless you are planning surgery soon. Cover your bases... pursue the doctors or whatever you need to get surgery, do excellent work and be PATIENT! Be patient and wait preferable 6 months, and at least 3 months before surgery. Then have surgery, and a good job to look forward too. Best of luck to you!
   — Danmark

June 21, 2003
I would wait till my probation period is over with the company. Then proceed. You can start to see the surgeon and get all the tests Ity may take 6 months to get your ducks in a row anyway. Good Lux
   — Robert L.

June 22, 2003
I agree that it would be more effective for you to work for at least 6 months before having surgery. That way, your insurance will be fully in effect and you will have had time to prove yourself a desirable employee. Once you get your approval for surgery, just ask for a date that falls in well with your work. I would encourage you to not say anything to anyone connected with your work that you are going to have WLS. Nothing has been finalized for you yet, and you can always change your mind about surgery, or some complications could arise. When I interviewed prospective employees, I would not have hired someone who was planning a surgery in the near future - any kind of surgery. I would have suggested that they re-apply after they were recovered. That is only practical. Why hire someone who may be gone in a few months for surgery and be off work for how ever long and have to find someone else to replace you while you are gone. That is not cost effective. And in my company, people could not get a Leave of Absence for any reason until they had worked for us for a specified amount of time. Good luck with your new job. :)
   — Judy K.

June 22, 2003
Hi...if you plan on using FMLA for your recovery time, this is what I got from an HR website: <br> "FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to "eligible" employees for certain family and medical reasons. <b>Employees are eligible if they have worked for a covered employer for at least one year, and for 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months, and if there are at least 50 employees within 75 miles</b>". <P> I don't know if your company falls under the 50 employees guideline or not. But if it is a small company, my assumption is that you would have to take unpaid leave if you have surgery before you earn vacation time. And you would not have the protection of them keeping your job for you when you return. They might be nice and do that, but legally you wouldn't have that protection. This surgery is considered "elective". Just some thoughts to keep in mind as you stated you wanted to keep the job as well as have your surgery. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 22, 2003
Be honest with your new employer up front. Tell them every thing. Don't worry all will be fine.
   — Derith

June 23, 2003
I started a new job on June 30, 2002 and had surgery 9-3-02, I informed my employer at the time of my interview that I was having this surgery and would be out 6-8 weeks for recovery. My employeer was hoping I wouldn't follow through with it, but accepted it and I was not paid any time off. We are small physician practice so no FMLA applied.
   — Jeana S.

June 23, 2003
I agree with Daniel. If the job is important to you, I think you need time to establish yourself as a valuable worker before you take time off for surgery. If nothing goes wrong with your surgery, you should only have to take a few weeks off and after having worked for them for about 6 months or so, it would look better, especially if you can time the surgery to a period when the company can afford to give you the time off-shows you are working with them. If you start the job then announce your having surgery right away, some employers may think that you took the job just to get the health insurance to have surgery and that doesn't set a great example.
   — Cindy R.




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