Question:
Is it possible to not disclose to my employer the reason for medical leave of absence

I do not wish to disclose to my employer or co-workers why I am taking a medical leave. Do I have legal rights to keep that information confidential? Of course, with the employer it is said to be kept confidential but I think we all know .. usually .. especially in a small work circle .. that just doesn't happen. Is my PCP's sign-off saying I will be off for a specific amount of time due to medical purposes sufficient? Has anyone dealt will a similar situation?    — Sarah H. (posted on March 7, 2003)


March 7, 2003
You do NOT have to disclose why you need medical leave. Your PCP or your surgeon, either one, can write a letter or fill out a form, if that's what your employer wants, and then just sign it. I don't think I even had to have them say why I needed to stay on short term disability, although I had not made any secret of the surgery I was having.
   — garw

March 7, 2003
My FMLA form at work did require a diagnosis as well as estimated time out. My short term forms are very specific and wanted diagnosis and treatment regimen. I was honest with my employer and those who work in HR and your boss should NOT be repeating what you tell them in private. I would make that clear to them that you would like for it to be kept private. Best wishes
   — Heather S.

March 7, 2003
hi there, :) my place of employment and co workers knew why i needed medical leave because i decided to be upfront about it, i actually was fine with that but figured id have no choice , well, i mean with co workers i had the choice but i didnt think i would with the others. to get my short term disability,i not only needed a letter from the surgeon stating what i was having and the diagnosis, they also said that they needed to know that this was medically necessary and not just cosmetic, id gone 5 weeks with no check and thats when i found out that they needed to know that, i rmemember thinking to myself, hmmm, im like 220 lbs overweight and they think this is cosmetic, oh geeeeeze! best of luck to you! :)
   — carrie M.

March 7, 2003
I work for the Postal Service and for Cox Communications which are both large companies. I DIDNOT tell either one of them why I was having surgery and neither did my Dr. It is confidential and they do not need to know above the fact that you're having surgery and how long aftercare will be. PERIOD! So do it however you want.
   — Sharon B.

March 7, 2003
I can understand not telling people pre op. It brings out the horror stories. But as a post op you cant hide a 100 pound fast loss. People will gossip you have cancer or AIDS I would tell the truth when the weight starts peeling off. Its better than them thinking your dying,looking for your replacement or vying for your desk with the nice view:(
   — bob-haller

March 7, 2003
The only person you should have to tell is the one handeling your FMLA papers in HR. You do not need to tell your boss. HR has an obligation to keep this private. I just told my boss surgery on the papers for FMLA. I did tell her a few months a go that I was looking into having WLS, but ofically it is just surgery.
   — Nickie C.

March 7, 2003
Just had to answer this one....I told only my close family and other people I work with....well...I work with the public. I am a librarian and we have many senior citizens that come in and we adore them and they adore us. We become their buddies. Several of them noticed my weight loss and I had to laugh as I slowly came out of the closet so to speak about how I was losing so much weight so quickly. Everyone of them were trying to console me thinking I had cancer. Now I have become a interesting project for them to watch and keep updated on how I am doing. They know the "famous" people that have had the surgery and they like "knowing" someone that has had it "personally." To answer your question...you can't hide it...but that is truely a blessing not a problem.
   — Oldsoul

March 7, 2003
I chose not to tell anyone at work about my surgery. My doc put major abdominal surgery on my papers. Several nosey people asked what kind of surgery I was having, and I just told them I didn't want to get into it. Most just then assumed "female problems". One guy kept persisting and I finally told him I was having a labotamy! He said, " oh girl stuff"!
   — Laura B.

March 8, 2003
Perhaps I am paranoid .. But I have noticed ... And for those who this does not pertain to .. please forgive me in advice .. for I hate stereotyping. But it just seems to me that the support I receive as a pre-op is basically most supportive from other pre-op patients. My experience has been that post-op .. (And as I said .. of course ... not all).. they while answering a question I ask .. appear arrogant and presumptious. I feel a perfect example is found in the above question/answers. My wanting to keep my surgery 'confidential' .. is later degraded by other's use of words such as .. 'secret' .. 'you can't hide it' .. 'upfront about it' .. 'honest with employer' .. Like my wanting to keep my medical information private somehow is wrong of me. I do love this site .. And I do get a lot of information from it. But I have to admit .. some .. and I repeat .. some .. not all .. of the comments I have received have greatly disappointed me. I just would like to say. WLS to me is a very personal choice. And unfortunatley one that most who are not overweight or not in close connection with someone who is greatly overweight cannot understand .. no matter how much than wish to or appear to. It's just impossible. It's like me saying I can understand what a smoker goes thru or an alcoholic or someone who has suffered a heart attack/stroke/lost a kidney/has cancer etc .. when I have never faced those problems. I can try to be sympathetic. But sympathy and acceptance is about as far as it can go .. for there is no way I can ever truly know or understand what their torement with there specific problem is like. For those who wish to write back and post something negative to me .. Please .. Let's just drop it. I have a very clear picture now. And your comment have been very helpful in many ways. Mainly to prove my point in why I wish to keep things private. I mean .. if we are all on the same page and judge each other .. how can I expect those with no idea what I am going thru to understand. I am sorry if I have babbled on. I just needed to vent. I wish any who are out there considering/wishing for/having/or have had WLS all the best of luck with anything and everything.
   — Sarah H.

March 8, 2003
By all means it is. I too work with a small group of people and did not want anyone knowing what I was having done. Personell told me that I did NOT have to disclose anything what I was having done. Their only requirement is verification from your surgeon that you need this time off for medical reasons that make you unable to work for. With no one at my work or personell knowing anything other than that I was taking a medical leave of absence for surgery, I knew nothing could "leak out". I totally understand where you're coming from. If you have any questions don't hesitate emailing me !! Best wishes to you :)
   — wimzy

March 13, 2003
Once you disclose the medical condition/information about going on medical leave to your Human Resources Department, they are under strict regulation not to divulge ANY of your personal information to ANYONE. Doing so would be a violation of your privacy rights and you could file a lawsuit. If you are working for the federal government, failure to divulge a certain amount of information (enough to get your leave approded) may potentially result in denial. You could give them several different kinds of diagnosis: GERD, Female Surgery, Abdominal Surgery and the corresponding ICD-9 codes. I'd be happy to give you more ideas; especially the ones that worked for me; email me. I'd be happy to help!:)
   — yourdivaness




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