Question:
Has anyone been afraid of how your employer will see this surgery?
I don't know how to tell my employer and co-workers that I will be off work for several weeks and the nature of my surgery. Has anyone lost their job because of the surgery? — [Anonymous] (posted on May 3, 1999)
May 3, 1999
I had the surgery in February, and have been back at work for one month.
People have noticed, but they're not sure what to say. I simply say I had
surgery, and won't go beyond that. They respect that. If pressed, I will
say that the weight loss is a by-product of my surgery, which it is! The
surgery is life-saving, preventing so many other major health problems. It
increases productivity by making you healthier and happier: I don't think
anyone could lose their job because of the surgery. If they did, they
should get a good lawyer, and fight the discrimination.
— Elizabeth W.
May 3, 1999
I was actually on disability for the time I was out of
work. By law, in California anyway, they can't fire you
when you are out of disability. And in most cases they
have to give you the time off under the Family Medical Leave.
— dboat
May 3, 1999
I HAVE TOLD MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH ME
AT WORK. LUCKY FOR ME MY BOSS'ES WIFE HAD THIS SURGERY AND
HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU COULD BE
FIRED FOR THIS TYPE OF SURGERY AS IT IS NOT COSMETIC OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. TELL THOSE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH
AFTER ALL IT IS NOT ANYBODY'S BUSINESS. IF PEOPLE ASK
YOU QUESTIONS OUT OF SINCEREITY ANSWER THEM, OTHERS WHO
MAY BE NOSEY OR WHATEVER JUST BLOW THEM OFF. YOU HAVE TO
FEEL GOOD ALL THE WAY AROUND WITH WHAT YOU SAY.
I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE TOLD THE FEW PEOPLE I HAVE AND THEY
HAVE ALL BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE EXPRESS
CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY BUT ONLY OUT OF CONCERN. I HAVE ALSO
HAD ALOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO EXACTLY WHAT THEY WILL DO TO
ME DURING SURGERY AND HOW LONG WILL I BE IN THE HOSPITAL.
ONCE AGAIN THE DECISION OF WHO YOU TELL AND WHAT YOU SAY
IS ALL UP TO YOU. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!
— [Anonymous]
May 3, 1999
Wouldn't it be against the law to loose your job becaue of this. They
wouldn't fire you if it was surgery for a heart bypass to save your life,
same concept I would think just different bypass.
— [Anonymous]
May 3, 1999
My view is that it really isn't anyones business but yours, however, if you
feel you must explain then I would be upfront & tell him or her that
your health & your life depends on this surgery & that in a few
weeks you will begin the healing process. Unless you cannot perform your
duties once you go back to work, it would be against the law to
discriminate & ask you to leave your employment. If you had injured
yourself at work or say in an accident they certainly wouldn't fire you or
look down on you. So what is the difference with this. This surgery in fact
will save your life & add life to your years as add years to your life.
I am contemplating having the surgery also. Good luck.
— Diane S.
May 3, 1999
I lost my job because of the surgery! But you should not worry about it. My
boss found out from a co-worker who I thought I could trust. He told me
that if I had this surgery he wouldn't let me have the time off. I went
ahead with the surgery (1/22/99) andso far I've lost 53lbs and I feel
better than I have in over a year!
I look at it as a blessing in disguise. You don't have to tell your
employer exactly what type of surgery you're having, tell him it's
gallbladder surgery. And if he employs 50 or more employees he has to obey
the family medical leave act. Good Luck!
— Lynn H.
May 3, 1999
Thanks to our dear President Clinton, it is illegal for your employer to
let you go because of any medical situation (i.e. surgery, illness, etc.).
Your job is protected for (I believe) up to 6 weeks. As for telling them,
that is entirely up to you. I think by law you only have to tell them that
you are having surgery and how long you will be gone. Many tell their
employers that they are having gall bladder surgery, some say female
problems (well those who are female anyway!)
Good luck!
— PollyAnna F.
May 3, 1999
Well, I have the same fear. I basically told my boss I needed to have
surgery and I was not sure how long I'd be out. She didn't ask a lot of
questions, and my answers were not lies, just vague. I said I needed to
have intestinal surgery and the recovery time is between 4-8 weeks,
depending on each person. I just said I had to have some
"re-routing" done in my stomach. She does not know it is a
gastric bypass, and your employer doesn't really have a right to know, (at
least I don't think they do.) My suggestion to you would be to read your
employee policies and procedures. Also, if you work for a large
organization that has a resource line, use that and keep your name
confidential. Good luck. I hope this helps. (My surgery is scheduled for
June 16, 1999)
— Lauri B.
May 4, 1999
I too am one of those people who lost my job because of
having surgery. Four days before surgery I got let go.
I paid for my COBRA insurance and I still had my surgery.
I had a better (Higher Paying) job within a 10 days of
my surgery and haven't regretted loosing that old job or
of having the surgery. I have reported the company to
TWC and there is a case pending against them. Loosing that
job was a blessing in every way.
— Diane N.
May 7, 1999
you don't have to tell anyone the nature of your surgery. Just tell them in
advance that you will be having some personal surgery and will be out for
three or four weeks (I was out less than four weeks). Just tell them that
it's medically necessary and you're looking forward to feeling better
afterwards. I told folks about the kind of surgery and some people went out
of their way to tell me horror stories and try to talk me out of it... I
ignored them.
It's illegal to fire you for being sick (and having surgery). Theres ADA
Americans with Disablity Act. Your employer has to accommodate you and you
should work with the company to make sure your work is covered and your
time isn't a hardship on anything. Combine sick leave with vacation if you
MUST... or inquire about disability pay (prolly not necessary).
You'll be happier, healthier, cuter and a better employee afterwards, I
promise you. Good luck
Susan
[email protected]
(if anyone obnoxious insists on finding out what your operation is.. tell
em it's a sex change!!!)
— Susan C.
May 24, 1999
I work for a major international corporation, I have already discussed with
my boss that I'll need to be out probably up to 6 weeks and he agrees whole
heartedly that I should stay out the full time. In fact they are going to
have 2 people to cover my desk while I'm gone.... Maybe I work for a better
company than I thought.
— Carrie G.
June 16, 1999
I've been reading some of the responses to your post. I agree
wholeheartedly with the statements that if you get fired solely because
you're taking time off for the surgery, it is Illegal, and you can file
charges against the company. However, Don't lie about what type of
proceedure you're having. ie, Having your Gall Bladder out! I had my Gall
Bladder out laproscopically at 550 lbs, and I was out of work only ONE
day!!! I had the surgery on Friday, had the weekend to recoup and was back
to work on Monday! All you need to tell them is that You have just been
advised you must have extensive surgery, and that the expected recovery
time is 4-6 weeks. Period! Don't lie, it always backfires! And THEN the
company would have grounds to fire you, as they could use the fact that you
lied to get the time off work. Also, depending on what type of work you do
... I am a CAD Tech, computer drafting for an engineering firm, I was only
out 2 weeks, and felt fine to go back to work. I just had to have someone
else pick up heavy rolls of paper for the printing machine for a few weeks.
Good Luck! Don't tell them everything ... and don't lie!
— Sherrie G.
July 30, 1999
Nanette, If they do not respect you enough to acknowledge that you know
what is best for you, then I would question my respect for them. Ask them,
if they start lecturing you, just how healthy it is to be at your weight
the rest of your life, and maybe even heavier? Ask them how safe it is to
yo-yo diet, losing a few pounds and gaining more. Ask them the risks of
certain cancers women are more prone to when obese, ask them the risk of
heart disease, diabetes. Ask them if they understand the excrutiating pain
someone who's severely obese AND osteo-arthritic from head to toe
experiences on a daily basis ... Trust your decision ... the surgery will
save your life and give you a quality of life that you may have never
experienced because of the weight. It gave me my life back and I couldnt'
be more thrilled that I made the decision! Good Luck!!!
— Sherrie G.
November 26, 1999
I am not so concerned about my employer as I am with my co-workers. I have
been having gallstone attacks so everyone knows i am supposed to have
surgery. But no one, except my best friend who works with me, knows i will
have wls at the same time I have my gallbladder removed. I do not fear
losing my job. I am concerned about my co-workers reaction to me losing
all that weight. But I am not concerned enough to postpone my surgery. I
will probably let my boss know since I do get along well with her.
— kris R.
February 23, 2000
To anyone who is worried about his/her employment status as a result of the
surgery,here is what I did. I have a boss who doesn't care for me very
much and would have loved to hold my leave against me. What I did was have
my doctor send a note to the HR department that stated I was having
surgery. Then I designated the time off as FMLA. (If you have worked in a
company X amount of hours you may be entiled to this benefit) I didn't have
to tell my boss anything other than I am having surgery, which is FMLA
protected. There is no legal right for the employer to know if you do not
feel comfortable telling them.
— Danielle K.
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