Question:
STD, insurance coverage, employer retaliation

My doctor took me off of work because of depression, morbid obesity, and edema. I have been on STD for about 1 month now, and I have been waiting on my employer to tell me if they are going to go outside of our contract and cover the surgery. In the meantime I got a call from another department telling me that they are going to suspend my disability payments until my doctor submits a treatment plan. This is the first time they have requested this and my doctor is on vacation for another 10 days. No one in the office can be reached. I relayed my feelings about how unreasonable they are being. The bottom line is that they want me back to work. NOW! There is not way possible I can do this job in the condition that I am in and they know that. I suspect they are going to try and fire me if I go back. The RN told me that all I'm only gaining weight by being at home.She said that they want a treatment plan and may want a second opinion. I don't have a problem with any of that -infact I think that is pretty reasonable. But I think that suspending my payments until they get it is highly unreasonable - especially since they waited until 2:30 Friday to tell me this. I need some serious advice. I have tried to contact my union and got no one. I even called the main office. I have tried Attorneys - its Friday and no one is in. I even tried to contact Walter Lindstrom but just got the machine. I'm posting this anonymously - I'm paranoid now. Anyone who wants to contact me can send it to [email protected]    — [Anonymous] (posted on July 27, 2001)

July 28, 2001
FIght like you've never fought before. On Monday call the disability company. Find out what kind of policy your employer has. Perhaps they can add insight to your situation. Call your state offices. You can find the appropriate one in the front of your local white pages. There are many state laws that will protect you while you're on disability. Find out what they are. Lastly, call your employer back and talk to the HR department. They can't end your disability payments without some sort of notice. If they still insist they will end it before your doctor returns to town, tell them you have sought legal counsel and you will have your attorney contact them. Then... call a lawyer. You quite possibly may have a strong case.
   — [Anonymous]