Scheduling medical leave

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LAstar
LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

Hi -- I recently started a new job after two decades of having my own consulting business.  I need to schedule medical leave in 2015 and want to talk with my supervisor about it soon.  Having not done this before, are there any issues that I should be aware of?  How much do I need to tell him?  What are the U.S. laws about this?  Any tips are greatly appreciated!

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited February 2014

    I had a very supportive workplace and supervisor, so I never had to think about issues like my legal rights. In return for that support, I did try to schedule my medical leaves at times when they'd be least disruptive, whenever I could.  Obviously my first surgery after dx had to be done with very little advance notice, but for my follow up recon surgeries that could be scheduled when I wanted, I'd talk with my boss about upcoming projects, and tried to schedule my those surgeries accordingly.  Same for chemo - I worked through chemo, but obviously had to be absent for the first few days after each tx.  I gave my boss my chemo schedule immediately so she'd know in advance when I was going to be out and when I'd be at work. I also gave her as much notice as possible for doctor's and lab appointments, and occasionally rescheduled them when something at work took priority.

    Legally, I'm not sure what your rights and responsibilities are, especially for a new job where you're not familiar with how they treat people who need extended medical absences.  Hopefully someone with more experience in that area will chime in soon.   Since you're not looking for this leave until 2015, you have plenty of time to research this before approaching your supervisor.  Good luck!

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited February 2014

    my office has been supportive and I told my boss the whole thing. BC, surgery, my treatment etc. I needed my office to understand where I stand and why I need time off. 

    I think it all depends on how your office culture is. 

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited February 2014

    Thanks to you both!  I hope that I will have the same experience.  My employers seem to be very family-oriented and understanding, so I have a good feeling, but I hear stories on these forums about people with unpleasant experiences.  In my case, I need to deal with a complication to my reconstruction that will require two surgeries.  It would be easy for someone to misunderstand this as an optional procedure.  Less info might avoid any confusion in this case.  

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2014

    LAstar, you're talking about scheduling a full year out!  Your bosses should be understanding about that; it's not like the usual medical leave (an emergency).

    My office was (and still is) so supportive that I never needed to look up the story on the Family Medical Leave Act or short-term disability.  Those are what you need to read up on.  If your company is large enough to have an HR department and HE-type policies, you should be able to read up on how to ask for an FMLA leave.

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited March 2014

    LAstar - even though having a reconstruction is a choice but i think most people would be able to understand it's not a plastic surgery. you didn't want this to begin with. you are just doing the best you can with this obstacle. pls keep us posted. you're in my thoughts.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2014

    Thanks so much, ladies!  

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