FMLA cruelty

I am so sorry you are dealing with this! How awful!! I am assuming it is your HR department sending these emails to you and not your direct supervisor? If not, I would suggest talking to your HR department for guidance first off.

There are rights under FMLA and this site has some information as well.

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/understanding-health-insurance/health-insurance-laws/family-and-medical-leave-act.html

Best wishes to you. Push to get your docs to do your paperwork!!!

I'm sorry you're dealing with so much chaos and worry. I know the moment I mentioned surgery and time off my HR department demanded FMLA paperwork. My general surgeon wouldn't complete it as he wasn't doing the mastectomy and reconstruction, and that was the surgery that would keep me out for 8 weeks, so the PS needed to fill it out. All of my doctors required two weeks to complete the paperwork; my employer wanted it returned within a week. I explained to my HR department the timeframe for my doctor, and let the surgeon's office know my employer had told me I could lose my job without it. I kept in touch with the HR department and the company that manages the LTD with regular updates, like what day I turned in the paperwork and the contact person at my surgeon's office. Every couple of days I reached out to both parties to update and keep that paperwork moving.

I know it's frustrating but keep on top of it. My surgeon's office fills out dozens of these requests a week and while it's vital to us, it's not necessarily a priority to them, but they *do* want to get it done so we can take care of ourselves and heal. Don't give up!

My PS said 8 weeks was the standard for UMX + immediate DIEP reconstruction. It wasn’t until I landed in the hospital with a superbug infection that he extended the leave for another two weeks.

I was glad I didn’t take longer because my employer required me to use intermittent FMLA to cover my appointments and follow-up visits, and ultimately my chemo. I squeaked by at the end, with only a few days in the FMLA bank to soare

lilir - since you have mentioned a plastic surgeon I assume you are having reconstruction. Will this be expander to implant? FMLA runs 12 weeks off, without pay (which should be covered by your STD and LTD) every 12 months as long as you meet the requirements, which are length of time employed with the company and hours worked over the previous 12 months. If you are doing expander to implant recon you will need to preserve some of that FMLA time for your exchange surgery, which is most likely to occur within the 12 month period. It should not take more than 8 weeks to recover from your initial surgery barring unforeseen complications, then your remaining 4 weeks can be used for recovery from the exchange, if that is the plan.

It’s great to hear you got that all resolved! It’s so complicated and confusing, and a lot of work to deal with when you’re primary concern is focused on cancer treatment. I hope your surgery was smooth and your recovery is easy and without complications.

FMLA is a federal law for job
protection, however employers may have additional options, too - I second your suggestion to research and know your HR policies. I was also entitled to 6 months off from my job, however my employer let me know they weren’t required to bring me back to my previous position after FMLA expired at 12 weeks. It’s why I worked so hard to get back within that 12-week timeframe, because I enjoyed my job and didn’t want to be bumped somewhere else. It’s just worth noting that here, for anyone else who comes along later.