My boss is a JERK

Today I went for my 6 week check up and my doctor gave me permission to return to work part time for the next 2 weeks in order to help me ease back into the work force. I still suffer from fatigue alot, and it takes me an hour travel time each way to work. Of course all of this depends on my second doctor approving my return to work.

My boss called and did not like the idea of my returning part time. She feels it would be better for me to come back and work a full week, then stay home a week, then come back full time, or to come back full time now. She does not want me working part time at all.

She kept telling me that she is thinking of me, not her in her decision. BULL!

I am taking my release papers directly to human resources, and talking with them about this. I will also inform them of my bosses desire to make me come full time.

I think it is a good idea that you go to HR with your doctor's note. They may be more understanding of your doctor's suggestion for coming back part-time for two weeks. If not, you may need to stay home for a few more weeks until you can go back full time. When I returned to work, it was full time and I was really tired the first few weeks. I had my doctor's appt. on a Monday and went back to work on Tuesday.
Good luck.

I am fortunate that since I am a state employee, we have an option called "early return to work" where my doctor makes a list of my job duties that I CAN do, and they will modify my job to fit that list. Since I have a desk job, I should be able to do my regular duties except for the mail run and sorting supplies. I am not chained to my desk, so getting up, walking and stretching is not a problem. I consider this benefit a way to offset the fact that I have to pay $250 plus 10%. Maybe your HR dept has a similar plan? If not, I also agree that you should take off the extra time. You only have one chance to heal. Sounds better than risking injury that will keep you off several more weeks!

Say to your boss:

"Thanks for thinking of me! You're so kind...

I'm only thinking of YOU, not myself, when I suggest that I come back part time. You see, by about noon every day, I need to take a 3-hour nap in order to function. I'm just sure I'll make a HUGE error in my work if I'm working too many hours. So, I'm really only thinking of you."


See if that gets her...

Jane,
What a wonderful suggestion! After my doctor's visit yesterday I called HR and gave them notice that I would be comming back. I didn't ask questions, or offer another way of returning to work, I simply told them that this is what my doctor has ordered.

I go back on Monday, and can't wait to see what my boss has to say about this

Kelly -

I don't know what state you work in, but I would also suggest you log any problems you have with your boss, privately. Date, time, witnesses. This is in case you lose your job or you get harrassed. Protect yourself, be professional.

Good luck!

I'd recommend dealing directly with the HR department with your return to work!

When the need for my surgery came up, my supervisor was unavailable due to his absence with his own surgery - so I went to HR and completed paperwork there, and HR notified my supervisor of my FMLA status and the time I'd be away from work.

My supervisor returned the day I was under anesthesia with my surgery. I received the nastiest email from my supervisor, demanding to know the reason/need for my absence, what my condition was, demanded that I file all the paperwork with him, etc. I forwarded the email to HR and let them handle it. They maintained complete confidentiality with regard to my condition and type of surgery per my request.
They said: We can inform that this is an FMLA covered condition and her return will be 6 weeks and we (HR) will handle her paperwork.

I did receive a voice mail from my boss just prior to my 2 weeks post-op, hoping I could come back to work at 2 weeks.

Be sure to keep HR informed of any supervisor requests that are contrary to your physician's request. Supervisors are really walking a fine (legal) line with these types of requests, and HR knows that.

Shoozie

	Quote:
Originally posted by kelly15972 Jane, What a wonderful suggestion! After my doctor's visit yesterday I called HR and gave them notice that I would be comming back. I didn't ask questions, or offer another way of returning to work, I simply told them that this is what my doctor has ordered. I go back on Monday, and can't wait to see what my boss has to say about this

Kelly, I agree with what the other's wrote -- if you go back early or they make you go back early when you have a DOCTOR'S note -- your company can get in HUGE trouble. It's a big liability issue. (I have 25 years of medical experience -- so, I'm pretty well versed in the return to work issues.) I also agree there are some jobs out there that make you return on "limited" duty.

Best of the best for you!

	Quote:
Originally posted by shoozie my supervisor, demanding to know the reason/need for my absence, what my condition was, demanded that I file all the paperwork with him, etc. I forwarded the email to HR and let them handle it. They maintained complete confidentiality with regard to my condition and type of surgery per my request. They said: We can inform that this is an FMLA covered condition and her return will be 6 weeks and we (HR) will handle her paperwork. Shoozie

Oh, I am SO glad to know that I'm not alone on this issue! I don't care to discuss my health issues with people I work with -- much less THEY are not my doctors!

My surgery was almost a month ago -- doctor put me out for another two weeks and then part time first week back. Said that I was healing fine -- but it was the first time in a long time that my blood counts were normal and she wanted to give me time to get more strength back. So, more movie watching for me.