Letting Your Employer Know?

Hi ladies,

I just wondered how you let your employer know that you would be taking time off? One of my workplaces knows all about my planned surgery and are very supportive, they know that I will be requiring sick-pay as I have no spare holidays left but they are happy with this.

My other employer, however, have no idea that I have planned this surgery. They are the kind of employer that would make life difficult for me if they knew that I was planning time off sick (we don't get paid holidays in this job, holiday pay is worked into our wages and if we have time off we don't get paid). I feel bad leaving them in the lurch at short notice but also don't want them to make life difficult if I tell them well in advance. I also don't really want them to know what procedure I am having time off for as I can only imagine their response! I can imagine how understanding they are likely to be, regardless of the fact that the main reason for this surgery is PIP removal, so not by choice

What approach have you all taken with regards to any difficult employers?
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You can get a sick note from your GP that just says general surgery, and no heavy lifting for 6 weeks hun x they don't need to know what your having done x

Thank you! When would I be able to get that? Would it be before or after surgery?
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After surgery, But if you give your GP a call they may be able to issue it the day before if your unable to get someone to pick it up for you. It seems that most GP's have their own way of doing things x

Ok that's great, thank you! I will give them a call and see what they say. My problem is going to be telling my second employer that I am having time off, I know they will be unhappy about finding cover at short notice So if I could get it the day before that would really help!
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They might not be happy about it hun, but at the end of the day you need to get those PIPs out or you could end up having to take even longer off work because of them! What job do you do?

I am a carer in the community, so I go to people's houses to give them personal care, elderly/physically disabled service users. It can be very physical with pushing wheelchairs, using hoists etc so the surgeon said 3-4 weeks before I would consider going back.

The employer that knows about it is an office job so hoping to return there after 2 weeks maximum.
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Fantastic job hun x I was a carer for about 7 years! Loved it. Definatly need that sick note with such a demanding job x

Thanks hun, will look into it asap!

It is a fab job, I love it and I'm hoping to continue it for a few hours per week once I start university in Sept where I will be studying midwifery 

What job do you do now?
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Which uni are you going to? Ive just finished uni so only have a part time job, this is something that i was worried about so my plans at the moment are to stay part time for now and up my hours if possible, and then look to find a full time job to start after my BA. xx

tell them now and then they know that you are going in for surgery, then tell them you will get the sick line to them when you get it xx

That's a good idea, so you don't need to worry too much about the recovery time. I am going to Hull Uni, i was lucky enough to receive more than one offer of a place but Hull is the closest and has a great course so i'm really excited to get started!

Where did you study?
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Aww thats lucky then, very close to you :) I studied at Canterbury so wondered if you might have been going there! I studied business though xx

tinkerbell24 wrote:tell them now and then they know that you are going in for surgery, then tell them you will get the sick line to them when you get it xx

This is what I was going to do but I know what they are like and they are likely to kick up a fuss, giving me less hours or hours that I don't normally do. They do this every time I have a holiday day booked, it's really petty . I think I will let them know the week or so before so they can't alter my rota but have enough time to get cover.
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ask them for your hours first then say to them oh i have surgery on such and such a date xx

I get them weekly so I think once I have my hours for the week before surgery I will let them know, so they will have 2 weeks and a few days notice. Think that is my best plan, unless my date gets brought forward and then they will know as soon as I do haha
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yeah if u get ur rota a week notice then you only need to give 2 weeks notice for time off (worked in HR before) so thats fine good luck xx

Prior to surgery you could always tell your employer you're having problems with you *cough* lady bits.

They're not going to push for further information about that and if they do you can just tell them you'd prefer to keep it private. After surgery you will get a GP note if you need one to sign you off heavy lifting for your six week recovery period lovely.

There's always ways around hun. Don't worry. Xx

Thanks Tinkerbell, that's good to know 

Good idea Cookie, I really don't want them to know what it's for so lady bits will need to be mentioned! 
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I'm not working at the moment hun, I'm just a full time mummy. Going a bit mad at home if I'm honest! X you will be fine, just tell them the basics, I love cookies idea about the lady bits lol