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In response to
"Monday...I wish could take off another week, but can't afford it -- nm"
by
amoxy
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Do yourself a huge favor.
Posted by
Trish (aka Trisha)
May 1 '09, 01:16
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If you haven't already done it, apply for FMLA, going back to the day you were admitted to the hospital. It doesn't give you unlimited sickpay for when you were off, but it does protect your job if you have to miss work due to your condition, in the future. You don't know what's going to happen now, so you'd make it "intermittent" fmla. Like say you started getting headaches and may need to leave early or come in late because of it. Or say you had a string of doctor's appointments or had to get xrays/ct scans on a regular basis, fmla would keep your employers from slapping "occurrences", or however they do it where you work, on you and causing you to get in trouble or even jeopardize your job. Since the laws concerning fmla changed last year, it would be in your best interest to look into it. The paperwork is very simple and you'll find that most doctors are happy to help by filling out their part. They KNOW how you're feeling and work as an advocate for *you*. Also, filling out the forms allows you to officially ask for workplace concessions or changes that would allow you to perform your duties without jeopardizing your health. Example: if you find you tire easily and need to lie down several times per day, you could ask for a quiet place to do so. If it didn't cause your employer undue hardship, they are obliged to make changes because once those papers are signed. you jump into what's called a "protected class" of employee. It is well worth your while to have a conversation about it with your doc. Then have him/her list what they believe would be the changes necessary to provide you with an optimum workplace--another example could be no mandatory overtime (unless you felt like it and agreed) it wouldn't be held against you. Heck, if you felt like you would be better served to work from home (so you could lie down when nencessary, turn the lights down if they bothered you, work in the middle of the night when you have insomnia, etc) and your doctor agreed, you could ask for that as an accomodation. Again, as long as it didn't cause your employer a great deal of expense or hardship to allow it, they'd have to give it serious consideration.
The first FMLA laws on the books basically addressed people who were disabled for a long period of time and unable to work (or persons who needed a long period of time off to care for a sick child, parent, spouse or partner) but who did intend to return and needed job security. Last year the law was ammended to allow intermittant time off, which is a godsend to people who aren't sick all the time, but who may have unexpected times when they can't be there and who need certain accomodations to allow them to perform their duties. My primary doctor just recertified me for intermittant FMLA for diabetes with lowered renal functions/kidney failure and my Rheumatologist signed intermittant FMLA papers for tow more conditions--severe fibromyalgia and non-differintiated connective and systemic auto-immune disease (Lupus). Now all those nasty little attendence occurences have had to go bye-bye and I'm protected by the law.
Job-wise, this is the best thing you could ever do for yourself. :)
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