Returning to work

[leosmom]

I went back 1/2 days at week 5 and did that for the last 4 weeks. I also have a desk job. The hardest thing I found was the extended sitting time that stiffened my hip, butt, thigh, etc. which was painful. I tended to sit longer at work than I did at home. So I guess I lost focus on my recovery too.
This was my first week (wk 9) back to work full-time but now I'm up and walking around the office and factory areas every hour or so to keep things under control. And as long as I don't trip over things (did that a couple of times), it's getting easier.

 

[YoungM]

Hi!

I will be going back to work this Monday (ugh) at week 8. I also have a desk job -I will be trying to do some exercises at my desk and also going out walking at lunch. I'll let you know how I do.

Melissa

 

[mdakota]

i'm with you laurie, if you have it take it. its better for both if your 100%. and that recovery is so important. it prevents problems later and shortens the healing time. i've seen two coworkers one out for 8 weeks from plastic surgery, and another out for gastric bypass and about to go back out for the tummy tuck. ok now those are considered elective the same as ours. so you tell me should we feel bad for wanting to walk, they didnt feel bad .
now i may walk sexy when i get back but at least i have a reason to be out for a while. lol. sexy is just the benefit

 

[Josephine]

Things are quite different in the UK. Many regulations, especially vis a vis Health and Safety. As many of you know, my 'other' speciality is Occupational Health and one of my responsibilities is signing people off sick.

There are various levels.
1. your GP: as far as your employer is concerned, his certificate of sickness is a legal document has to be adhered to.
2. the Occupational Health Doctor/Nurse: our remit is to make sure that employees are not going to put themselves or their co-workers at risk by returning to work when they are not properly recovered. They can send the individual back to their GP with a request for extention of the sickness absence with which GPs generally comply.
3. Custom and practice: in Civil Service occupations like hospitals, councils, schools and other governmental occupations, it's common for employees to have 3 months off sick for major surgery or illnesses.

As far as your pay is concerned (and unless this has been updated or altered) along side Statutory Sick Pay, employees on long term sickness absence get 6 months on full pay (no SSL) and 6 months on half pay (half SSL). After this, pay is suspended, the individual gets full SSL and the employer may neotiate termination their employment.

Therefore, if your place of work has an occupational health service, I suggest you contact the nurse and discuss it with him/her. They should know more about the medical issues concerned than the HR department.

Hope this helps.

 

[Steph]

Thanks Steph, I know you're right. I tend to feel guilty about leaving my colleagues to deal with my work while I'm away, but I know I need to put myself first and get myself fit so that I'm able to deal with everything when I do get back.

I know what you are saying, I am a librarian and manage a group of 5 libraries, and due to cut backs everyone is doing the jobs of one and a half people - the service runs on the goodwill of the staff. While I am off my senior management team won't be putting anyone in my place, therefore my group will be run by my deputy who is already stetched herself. Also due to budget restraints they won't upgrade her during my abscence, but they are putting in a reporting process for her to go to my line manager with problems. I am hoping to be able to get her an honorarium payment when I return as she is a really hard working, dedicated member of staff and just deserves recognition.

I am aware that my group will be understaffed while I am off, plus I know that if I go back early I would be able to have a phased in return to work and would be able to take things easy, but I also know that this would be very difficult as I am also a bit of a workaholic and feel very bad about letting my colleagues down. Also once you are back in the system you really start to push yourself again and life could become very stressful.

I do appreciate though that if I were to return before I am really mentally/physically ready then it really won't do my staff any favours. So thinking logically it might be better to take off the full 2-3 months and then go back when I really am capable.

Sometimes you just need to concentrate on you, your job will still be there when you are ready to return, plus you will then be pain free and able to give it your all. I am sure you will soon get back into the swing of things and it will be like you have never been away.

 

[Peta]

I had a LTHR two weeks ago and my surgeon said I will be off work for at least 2 to 3 months. I work in an office, mainly sitting at a desk all day. I would just be interested to know if this is the usual amount of time to be off. When I told my boss how long I would be off she wasn't too happy but I can't imaging being able to go back any sooner.

I went back to work at 6 weeks post-op. As I stand the whole time I started back doing half days for a couple of weeks and then went to full days. I still remember being absolutely exhausted the first week back - but without pain it was a "good" exhaustion!

 

[Peta]

Hi!

I will be going back to work this Monday (ugh) at week 8. I also have a desk job -I will be trying to do some exercises at my desk and also going out walking at lunch. I'll let you know how I do.

Melissa

I'll be thinking of you this Sunday night Melissa.............! Back to the old "gearing up for the week ahead"!

 

[hurtingbuthopeful]

Mee tooo Melissa. It's going to be weird the first week or two of work. Just take it easy!

 

[Catwoman]

Hi!

I will be going back to work this Monday (ugh) at week 8. I also have a desk job -I will be trying to do some exercises at my desk and also going out walking at lunch. I'll let you know how I do.

Melissa

Good luck next week Melissa - hope you don't feel too tired.

 

[Catwoman]

1. your GP: as far as your employer is concerned, his certificate of sickness is a legal document has to be adhered to.

Hi Josephine, does the certificate of sickness just apply to work carried out in the office? My boss is keen for me to do some work from home when I'm up to it. I'll look into whether the company have an occupational doctor/nurse. It's a large company so I would have thought they would have something like that.

 

[mdakota]

you know all this amazes me. we dont have anything like this. i've been worried about being out so long myself. after posting on this thread i've decided to just let it go and get myself better. wow. its so easy to say that to others but doing it yourself is quite hard. proud of you cat

 

[Scott]

I work from home. I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on the following Monday. My boss told me to take the time I needed, so I could have taken off longer but coming up on fiscal quarter and year-end I needed to work. This is one time where I wouldn't mind having an office job

 

[metalnikki]

Hi
I am due to see HR and my boss this week to discuss my phased return to work. I am due to see my OS next week at 12 weeks and hope he will sign me off as ok to work. I will notbe able to do all my normal duties for a while, but am able to go back more office based at first. I work for the NHS and have been monitored by Occupational health dept also, and will see their Dr before my return too. I am covered by the DDA(disability discrimination act) and as I have other problems they will need to make`reasonable adjustments` to make my return to work feasable. I know for a start i will need a suitable chair, and will need to discuss how i will move around all the euipment we use. I used to carry up to 4 bags (including a large case containing scales for weighing children) every day!! Not anymore though!!

 

[Texas]

I lost my job after all this , they fired me well actually asked me to just quit, I refused so I was term. for medical reasons ? No not legal but they did. Please you all I know you need to go to work but take care of yourselves, you didnt come this far to go back now...Amd MD you have also been thru alot just go into it as you need to if you can......Good luck to both of you .......and feel better

 

[Josephine]

Metalnikki - the surgeons don't usually sign patients off for work, that's the GP's job. He has the final 'ye or nay' on when a person's fit to return and then it gets passed to the OH department for verification.

 

[Josephine]

Hi Josephine, does the certificate of sickness just apply to work carried out in the office? My boss is keen for me to do some work from home when I'm up to it. I'll look into whether the company have an occupational doctor/nurse. It's a large company so I would have thought they would have something like that.

That complicates things. If you are undertaking paid work at home, you cannot have that and SSL pay meaning you cannot be off sick and working. That's the flaw with it. You're either off sick or you're not.

I suggest you get the nuts and bolts of what your boss is suggesting (hours, pay, duties, etc.) and then ask the Benefits Agency for further information. You can find your local office via this site.

 

[leosmom]

I lost my job after all this , they fired me well actually asked me to just quit, I refused so I was term. for medical reasons ? No not legal but they did. Please you all I know you need to go to work but take care of yourselves, you didnt come this far to go back now...Amd MD you have also been thru alot just go into it as you need to if you can......Good luck to both of you .......and feel better

Texas, I am shocked to here in this day and age your employer fired you. Have you gone to your local Dept. of Labor? If indeed they let you go for no other reason than 'medical', boy oh boy do you have a case! Let the D.O.L. work on your behalf.
Recovery is stressful enough without having to pile the employer's 'concerns' on top of that. Remember, they mostly have no idea what you are going through unless they have been through this recovery themselves.

 

[Texas]

Yes I they actually gave unemplyment a letter to that effect and she sent me a copy...I begged them to let me come back my boss wanted me back but I guess higher ups ? I really dont know, but I have the paper.

 

[Catwoman]

I lost my job after all this , they fired me well actually asked me to just quit, I refused so I was term. for medical reasons ? No not legal but they did. Please you all I know you need to go to work but take care of yourselves, you didnt come this far to go back now...Amd MD you have also been thru alot just go into it as you need to if you can......Good luck to both of you .......and feel better

It's terrible that you lost your job as a result of this. Some employers don't have a clue how to treat their employees do they. Good luck to you for the future. I hope it all works out for the best.

 

[Jamie]

Texas, Leosmom is right. I would give the Dept. of Labor office nearest you a call and talk with someone....or possibly an attorney. It's my understanding that you cannot be fired (or asked to leave) because of a medical condition like this. Jobs are sometimes difficult to come by, so it might be in your best interest to pursue legal action.