ClassicRockr
Well-known Member
Have you ever had to take time off of work for a surgery and rehab........I had to twice. Any problems at work, concerning number of weeks off or "restrictions" from surgery, after returning to work?
First time was for a hip replacement. Surgery and rehab kept me off of work for about two months. Short-Term Disability and PTO covered every week for pay. When I returned to work, I used a cane, but absolutely no lifting in the warehouse, so I mainly stayed at my office desk and doing computer work.
Two years later, same job, had a rotator cuff surgery w/rehab. Was off for a little over two months for that. Again, Short-Term Disability and some PTO helped, but was two weeks short on pay. I was on a "lifting restriction" when I returned to work and my supervisor/director told me that HR didn't like that. After a week, my supervisor/director told me that if I didn't get the "lifting restriction" lifted pretty quick, I could be fired. I told my ortho surgeon this and he said "just let them try to fire you. You are under my care and I'll lift the restriction when it's appropriate. If they fire you, I'll see them in court and ask the HR person for their medical degree." After an exam by the surgeon two weeks later, he lifted the restriction.
The time off for both surgeries and rehab did stop me from getting a promotion to Jr. Buyer. When I ask my supervisor/director, who was the Buyer, why I didn't get a promotion to Jr. Buyer, but was now doing the job of a Jr. Buyer, he told me that I'd taken too much time off of work for the surgeries and rehab. I wasn't happy, but accepted it.
First time was for a hip replacement. Surgery and rehab kept me off of work for about two months. Short-Term Disability and PTO covered every week for pay. When I returned to work, I used a cane, but absolutely no lifting in the warehouse, so I mainly stayed at my office desk and doing computer work.
Two years later, same job, had a rotator cuff surgery w/rehab. Was off for a little over two months for that. Again, Short-Term Disability and some PTO helped, but was two weeks short on pay. I was on a "lifting restriction" when I returned to work and my supervisor/director told me that HR didn't like that. After a week, my supervisor/director told me that if I didn't get the "lifting restriction" lifted pretty quick, I could be fired. I told my ortho surgeon this and he said "just let them try to fire you. You are under my care and I'll lift the restriction when it's appropriate. If they fire you, I'll see them in court and ask the HR person for their medical degree." After an exam by the surgeon two weeks later, he lifted the restriction.
The time off for both surgeries and rehab did stop me from getting a promotion to Jr. Buyer. When I ask my supervisor/director, who was the Buyer, why I didn't get a promotion to Jr. Buyer, but was now doing the job of a Jr. Buyer, he told me that I'd taken too much time off of work for the surgeries and rehab. I wasn't happy, but accepted it.