Do I need to tell manager nature of surgery?

M

Marge

Registered User
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Hi there,

I am having eye surgery next month that will require me taking approx 2 days off work, spaced 2 weeks apart. (Can't do both eyes together in my case) I deliberately scheduled both for Friday evening to have the least impact on work. I will recover over the WE, but was advised that I should not expect to go back to work until the following Tue.

I have not informed my manager yet and wondered if I need to tell him the specific nature of the surgery, which I would rather not for reasons disclosed below.

What do people think? Do I have to tell him? I checked the companies policy and it confirms that I must produce a sick cert if I take more than 2 consecutive days off. It also says that if I am off sick I need to inform him of the nature of my illness etc..
I can get a cert from the hospital from the 2 seperate days, but the hospital said it will state the specific surgery on the cert, so I am not sure what to do. Any advise? Can I be vague about it or suggest it is "personal"?

Note - I have been with the company for over 2 years and taken 1 day sick leave during that time. (Manager called me twice that day to update me/discuss non urgent items with me spending 20 mins on the calls!
Yes, he is a bit of a control freak and doesn't like approving holiday time off etc. for his team. I am also concerned that he if I disclose the nature of the surgery that he will try to get me to postpone it (which I don't want to) or worse if I proceed, he could start making life difficult for me - have seen this happen in the past if he doesn't get his own way.

Thanks in advance,

Marge
 
Re: Do I need to tell manager nature or surgery?

Hi, I was out sick recently on a pre planned operation, hospital put down 'surgical operation' on the cert without stating what kind and my own doctor then continued on with same explanation. At no time did I actually divulge exactly what it was to boss, when he asked I just said 'minor procedure'. Men dont usually ask a woman twice if they get that answer.
 
Re: Do I need to tell manager nature or surgery?

It sounds like this is an elective surgery? Is it medically necessary? Or is it just something you want (for example, getting your eyes lasered to cure short sight?).

I don't know whether there is uniformity of practice among employers, but it does seem to me that if somebody opts for a non medically necessary procedure (be it a 'nose job' or a Lasik procedure or whatever) that it is not necessarily appropriate to take sick leave at all. My feeling is that time off for something like this should come out of holiday entitlements.

I am assuming, of course, that the employer is paying up to three days of sick leave (as is fairly standard, I think)

Am I out of touch, or do others feel that sick leave would be inappropriate in the circumstances I describe?
 
Re: Do I need to tell manager nature or surgery?

Thanks KerryG.
Thats a very good point MOB - I would tend to agree with you.
 
Re: Do I need to tell manager nature or surgery?

Well I would think that honesty would be the best policy. You have worked there for 2 years and you are prepared to give him ample notice. In some cases laser surgery is a necessity, for example in my own case i ditherecand then it was to late to have it done. As a previous employer of numerous persons, i always adopted the attitude that there is life after work, and I did mange to get the most out of my employees.
 
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