How much do you tell your boss?

[disneychrista]

I was having a conversation with a friend today about NOT telling my boss the reason why I needed the afternoon off a few weeks ago. When he found out it was for a doctors appointment (my fault) I let him believe it was for an ongoing medical issue I have when in fact he was for a cervical biopsy (due to an HPV infection I had just been diagnosed with). I thought this was too personal and there is no way I am going to discuss this with my boss. My friend thought it was silly and that there was no reason to not disclose the reason to my boss. Of course my friend is a male and had a male boss. I am a female with a male boss.

How much personal information do you reveal to your boss?

 

[Klayfish]

Depends. If it's something I don't mind sharing, I share...things like my trips to WDW or my racing. But otherwise, if it's something I deem as more "personal", no I don't share much.

I don't ask my team to share their details with me. Their PTO is their PTO, it's none of my business why they use it. Certainly, some of them share with me, as we all get along. My door is always open if someone just needs to talk or vent. But I would never pry, nor expect full disclosure.

 

[Christine]

It depends on the boss. I had a male boss for 15 years who became like a very good friend to me. After 15 years, I probably would have given some details.

But, in general, I just say that I have a medical appointment...period. If I think it might involve a procedure that could impact me for a few days, I might say that I was having a "procedure" done and leave it at that.

Where I work, we have vacation and sick time. No one needs to state anything to use their vacation time. For sick leave, they do have state that they are taking off due to illness, medical or dental appointments, caring for a sick family member etc. If someone starts to use a lot of it, I have the right to request a doctor's note from them for using that type of leave.

 

[Marchand63]

I don't care why you need time off - just let me when you need it. I am the same with my boss.

 

[CdnCarrie]

It would be totally against the law for a employer to ask why you are going to the doctor!! And no I don't usually tell but I have very few appointments. Usually just one a year.

 

[BLAZEY]

My boss doesn't want to know why I want time off other than if it's for a medical appointment or for vacation. Medical appointments are not really tracked neither are sick days (extended illness being the exception due to staffing needs /coverage). I have 4 weeks of vacation time which it tracked. My boss doesn't want to know the detailed reason for my appointment, I just tell him I have a doctor, dentist, orthodontist appointment on (Date and time) and expect to be back in the office at (time). No other details needed.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I have a doctor's/dentist appt at this time and I will be back or not back at this time. Period. End of story. Have never been asked what for or why.

 

[runwad]

Nope none of their business. Just say dr's apt and go.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My boss is super nosey about such stuff. I tell him as little as possible.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I don't know why this is even an issue or question. "I have an appointment and will be back as soon as I can." End of discussion. If you wanted to say doctor or dental appointment or whatever, fine. Your boss doesn't need to know if you're being treated for an STD or having irregular periods or if it's your fifth cavity this year. It's not his/her business.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I probably tell my boss too much when I am going to be out on a sick day. She already doesn't like me very much and I feel like she is constantly trying to "catch" me doing things wrong, so I make sure I give her plenty of details so that she doesn't think I am faking a sick day to do something else. I also try to always bring an excuse note in from any appointments to have on file.

 

[Domo]

Too much really.

 

[Disneylover99]

The older I get, the less I say.

 

[tvguy]

It would be totally against the law for a employer to ask why you are going to the doctor!! And no I don't usually tell but I have very few appointments. Usually just one a year.

Exactly. They don't even want us reporting that someone called "in sick". They just want us to say they "won't be in".

 

[Jennasis]

Years ago, when I was going through a divorce, I walked into my boss's office (he didn't much care for me), told him I'd be taking some time off over the next few weeks to deal with...(then I broke down into hysterical crying)....and told him I was divorcing. He jumped out of his seat and immediately offered me the use of his office for any personal quiet time I needed, or to make private calls and bolted out the door. He never asked me about any requests off after that.

 

[CynBeth]

My boss is super nosey about such stuff. I tell him as little as possible.

I work with females of various ages in my department of 10 and they are very nosey as well as bossy. Drives me nuts.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't care why you need time off - just let me when you need it. I am the same with my boss.

Totally this. We have quite clearly defined policies on leave - if a person is entitled to leave (even just for an appointment), it doesn't need to be justified. I wouldn't consider any of my staff-members my personal friends. To be honest, they occasionally tell me things (totally unsolicited) that I wish I didn't know.

I probably tell my boss too much when I am going to be out on a sick day. She already doesn't like me very much and I feel like she is constantly trying to "catch" me doing things wrong, so I make sure I give her plenty of details so that she doesn't think I am faking a sick day to do something else. I also try to always bring an excuse note in from any appointments to have on file.

Maybe I was the mom of a teen for too long, but the more details a person piles on, the more it sounds like a "story" to me.

 

[Marchand63]

Totally this. We have quite clearly defined policies on leave - if a person is entitled to leave (even just for an appointment), it doesn't need to be justified. I wouldn't consider any of my staff-members my personal friends. To be honest, they occasionally tell me things (totally unsolicited) that I wish I didn't know.

Maybe I was the mom of a teen for too long, but the more details a person piles on, the more it sounds like a "story" to me.

We have one employee like that - please I don't need the over share. I don't care about your ovaries

 

[Skippy918]

I was having a conversation with a friend today about NOT telling my boss the reason why I needed the afternoon off a few weeks ago. When he found out it was for a doctors appointment (my fault) I let him believe it was for an ongoing medical issue I have when in fact he was for a cervical biopsy (due to an HPV infection I had just been diagnosed with). I thought this was too personal and there is no way I am going to discuss this with my boss. My friend thought it was silly and that there was no reason to not disclose the reason to my boss. Of course my friend is a male and had a male boss. I am a female with a male boss.

How much personal information do you reveal to your boss?

Leave it as a doctor appt and that's it. Even if you have surgery and are out a few days, you don't have to disclose specifics.

 

[NotBaroque]

I will say that I'm sick, have a doctor's appointment, etc. Nothing specific. We (boss included) all discuss vacations when people are planning one or when they come back from them.

I am not sure what I would do if I received a serious/ongoing diagnosis. It would have to sink in first & be discussed with my family before I could think about telling my boss or coworkers. We have had a few people with cancer (or just "extended illness" if they don't wish to provide specifics) and we will all chip in for a restaurant delivery gift card to send them. However, being a very private person, not sure I would even want people to know I had an extended illness!

In your situation, I would say nothing.