Issues at work

[smfritz03]

I work for a company that is extremely large (2500 employees or more), however we each area is under an AVP and then they have supervisors, etc.

Well, we have a work from home policy that allows us to work 1, 2, or 5 days a week from home. My area is 2 days. It has been stated before that the days are set but they are willing to rotate based on circumstances. Well, recently one girl was allowed to change her one day for a different day to be home for a plumber to come in and do some repairs in her house.

Yesterday, I was scheduled for my surgery on Nov. 20th. So I planned to take that day off and then I would be off Mon, Tue for my work from home and then Wed-Sun for the Thanksgiving holidays. That leaves me the 21st in question (day right after the surgery). My doctor says I won't be able to drive into work, however, I don't have the time to take off from work. So I approached my supervisor about switching my work from home days that week so I could work from home Friday (driving w/ someone else isn't an option since I commute an hour and 15 min one way). I'll be fine to work, just can't drive in. She said no (this is the same lady who allowed the other girl the mth before to do it). I then find out, the day I am to have my lab work (my normal work from home day) my supervisor has decided to make a mandatory training class that we have to come into the office for, not only is it mandatory, but it's not even my normal work hours, it's putting me in the office till 5:30 instead of 4pm so I'll have to not only miss getting my lab work done, but also have to arrange childcare as well.

There is a lot of instances in my work place where "favorites" is played and blantly flaunted in front of everyone. Is this something that is against the law or something that HR should be made aware of?

How can they prevent someone from having surgery or taking time off? If I have the surgery and just call in Friday, then I'll be put on a verbal warning for missing a day without pay.

So what would you do in this situation?

 

[smfritz03]

I will also add, I've not called in a single day in over 3 years and have perfect attendence including tardies, etc. The days I use are all scheduled ahead of time and around company business.

I think they just like to threaten our work from home and hang it over our heads. Our work area has recently became really stressful to that point where one guy has had a heart attack at work and another girl is being treated for an ulcer, two others have been put on stress/anxiety medication. So it's not just a one time situation, it's something where they like to try to push people into a corner.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Sorry you are going through this. Does your boss realize you are having surgery?? If the answer is yes, then go to speak to HR. Tell them that you are having surgery, and you either need to change your work at home day or you ahve to take the day off without pay. Get a doctors note that you have the surgery and lab work and you need to be there.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Also check into FMLA regulations. Any hospital stay is covered under FMLA, but I'm not sure about single days preceding it for pre-op work.

However, you may be able to get your doctor to fill out the FMLA paperwork on a temporary basis for an ongoing (in this case until you have the surgery) condition that also requires intermittent care, which then would cover the pre-op work.

Good luck! Isn't it awful when supervisors pull that sort of stuff?
Kim

 

[smfritz03]

Ive contacted HR and FMLA wouldn't take affect here because I would have to be out for 3 consecutive days and technically I won't be since I'll be working from home and then off for the holidays and the short term disability I have to be out 5 unpaid days before that would kick in.

I've decided to go about my supervisor and directly to my AVP. We are on great terms and she knows I don't miss at all unless I really have to. Other than that, I don't have any options and this surgery isn't something I can put off and the dr is already not liking waiting till Nov 20th on doing it but we are working around holiday schedules here.

 

[ameraumi]

Why not just be off for surgery the 20th, 21st and 24th? Have FMLA papers for those days and then work from home on the 25th.

I would talk to HR about it as well.

 

[Chicago526]

Why not just be off for surgery the 20th, 21st and 24th? Have FMLA papers for those days and then work from home on the 25th.

I would talk to HR about it as well.

I agree, take three consecutive days off for FMLA. You tried to offer to work from home and they wouldn't go for it. Their loss.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Is this an elective surgery or a medical necessity? I'm just wondering if the supervisor isn't judging you somehow??

 

[DMickey28]

I would also take your actual time off immediate following the surgery and then keep a work at home day the next week and then the time off for the holiday. Why would you actually take the time off on a scheduled worked at home day and not the day immediately following the surgery when you are scheduled to be in the office?

 

[smfritz03]

This is a medically necessary surgery, believe me, I would love to opt out of it and not have that medical bill!!!! That's just one more stress that I don't want!

Mon, Tues are my normal wfh day. So, I am taking Thurs (day of surgery) as my last PTO day that I have. Our office is out Wed, Thurs and Fri the following week for holiday time. So that only leaves Fri, the day after surgery as unable to work from home and not having the time to take. I would rather trade my Tues the week of surgery for Fri and work from home that day. That would be me away from the office from Thurs-through the following week for recovery.

I have found out they've rearranged others work schedules for situations like, plumber coming to the house, flu, and one other medical issue. So it's not like they don't do it, they just do it for their friends that they gossip with.

I'll get it worked out somehow. I'll talk to the doctor about FMLA, but I really hate to take 3 days unpaid off.

I just don't see how an employer can write you up for being off medically?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I think I'm missing something. I need you to clarify. They aren't denying you the day off to have the surgery, right? Because you're taking a personal day? So, what is the problem? They aren't letting you work from home on a different day following your surgery? While it would be nice if they were more compassionate, I'm failing to see what they are doing wrong as an employer.

 

[smfritz03]

I think I'm missing something. I need you to clarify. They aren't denying you the day off to have the surgery, right? Because you're taking a personal day? So, what is the problem? They aren't letting you work from home on a different day following your surgery? While it would be nice if they were more compassionate, I'm failing to see what they are doing wrong as an employer.

Right. However, our work from home policy allows us to have a flexible schedule for these reasons, and actually--the other 2475 employees in the company actually have a flexible work from home schedule, my supervisor wants a strict one, however, has stated in meetings that she would be flexible about it in certain circumstances. The only time she has been flexible is for her friends in the dept and not for others. We have an area of 25 people, 20 of us have to follow the rules while 5 are allowed to do as they wish and the management as well as these employees flaunt it and make it known they have favorites. But like you said, they are entitled to do as they wish.

But~is that entitlement allowed to prevent recovery time for a medical condition? I cannot drive into work and will be forced to take that Friday off. However, if I take that day off (non paid) I WILL be wrote up and placed on a verbal warning because our attendence policy. Which states that anytime you go into absence deduct (non paid) it will result in displinary action. Can they do that when it's medical issues?

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Do you have a good working relationship with your supervisor in general or are things strained between you?

 

[shirleyb]

Which states that anytime you go into absence deduct (non paid) it will result in displinary action. Can they do that when it's medical issues?

In our company, yes, you can.

 

[MelanieC]

So glad I work for a company that is flexible. I can take as much personal time as I need within reason. If I needed surgery, there wouldn't be any questions asked.

Its such a shame that every job isn't the same. Everyone deserves respect when it comes time for personal issues like this. You being healthy is important to your productivity.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

But~is that entitlement allowed to prevent recovery time for a medical condition? I cannot drive into work and will be forced to take that Friday off. However, if I take that day off (non paid) I WILL be wrote up and placed on a verbal warning because our attendence policy. Which states that anytime you go into absence deduct (non paid) it will result in displinary action. Can they do that when it's medical issues?

I don't think they have to give you time to recover from a medical condition unless you go through some sort of formal process that involves your doctor's orders. If the doctor is telling you that you can't drive to work, get him/her to write that down and bring it to your supervisor. Maybe then it has a bearing. But you telling your supervisor that you need to work from home on a certain day because you are recovering from surgery probably won't fly without documentation. I really don't think they have to accomodate you, although it would be a nice thing to do.

Also, favourtism is everywhere. Unless you have actual proof that you are being treated unethically or not according to your company's work standards, I don't think you have much of a case.

 

[wall*e2008]

I work for a company that is extremely large (2500 employees or more), however we each area is under an AVP and then they have supervisors, etc.

Well, we have a work from home policy that allows us to work 1, 2, or 5 days a week from home. My area is 2 days. It has been stated before that the days are set but they are willing to rotate based on circumstances. Well, recently one girl was allowed to change her one day for a different day to be home for a plumber to come in and do some repairs in her house.

Yesterday, I was scheduled for my surgery on Nov. 20th. So I planned to take that day off and then I would be off Mon, Tue for my work from home and then Wed-Sun for the Thanksgiving holidays. That leaves me the 21st in question (day right after the surgery). My doctor says I won't be able to drive into work, however, I don't have the time to take off from work. So I approached my supervisor about switching my work from home days that week so I could work from home Friday (driving w/ someone else isn't an option since I commute an hour and 15 min one way). I'll be fine to work, just can't drive in. She said no (this is the same lady who allowed the other girl the mth before to do it). I then find out, the day I am to have my lab work (my normal work from home day) my supervisor has decided to make a mandatory training class that we have to come into the office for, not only is it mandatory, but it's not even my normal work hours, it's putting me in the office till 5:30 instead of 4pm so I'll have to not only miss getting my lab work done, but also have to arrange childcare as well.

There is a lot of instances in my work place where "favorites" is played and blantly flaunted in front of everyone. Is this something that is against the law or something that HR should be made aware of?

How can they prevent someone from having surgery or taking time off? If I have the surgery and just call in Friday, then I'll be put on a verbal warning for missing a day without pay.

So what would you do in this situation?

Am I reading this correct.

Nov 20 surgery
Nov 21 normal work day but you want to work from home
Nov 24 and 25 are work from home days
Nov 26 vacation day
Nov 27 and 28 holiday.

If I have this correct it seems to me you will have to go to work on Nov 26 and use your vacation day for Nov 21.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Where I used to work we had something similiar except my department was the only one that wasn't allowed any work at home days because our work came from other depts on the same day and we wouldn't have the work at home to do.

So when people needed to be off for anything serious like surgery, we had to inform our supervisor and HR. That way the supervisor couldn't play favorites (I had one who liked to) and HR always approved the time off. If you didn't have any time left to take off, you had to take that day off without pay.

I think if I was in your case, I'd inform HR in writing and take off whatever time was neccessary even if it involved a verbal warning or having to take time off without pay.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[dimimi]

I'm confused. You want to work on Tuesday...and then have Friday, the day after your surgery, as your work from home day. Will you be able to work on that Friday? Won't you be on pain medication or sleeping all day? Perhaps that is their concern?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'm confused. You want to work on Tuesday...and then have Friday, the day after your surgery, as your work from home day. Will you be able to work on that Friday? Won't you be on pain medication or sleeping all day? Perhaps that is their concern?

I kind of thought of that too. It could almost look like you're planning to be really lax in terms of work that day and want to "work at home." You are probably not trying to scam anyone but this could be how it came across.