Looks like I'm going to lose my job

[debden]

To the OP:
I would save that e-mail.Wether your on FMLA or not I don't think that's legal.
Check with your Labor Dept.
Good Luck.

 

[Heidict]

Having had a meniscus tear removed and gone to a PT that pretty much deals only with shoulder and knee surgeries--there is no way in heck that a meniscus tear takes 6 weeks off of work.

Heck, one of our gymnastics teachers had hers done over the summer. She missed only 1 week of classes and was back.

Not to say the OP will be ready for gymnastics--but it isn't a surgery that keeps you out of commission for that long.

I agree. I have had my meniscus repaired twice and I was out of work for 1 week and did absolutly no PT what so ever. Not sure why her ortho would tell her to take a whole month off for it. A month for the hip replacement, yeah, but a meniscus tear?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My doctor told me to plan on the month off work. He knows more about it than I do- I'm taking his advice. If I can go back earlier, I will but NOT against his advice.

I'm having surgery back to back because we have not only met our deductible for the year (making my surgeries 100% paid for) my doc says the bad hip is now affecting my other joints (like the knee)

I only work part time- with daycare expenses and travel expenses as well as wardrobe etc. I probably contribute less than $10, 000 a year to our household.

My husband and I talked it over and we are going to just see what happens. I'm only 41 years old- I'd like to get this taken care of so I can have a more active lifestyle.

I think your doctor is giving you the wrong advice UNLESS your job is physically demanding in which your main functions are contraindicated. Heck, I went back to training for a half-marathon (though the running part took a full month to get back to). The knee is amazingly resiliant. They don't know until they go in if they will repair or remove the meniscus. If it is in the portion with blood vessels, they can repair it. This makes initial recovery longer.

But I can't think of a single patient from PT that was out of work for a month. The one guy I met who had the repair was immobilized for 2 weeks, but wasn't off work for that duration. (he was on crutches for that 2 week period).

I suppose you can just let it all slide--but it still doesn't give your employer permission to be an *** about it. And I am worried that your doctor is putting you off work for a full month. The surgery is arthroscopic and especially if the meniscus is shaved, all you are recovering from is the trauma of the surgery (your leg got "invaded" and all that swelling and healing it does is b/c of that invasion.)

 

[4nana]

Sending positive thoughts and prayers your surgeries go well, you have a complete recovery and feel better soon. Also that things somehow work out with your job. Tough choice, but it goes without saying it's wise to take care of ourselves first, in order to be able to take care of everyone and everything else going on in our lives.
Godspeed ^i^

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sorry to go off topic but this is just so upsetting to me.

Ask her what her plans are for her family when she is DEAD. She won't need that job if she is dead.


I know that sounds heartless, but I think you have to be brutal with her to get the fog out. Because I'm pretty darn sure I would have a fog in my head about this.



OP - sorry about your situation too. Hope things work out for the best.

disney1990 I agree with the above. Isn't there anyone in the family that can take her and her kid(s) in while she goes through this? If she doesn't get this done your family will be looking to see who can take the orphaned kids in to raise until 18, not help out for a limited time. So sad...

 

[disney1990]

Sorry to go off topic but this is just so upsetting to me.



disney1990 I agree with the above. Isn't there anyone in the family that can take her and her kid(s) in while she goes through this? If she doesn't get this done your family will be looking to see who can take the orphaned kids in to raise until 18, not help out for a limited time. So sad...

Actually, I have been quite blunt with her about this. It's not about taking in her kids, it's about her losing her job and her home. She says she is doing the best that she can under the circumstances. I am just so sad that I can't change the situation and pray that the cancer has not spread by the time that is has the surgery.

Everybody thank you for your thoughts; I really appreciate my DIS friends.

 

[LBKB]

Good luck I had a total hip replacement in Mar 09 and a back fusion in Nov 08 best thing I've done was my hip and I'm 46. Go for it you'll be glad you did

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm not sure what kind of tears everyone had- one of the docs I work for (not ortho) read my MRI and said he wouldn't be surprised if I needed a knee replacement. My doc thinks we can get by without the replacement for a few years. It is torn in 2 places with an unstable horn root and severe chondromalacia.

I'm sure I'm not getting "bad" advice from my doc. He told me to plan for 4 weeks- which I am doing- I will go back earlier if he says it's okay. It's easier to err on the side of caution in my opinion. I will not put my health and future mobility in jeopardy for a part time job.

 

[trip]

I didn't know that FMLA covered part-time workers. You learn something new every day on the DIS.

 

[VickiVM]

I didn't know that FMLA covered part-time workers. You learn something new every day on the DIS.

If they fulfill the 1250 hours worked rule and have been employed by the company at least a year, they do. That averages to approx. 24 hrs/week.

 

[hulagirl87]

I had surgery in December 2007. I needed 2 weeks off and they would only give me one. I went back to work after 1 week, passed out while I was working at the front desk and was fired 2 weeks later for "not being myself at work". I called the labor board and they said that New York is a no fault state so there was nothing illegal about what they did.

 

[lillygator]

Did you use FMLA earlier this year as well? I thought there was a post you took off for your child.

My husband had the m tear surgery as was back to work within a couple days...not sure why you would need a whole month off.