Program Manager does not want me on his program for medical reasons...

[Anonymous]

But you are ok now, right? Are you needing to miss work more than say several days a month at this point?

He is scared to take you on in case you get sick? You are not currently sick?

[Anonymous]

I am not currently sick* (no evidence of disease). He is afraid I will get sick and derail his project. I miss on average 2 days per month, mostly for various Dr's appointments.

What I told him is I don't think that he can do it. He is talking to HR. Actually, he can exclude me from a project, but that can not impact my job. -- at least that is my understanding.

[Anonymous]

I hope all is well with your health.
Don't worry about losing your job, you can live off of the settlement of the lawsuit that you will be able to file. Your PM is a jackass who is totally ignorant of employment law. FFS!

[Anonymous]

OP here....HR was fast, warning the PM to 1) treat me as though I am healthy; accommodation is required a plan if I get sick again, 2) for me to support the efforts for a transition if required, and 3) for the PM to apologize to me.

They also pointed out that there is no damages at this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here....HR was fast, warning the PM to 1) treat me as though I am healthy; accommodation is required a plan if I get sick again, 2) for me to support the efforts for a transition if required, and 3) for the PM to apologize to me.

They also pointed out that there is no damages at this time.

Yep, covered their asses mighty quick. Your PM is verrrrryyyy stupid, I mean my 3rd grader knows better than to do this. GeeeeFreakingWhiz what a dummy!
Dude did not even PRETEND to find other reasons. That's the kind of person who makes you want to sue him personally and not just the company!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here....HR was fast, warning the PM to 1) treat me as though I am healthy; accommodation is required a plan if I get sick again, 2) for me to support the efforts for a transition if required, and 3) for the PM to apologize to me.

They also pointed out that there is no damages at this time.

Good. Jesus. Hr needs to set up some eeoc trading in sessions, stat!

[Anonymous]

Your PM is an idiot. He should just do whatever needs to be done without bringing up your health issues. It sounds like he was being overly honest and it will bight him in the ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your PM is an idiot. He should just do whatever needs to be done without bringing up your health issues. It sounds like he was being overly honest and it will bight him in the ass.

Are you suggesting the PM should have found another reason to drop me? Sometimes, people have very specific skills, and it would be obvious that something underhand is being done.

[Anonymous]

The job of a PM is to deliver a product on time and on budget. Part of that job is risk mitigation. OP -- you represent a risk to the project. You and the PM should be open and honest with each other and together create a risk mitigation plan. The plan needs to include a transition plan including a transition timeline. No one on the project should be caught off guard or left in the lurch if you are suddenly out.

It is not right for the PM not to put you on the project if you are qualified and can deliver your work product. But in case something happens, there needs to be a plan B in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The job of a PM is to deliver a product on time and on budget. Part of that job is risk mitigation. OP -- you represent a risk to the project. You and the PM should be open and honest with each other and together create a risk mitigation plan. The plan needs to include a transition plan including a transition timeline. No one on the project should be caught off guard or left in the lurch if you are suddenly out.

It is not right for the PM not to put you on the project if you are qualified and can deliver your work product. But in case something happens, there needs to be a plan B in place.

This is exactly correct...based on statistics, I have an 80% chance of recurrence during the period of performance for the project. I get that. I live with that every day. Oh, and the 80% chance of recurrence is only slightly better than probability of dying. However, I am 50 yo....I do not have savings for retirement, and I am mostly asymptomatic (symptoms are a result of surgical issues and not the cancer itself).

At a certain level it will be difficult to replace me, What I can do, though is document what I am doing...so people will know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused, are you in remission or still undergoing treatment?

Remission is not a word used with my cancer. I have been in NED (No evidence of disease) status twice, and had new (solitary) metastasis, which were surgically removed. Each time, I was out about two months. I have missed about 6 months of work total in the last two years.

I'm sorry you are having to go through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The job of a PM is to deliver a product on time and on budget. Part of that job is risk mitigation. OP -- you represent a risk to the project. You and the PM should be open and honest with each other and together create a risk mitigation plan. The plan needs to include a transition plan including a transition timeline. No one on the project should be caught off guard or left in the lurch if you are suddenly out.

It is not right for the PM not to put you on the project if you are qualified and can deliver your work product. But in case something happens, there needs to be a plan B in place.

This is exactly correct...based on statistics, I have an 80% chance of recurrence during the period of performance for the project. I get that. I live with that every day. Oh, and the 80% chance of recurrence is only slightly better than probability of dying. However, I am 50 yo....I do not have savings for retirement, and I am mostly asymptomatic (symptoms are a result of surgical issues and not the cancer itself).

At a certain level it will be difficult to replace me, What I can do, though is document what I am doing...so people will know.

If I were the PM on the project, I would gladly welcome you to team. You seem to have a realistic outlook on what may/may not occur. But more importantly you are willing to document. Set up a weekly mtg with the PM to go over specifically what was done this week, what is on tap for next week, as well as a longer timeline. Also set up a debrief/ update mtg with whomever would assume your duties. Open honest communication is going to be critical to your success on this project--both from you and the PM.

I wish you the best on the project and a positive outcome in life. I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with this. Cancer just sucks!

[Anonymous]

Op, sorry you are having to deal with this. Hope it all works out.

Of course employers and managers want healthy people who don't get sick but frankly that's just not life. People aren't always 100 percent healthy and those people usually still need jobs - it's not like we have a social welfare system in place to adequately support those who can't work.

I'm sure you bring a lot to the project that makes you worth hiring despite the health risks.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My CIO DH used to be a PM. I remember when one of his employees got a rare, aggressive lymphoma and needed aggressive treatment. He did the opposite. When she ran out of protected status he went to HR and said she had to stay and asked for help to figure out a way to keep her on as much as possible. She teleworked 100% toward the end. Colleagues and DH worked extra hard to meet deliverables, there was zero impact to the program. She didn't survive but at least had insurance and a paycheck till the end.

[Anonymous]

How long is the project? Do you have screenings during that time?

I have a cancer that must be similar to yours. I have missed work to have things surgically removed, but am currently clear and functioning like normal. That doesn't mean that the test won't come back and say we have to do it all over again. If you can reasonably get through the project, I don't see why it is a problem. If there is a reason you think you can't, it may be good of you to decline if possible.