Having surgery, can I be let go for having to take time off for this?
![[Post New]](/nanny-forum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Ever since I had my baby last year I have been having gallbladder attacks off and on. I haven't experienced an episode in several months but was told the next time I did I would have to have it removed. Recently I've been having back to back attacks and my gallbladder has become diseased and needs to come out to avoid the risk of rupture which can be fatal. I'm planning to schedule the surgery for the Friday before my employers are away for 2 weeks. I'm concerned that they won't take this well since I've only been with them for 3 months at the time of the surgery. I will be able to recuperate while they're away but will need some concessions from them regarding my duties for up to 2 weeks after they come back, I won't be able to lift anything over 10 pounds which means they will have to carry all their laundry down for me on laundry day. This won't affect childcare as it is an after school position and the child is 6.
Should I be worried About being let go for needing surgery? |
Anonymous
You can carry the laundry, just make 2 or 3 trips so its under 10 pounds. You sound like you will make this out to be a bigger thing than it is, so idk I would let you go. There's nannies that won't complain out there. |
Anonymous
I honestly didn't even think of that as an option. So the only inconvenience to them would be me taking a day off for the sUrgery. I'm not making a big deal out of this, just worried that I'd have to take a day off for surgery after only being with this family a short time. |
Anonymous
|
If your NF made a big deal about carrying THEIR laundry downstairs for a couple of weeks to help you out I would consider finding a new family. I have never had a family not be understanding of health issues. When I had my wisdom teeth out they insisted I take time off, made things easier for me when I came back, etc. and that isn't even a major surgery!
I would just talk to them before the surgery, tell them your plans, and see if they will help with the laundry. I would worry about splitting the laundry into lighter loads because it can be a bit strenuous to go up and down with any load multiple times. |
Anonymous
1 day off in 3 months isn't a problem. Especially just tell them to make it unpaid. Good luck. |
Anonymous
|
You may be feeling quite a bit better after the two weeks. I had my gall bladder out several years ago and I felt like crap for the first ten days or so, but was back to work after two or three weeks and on light duty for another month or something. (wasn't a nanny them.) Other people are back to work after three days, so you never know. Just be up front about it. Yes they can fire you, but it's pretty unlikely. Truthfully, they can fire you for any reason, at any time. Major surgery isn't generally a reason most people would fire a nanny unless there's other problems already.
Everyone responds differently to the surgery. My advice, based on my own experience, is you'll have a hard time eating the first few days so have soothing foods in hand, pineapple is easy to digest, and pitchers of iced chamomile tea are the two things I was able to keep down the first days after surgery. |
Anonymous
| You should be in tip top shape after two weeks, barring any complications. I had an emergency appendectomy and returned to work at a summer camp 5 days later. I also had laparoscopic surgery this summer, a week and a half before starting with a new nanny family. They have no idea I even had surgery. |
Anonymous
| I was back to work 1.5 weeks after gallbladder was removed with no limiting restrictions |
Anonymous
|
MB here. Just be upfront with your family and let them know your plans (and that you deliberately scheduled the surgery for right before their vacation so you could use that time to recuperate.)
If you were our nanny I'd appreciate your thoughtfulness in trying to work this around our schedule, your concern given that you're new to the job, and I'd try to make sure you had what you needed. (Including seeing what accommodations you might need before you have the surgery.) I can't see the moving of laundry for a week or two as a major issue. If you're a good fit for them none of what you need should concern them significantly. Good luck w/ the surgery. |
Anonymous
| You never know if your family will have an issue, but most would not. |
Anonymous
|
I doubt they'll fire you, even though you're new. The only real complication I could see is that if you're using your guaranteed hours as recovery time, and for some reason their vacation gets cut short or canceled and they need coverage, you might lose your pay for those days (since you won't really be available).
If you have another major health issue that requires multiple weeks off in the next few months, then they might let you go. |
Anonymous
| My gallbladder removal surgery was so easy. I was back to picking up my 15 lb child at 24 hours after surgery. Back to feeling normal about 4 days later. I hope you'll have the same luck. I felt so much better afterwards (gallbladder was causing major issues). |
Anonymous
|
Op here. I was able to schedule the surgery for the Friday before they leave and MB took it well and told me not to worry about it and focus on getting better. During the 2 weeks they're away I will be picking their new puppy up at the kennel they are boarding at a few afternoons during the time they're away so I will just have help from my mother to be able to still do this, so I made it clear to MB that this was still possible with my mothers help.
Thanks for the advice, comments and information! |