Just found out

Message

#1 Post by **Audra** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:55 am

That my company is not going to pay me for sick time while I'm off for surgery. Nice hey? They're trying to get me to go on Employment Insurance, but there is a two week waiting period and I'm only going to be off for two weeks. They said that by going home "sick" the afternoon before my surgery day that EI will waive the 2 week waiting period. Ummm, that's called fraud and I'm not going to participate. I guess I won't get paid for 2 weeks.

#2 Post by bb » Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:00 pm

Aw that sucks. Yeah, I'd go the high road too- it's easier on the conscience for sure.
I hope they can come up with some other kind of arrangement for you.

#3 Post by **daffodil** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:05 pm

oh, that sucks. can you use vacation days or anything instead? Where I work, we don't have sick days and only get 10 vacation days, so I'm planning on using all my days next year on my surgery, and I'm already worried that something will happen and I'll run out of days.

#4 Post by **Audra** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:33 pm

Yes, I've decided to take vacation days. I have a vacation planned for August so I won't have enough for the surgery so will have to take a couple days unpaid.

Added to all of this is the fact that I work for an Oil and Gas company. Well, they tend to merge and/or get bought quite frequently. The company I work at is going through this process and so my company may get bought by another company, meaning I may be working for someone else in a couple months (and would have to re-interview to see if the new management wants to keep me) or I may be out of a job. I'm not exactly going to be in a position to go looking outside my company for another job immediately after surgery, so I'm a little bit stressed out

I guess I just have to focus on each day and hope for the best.

#5 Post by bb » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:42 pm

Well if you do have to interview, you'll dazzle them with your fabulous new smile!!!

#6 Post by **Audra** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:44 pm

Awwww, thanks. That just made me feel better.

#7 Post by **Esoteric** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:56 am

File for short term disability and what disability doesnt cover you take your vaca days to cover.

#8 Post by **Audra** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:21 pm

I can't file for short-term disability. The company - if they were going to offer me short-term diability - would not be telling me to go on sick leave through Unemployment Insurance. There is no law in Alberta saying the company has to pay for sick leave unfortunately. Basically they just don't want to pay me. The company is just cheaping out on me. I have never worked for a company where they would do this. Unfortunately though, that's the way it is.

#9 Post by **Davide** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:17 pm

Audra I'm in the same situation as you are. I was so happy when I was able to get a 6-week medical leave from my surgeon, but HR wiped that smirk off my face announcing that my company won't pay a penny for the whole duration of my leave. So I'll probably go back to work after just 2 weeks. My savings won't certainly last a month and a half. Luckily I work as a translator and I can virtually do all my work from home.
Good luck with everything.

Davide

#10 Post by **Audra** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:45 pm

Davide, I'm sorry to hear that. I remember when I first read that you would be able to take 6 weeks off. I was happy for you - and a little jealous for myself. Up until about a week ago I thought I was going to have to work from home at around 10 days post-op because of the company's inability to find someone to cover my desk as I have several hard deadlines to meet each month and our department (and my job in general) is pretty busy. Luckily they did just arrange for someone for the second week so I get a full 17 days off (including weekends).

It looks like you've been given your share of hard knocks, what with your surgery being originally cancelled and now being told you won't be paid. Hopefully this means your actual surgery will go off without a hitch and your recovery will be unevently.

#11 Post by **ReneG** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:00 am

Things will work out. I lost my job after surgery was planned. They were evil enough to give me only 5 working days notice. I spent my first week unemployed prepping for surgery, 1.5 weeks after recovering and starting the job hunt and fortunately found a job and started less than a month after surgery.

I'm all cool now but in the thick of it, I was a nervous wreck - little savings and family depending on me... *shudder* I am so glad to be out of it.

Find out what you can, do what you can (and still walk with your head held high) and as Bon Jovi sang "Keep the Faith"

#12 Post by **Audra** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:45 am

ReneG, thank you for your post. This is a good example of how things could always be worse - but I'm happy to hear your situation worked out in the end.

I'm glad I posted this. I wanted a bit of a whine, but I guess I just also wanted some support/reassurance from other people who would understand.

Thanks guys.

#13 Post by **at long last** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:07 am

Just to lift your spirits a little. I had been looking for a job for about 5 months before surgery. The day of my surgery, I got a call from a company looking to hire. I had to wait a few days until I was out of the hospital, but I communicated with them by email until 10 days later and then had a phone interview followed by 4 in-person interviews, all within 4 weeks of surgery. I was offered the position, even though I was never able to smile and I was just trying not to drool throughout the interviews! Job offers come even with double jaw surgery...

#14 Post by **Audra** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:12 am

Thanks so much for that post. It definitely does make me feel better.