Confession of a working folk

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I've been writing on here for a while...you heard a lot of my

adventures in ramping up for surgery and the post-op recovery and now

7 mths later, my screws are loose and scheduled to come out of my

upper jaw...but that's not exactly why I am writing now.

I wanted others to learn from my experience...

I am a Recruiter, have been working in HR for yrs---I know the laws

and I have seen quite a bit. For yrs I have heard things about women

going out on maternity leave and getting replaced or someone getting

an approved leave (STD or LTD) and somehow their compensation changed

or responsibilities or heck...no job, lay off etc when they are about

to return...and while these examples are not legal or ethical, folks

protect yourself bec they happen EVERY DAY.

I am now a shoe on the other foot...and I know the story well enough

to know that I am changing into track shoes and making a path out of

here. I never thought of leaving here pre-op, though after being with

this smaller-sized business that I basically run, there would be a

problem...but there is. And that one problem has caused 2.

Problems are,

after I returned to work...

--after taking my VACATION for healing, since no STD is offered here

or LTD to speak of and in NYState $170 max per week would not have

worked--

I was back in 3wks, 2 days..from surgery.

Now please remember I talk A LOT for my job, interviewing, pitching,

prepping, negotiating and closing...and I am not a slacker, jumped in

gently-but with 2 dedicated, hard working, but cautious feet. After

being back 2 wks or so, I started getting shooting pains

sporadically...in my face.

To be careful, started antibiotics and my OS (who is great)

said...you better slow it down. (and I was, but MORE.) Either go Part

time or work from home few days per week...OR ELSE YOU MAY NEED to

have your screws and plates removed-more time off will be needed and

that's " not what you want to do if there's an option " .

I took that message and reality back to the office. Got a flat out no

and comment that made working from home sound like BBQ-ing in the

middle of the Atlantic Ocean!

A total no go. no options, just told to " focus my talking in the

office " .

Yeah ok.

So now I have an impossible cross roads to face...be true to my

employer OR me...

So needing to continue to work, I tried to 'shut-up' as it were and

tried to do the best I could at the time, keep the peace while still

watching out for me (someone has to!)....but here's the

reality...didn't work.

Work is always busy. They kept me swamped or guilty when it wasn't...

but I thought I was handling it...

and reality is....SURGERY is scheduled for removal in April.

AND, they don't know yet.

Deal is, they are going to want me out. So I now have to be

intelligent and super proactive. And so be it.

Change is good.

And they, as I have seen, have shown their colors all too true..so

good for me! (sorta;)

I write this because no matter if your company is big or small,

whether you have been there 2 yrs or 10 yrs...

companies look out for themselves-that is how they stay in business,

minding the bottom line and watching their butts...and not that that

is always a bad thing, it's a successful business reality...but how

that trickles down to the staff is a different story.

so FOLKS...CYA. (cover your *ss)

seriously...if you are going to jump into surgery and be out for a

while, don't panic---but just consider the strange possibilities and

have a contingency plan in the back of your mind...because you never

know and after all WE as a surgical people have endured and overcame

SO much personally...this is not the way it should be, but surly it

could be.

And also, if you are dealt an injustice...cya first and then follow

up with the Better Business Bureau and/or Dept of Labor and so on.

These are not ethical business practices, but they sure do happen

everyday to anyone.

And lastly, chin up....1, because it's a gorgeous chin!

and 2, because ONWARDS and UPWARDS!!!!!

cheers, JO