Employer Help.

[Wheetsin 714]

He could have said it in a different way, but I don't see anything there that's harassment.

Technically it's true.

Once upon a time I was a director, and our VP liked to tell our staff, "Do it, or your replacement will." I'm too direct of a person to be super super high on the tact charts, but when he would say that it was painful.

As for making people happy -- do you have an option to work from home? As long as you could do your work from a couch in a bathrobe, you could probably return to duties a bit sooner. Is your work such that you can "work ahead" prior to taking the time off so that your absence wouldn't impact business? Would it be possible to push your surgery out until you get PTO? Do you have any company holidays coming up that you could use to your advantage to take up some of the recovery time?

[Texasmom65 23]

Since you have been there less than a year, I would wait until your vacation time. Or is there someone over him you can talk to about this. How large is your company?

[JourneyOfAFatKid 6]

Our company is fairly small. On a good day that no one calls in we may have around 45-50 employees and that is spread out between 4 warehouses and an office. I really like my job and the people that I work with, my boss is just less than tactful. I think that I might be able to "borrow" my PTO so that I can use it now. I get paid a week behind, so even if I got my PTO and quit the day I was supposed to be back they could always just keep my paycheck and get their money out of me. right?

[Texasmom65 23]

Maybe your boss was just trying to be funny. Good Luck. Hopefully everything will work out ok.

[Wheetsin 714]

Depends on whether you get your PTO in a lump sum, or of it's accrued over time.

How long until you find out whether or not your time has been approved? If they approve it, then no problem. If they don't, then see everyone's suggestions above for help with your Plan B.

Playing devil's advocate, as as someone who is more blunt than what the general public generally appreciates, maybe he was just "kidding"? I don't mean kidding as in you think it's funny, but kidding as in he thought he was being witty.

[JourneyOfAFatKid 6]

Please trust me when I say, HE was DEFINITELY NOT kidding! Im finding myself litterally holding back a giggle at the thought of him "kidding." He's not the type. LOL

[LisaM 3]

I would definitely not record him without him knowing it. That's against the law - wiretapping.

Do you have an employee manual? Look at what it says in there as far as requested time off. He needs to get over it. It's not like you're asking for a month off.

[Wheetsin 714]

Ah, I like it when others' personalities can make me look graceful.

Have you contacted your surgeon to see if pushing out a month or so would be possible? I know some could accomodate it, and others are booked months in advance.

[anonynurse 13]

If it is an "at will" employment state, then he is absolutely correct. He does not have to employ you and can let you go at any time, for any reason. I also agree it is a HORRIBLE time to be out of work.

I would suggest you go in and talk to him. Say you could tell the idea of you taking a week off seemed stressful for the office and get a calendar out. Sit down with him, work out a time when he feels it would be less stressful for you to take this time off and come to a mutual agreement. It may not be as soon as you want, but frankly, right now, being employed takes precedence. If you took time off without permission for a nonemergent elective medical procedure it may very well be seen as quitting. Which means NO unemployment benefits. Think very carefully. You would be far better off approaching this from a "how can we make this work for us both" angle than a "you are such a prick!" angle.

[JourneyOfAFatKid 6]

welp. Just as I suspected kids. Yesterday I was "laid off, indefinitely" pretty convenient that it happens right after I ask about PTO for surgery... Anyone know of anyone hiring Administrative Assistants in the Topeka, Kansas area??? I could really use the connection right about now...

[Escape_Pod 358]

welp. Just as I suspected kids. Yesterday I was "laid off, indefinitely" pretty convenient that it happens right after I ask about PTO for surgery... Anyone know of anyone hiring Administrative Assistants in the Topeka, Kansas area??? I could really use the connection right about now...

Um.... wow. Sounds like your employer was a class A jerk. I'm so sorry.

You could try contacting Kansas Legal Services to see what sort of advice they can offer. The down side is, if you have a legal leg to stand on and do end up suing your former employer it can make it more difficult for you to get hired in the future.

[JourneyOfAFatKid 6]

Yeah, I'm really not interested in suing if I can avoid it. I was looking fo something different anyway. I'm just pissed I can't put "currently employed" on my applications. Sigh....

[jasleeve 440]

oops! i didnt keep reading

im sorrry!

i googled FMLA and I dont qualify. i have been with my company 10 months and you have to be employed 12. Go figure. By the time I have my surgery I will have been here 11 months instead of the required 12... CRAP!

[jasleeve 440]

is your insurance through your job? how willl surgery be covered if it is?

[JourneyOfAFatKid 6]

No, thank GOD my insurance is through my husbands job.