Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Can I Use Fmla/disability



Recommended Posts

Hello new here but I have been reading alot. Anyways i am thinking of doing the surgery. Are you allowed to submit

for FMLA and/or disability for gastric surgery. I have been there for 7 years and I did use it in the past for something else about

3 years ago and I didn't tell people what it was for and I believe that someone from HR told a person what I went on

leave for, of course I don't have evidence.

Not sure if I should use my doctor dietician for the 6months supervised diet or my own doctor??? I have proof I did

dieting and exercising last year but not sure if insurance will consider that since I only did it for about 4months. I have Medical

insurance if anyone wants to know...Thanks for the help

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went on FMLA when i had my surgery and I received short term disability from my employer.I did not tell them what kind of surgery I had . They just new I had surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess u don't really understand what FMLA is. Is it money? Is it a type of pay you receive? I thought it basically just guaranteed your job. Lime, you can't be fired for being off work too long if you filed FMLA. My understanding is that there is no compensation involved.

For example: I will be off for 2 weeks to recover from surgery. I request 2 weeks vacation pay AND filed FMLA so they can't fire we if I'm out longer than the 2 weeks.

I hope someone can explain, I was planning to post my own thread about this, glad it came up.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess u don't really understand what FMLA is. Is it money? Is it a type of pay you receive? I thought it basically just guaranteed your job. Lime' date=' you can't be fired for being off work too long if you filed FMLA. My understanding is that there is no compensation involved.

For example: I will be off for 2 weeks to recover from surgery. I request 2 weeks vacation pay AND filed FMLA so they can't fire we if I'm out longer than the 2 weeks.

I hope someone can explain, I was planning to post my own thread about this, glad it came up.[/quote']

I meant 'I guess I don't understand what it is', not you!!! Sorry, didn't mean to sound rude!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

O

I meant 'I guess I don't understand what it is', not you!!! Sorry, didn't mean to sound rude!

hahaha its ok I don't understand either. I just don't want people at work to know that I am

having this surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Short term disability is something that some companies offer, you have to ask to see if you are covered. You can apply for short term disability, I have a 7 day grace period that I will have to take vacation, then the rest of my time is covered and I received 67% of my wage per week. I am having my gallbladder out at the same time and I have close to 3 weeks off before I go to work so this is a big plus that I don't waste all my vacation. Your Dr. will have to fill out some forms and you will need to start a claim with STD. I completed all my paperwork 1 month before I was even having surgery to get all my ducks in a row and not have to worry about it when I got home.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

FMLA is available to employees in employer groups of 50 or more, if the employee has worked 20 consecutive weeks prior to filing.

It does protect your job for 12 weeks but it does not cover your pay. To get covered paychecks, you either have to use your paid time off (PTO) or file for short-term disability.

You will be required to provide medical documentation from your physician & I can tell you it needs to be very specific for the expected length of your 'disability'.

All of this is "supposed" to be confidential but that is never ironclad.

You should talk to your human resource department. You don't have to tell them anything other than you have a chronic medical condition that will likely require surgery. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

FMLA is available to employees in employer groups of 50 or more, if the employee has worked 20 consecutive weeks prior to filing.

It does protect your job for 12 weeks but it does not cover your pay. To get covered paychecks, you either have to use your paid time off (PTO) or file for short-term disability.

You will be required to provide medical documentation from your physician & I can tell you it needs to be very specific for the expected length of your 'disability'.

All of this is "supposed" to be confidential but that is never ironclad.

You should talk to your human resource department. You don't have to tell them anything other than you have a chronic medical condition that will likely require surgery. Good luck!

Thanks so much I agree things should stay in HR but unfortunately when I had another surgery I was a supervisor and alot of things did't stay hush hush and it's sad.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

FMLA is available to employees in employer groups of 50 or more, if the employee has worked 20 consecutive weeks prior to filing.

It does protect your job for 12 weeks but it does not cover your pay. To get covered paychecks, you either have to use your paid time off (PTO) or file for short-term disability.

You will be required to provide medical documentation from your physician & I can tell you it needs to be very specific for the expected length of your 'disability'.

All of this is "supposed" to be confidential but that is never ironclad.

You should talk to your human resource department. You don't have to tell them anything other than you have a chronic medical condition that will likely require surgery. Good luck!

Not sure you are correct with the 20 weeks of employment. Federal Law is one year and at least 1250 hours.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went on FMLA when i had my surgery and I received short term disability from my employer.I did not tell them what kind of surgery I had . They just new I had surgery.

I did the same thing. No one has asked be about what kind of surgery except for the company that pays out short term disability.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

YES use FMLA it will protect it job and some pays u while out. I get paid 100% of my pay for 6weeks and I'm taking the whole 6 weeks after 6weeks it pays @75% so I'll be going bk to work sept 4 and I don't have to use my PTO

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

YES use FMLA it will protect it job and some pays u while out. I get paid 100% of my pay for 6weeks and I'm taking the whole 6 weeks after 6weeks it pays @75% so I'll be going bk to work sept 4

BTW no personal,sick,or vacation is being used

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not sure you are correct with the 20 weeks of employment. Federal Law is one year and at least 1250 hours.

You are correct, it is one year but I believe the 20 weeks equals 1250. You can google FMLA & there is a government site that explains it well. That's what I had from memory!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

At my employer, it is one year of employment or 1150 hours. We have a STD bank that accumulates every pay check.

20 weeks at 40 hours a week would only be 800 hours... so I'm not sure where 20 weeks would come into play unless maybe PRN employees maybe?

I'm only filing FMLA so that I can secure my job, and not have to use my PTO. Thank God I have it!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×