Hi all!

I am a teacher and unfortunately got SUPER sick this year between strep and the flu. I am now out of PTO, vacation, and sick time and I've got my psych eval that I HAVE to do for surgery approval as well as this training seminar the doc requires. Everything else I am pretty sure I can schedule when I am off work (blood tests, other tests, etc.), but I am also in school and have had to take 2 days off as unpaid so I am on THIN ice with my boss... I have a meeting with HR tomorrow and told her I am having surgery and she has reassured me that I do not need to elaborate or explain what the surgery is for because of confidentiality reasons, since I will have to miss at least part of the day any advice?? I'm so nervous I am going to lose my job (which I need for surgery), but these things I absolutely have to do in order to be approved are only available in the mornings. Anyone else run out of time or could offer me advice?

I'm not quite sure why you, as a teacher don't get paid during the summer, but I totally understand where you're coming from. When I first joined the forum and saw what most people have to go through to get approved, I asked the same question. Where do you all get the time off to do all the required pr-op crap? No way, I could do it. I am a retired jr/sr high school teacher and now I contract out to Microsoft/Google/Amazon and there's no way I could have taken so much time off and expected to keep my peeps. It's crazy!

Go through HR and look into intermittent FMLA for your preop requirements and FMLA for you surgical leave. You will need you medical professionals to provide supporting docs. Shouldn't be too complicated.

I'm not quite sure why you' date=' as a teacher don't get paid during the summer, but I totally understand where you're coming from. When I first joined the forum and saw what most people have to go through to get approved, I asked the same question. Where do you all get the time off to do all the required pr-op crap? No way, I could do it. I am a retired jr/sr high school teacher and now I contract out to Microsoft/Google/Amazon and there's no way I could have taken so much time off and expected to keep my peeps. It's crazy![/quote']

Teachers who don't work during the summer typically get their monthly paycheck split all year so that throughout the twelve months they get a three week paycheck per month verses a four week paycheck. Some schools pay a four week check during the 9 months of the year and then teachers in that group get no paycheck for a couple of months. Either way it's the same amount of money, just a difference in who saves up for the off months. Most teachers work during the summer doing something else for additional funds.

Now as to the time off....To the OP I'd say GET BOSSY! I had all of my testing done in 2 1/2 days because I scheduled them that way. The doc didn't want to do that...they prefer to do one at a time or in the am or whatever, but not everyone can come for an am test so I insisted that I couldn't do them over a long period of time and made them pile the testing on top of each other so I could drive over and do one or two or three things in one day (I live far from where I was having the surgery). This type of approach is normal for Alaskans because we often fly in for stuff, and believe me, all over the country they can accommodate , they just prefer not to Just get pushy and insist.

I am not a contracted teacher. I just recently got certified. Before I was a teachers assistant so technically right now I am a temp staff (technicalities!!) it's a long confusing process, but I am full time and receive bennies. I will just have to get bossy then and make some calls!! Thank you :-)

Being a valued employee of 9 yrs. I had gobs ofsick/vaca time. I have a great job and great boss.

My friend had a strict job and had to do it under FMLA. Once approved any time you miss pertaining to this issue can't go against you. She had a lap and so even band adjustments were under her FMLA.

well there is always the option i took...i married the boss but that is rather time consuming as well....

Iggychic- thank you!! I certainly needed a giggle and some comedy after a day like today haha!!

I talked to HR and my boss and I am going to try and qualify for FMLA, but I'll need something that says I can miss work for anything to do with surgery so not sure if I'll get that. Anyone get anything for before surgery or just after? I don't want to miss too much work either though because I'm not going to get paid for the time I miss obviously, so I honestly don't want to miss that much.

Iggychic- thank you!! I certainly needed a giggle and some comedy after a day like today haha!!

I talked to HR and my boss and I am going to try and qualify for FMLA' date=' but I'll need something that says I can miss work for anything to do with surgery so not sure if I'll get that. Anyone get anything for before surgery or just after? I don't want to miss too much work either though because I'm not going to get paid for the time I miss obviously, so I honestly don't want to miss that much.[/quote']

That would be intermittent FMLA.

That would be intermittent FMLA.

I know it would be intermittent, and she said I would probably qualify for that but in order to even get this process started (i.e. going to the psych eval, getting blood work done, getting the initial tests like the gi thing done) I can not do unless I have a note from my doc saying it is medically necessary for me to miss work. Otherwise, I can not miss anymore days since I am all out of PTO, vaca, sick, etc. So that was why I was asking if anyone got a letter from their doc BEFORE they were even approved for surgery. I called my doc on Monday and left and message and still haven't heard back. I am going to call back today if I don't hear anything by this afternoon.

I know it would be intermittent' date=' and she said I would probably qualify for that but in order to even get this process started (i.e. going to the psych eval, getting blood work done, getting the initial tests like the gi thing done) I can not do unless I have a note from my doc saying it is medically necessary for me to miss work. Otherwise, I can not miss anymore days since I am all out of PTO, vaca, sick, etc. So that was why I was asking if anyone got a letter from their doc BEFORE they were even approved for surgery. I called my doc on Monday and left and message and still haven't heard back. I am going to call back today if I don't hear anything by this afternoon.[/quote']

My apologies.