Im really hoping someone can help me figure out what to tell my boss. I HATE to lie. It doesn’t come easily to me but I know its necessary in this case. I work for a very large hospital (billing part) that requires both pto and advance notice for time off. The problem with that is I don’t have any pto, and probably never will as Im on FMLA for a chronic disease (Immune Deficiency). Because I don’t have to give advanced notice or have pto for anything related to my immune deficiency I would like to tell my boss my surgery is for something related. Technically the wls IS related (obesity lowers the immune system, there are increased infections associated with it, and my treatment isn’t working because Im at the max dose because of my weight); however I don’t want to tell her im having wls because I don’t think they will believe me when I say its for my immune system (she’s kinda anti-wls).

I know by law I don’t have to tell my boss any details, but im kinda close to her and tell her everything so It would look funny if I all of a sudden decided to be secretive. This would especially be true since were both coders and we tend to want to know everything about medical.

SO my question is this; do you have any ideas of what surgery I could tell my boss that im having that is related to the stomach/immunity.

Im thinking something like worm removal (since she knows I have a Protein deficiency and this would be consistant) or intestine obstruction. Something just embarrassing enough that she wont ask questions. Any ideas??

I was worried about this as well. My employer gave me FMLA paperwork for my surgeon to fill out. I work for a major law firm, so you can bet that the paperwork was pretty thorough. The way the paperwork was worded, my surgeon (in MX) had no choice but to be very specific as to the nature of my surgery. I'm a private person, I actually considered not turning in the paperwork and taking it as vacation instead! I got over it - turned in the paperwork. My HR coordinator made it very easy - she told me I wasn't the first to have this procedure and said she was pleased I was making a choice for good health! I was so surprised! She told me that the law states that surgery is surgery and warrants medical leave - the FMLA would be approved. She said it didn't matter that it was elective surgery (I don't know if that is law or just our firm policy). She said even a boob job would have been covered under FMLA as long as I had the paperwork. She also told me that if I had complications later (even much later) that it would be covered under FMLA and linked to the claim I opened for surgery. I have 2 pools of time off to draw from. My vacation and my extended sick leave. Having the FMLA leave allowed me to draw from my ESL time and not touch my vacation.

@@a.conners, from a discrimination claim standpoint, obese individuals are not a protected class (yet). There are no cases tried successfully relating to weight discrimination that I'm aware of.

I got my insurance approval today so i sucked it up and told my boss I needed to take 2 wks off for surgery. After I assured her that I was NOT quitting, She asked if I was ok, then said I didn't need to tell her details if it was personal. I was SO greatful. But the best part is that she was actually HAPPY that I planned the surgery for when I did (because right now we don't have enough work and about the time I get back we will get 3 new clinics and be swamped). I can't believe how nervous I was, I caused myself a panic attack!!!

I'm very happy I didn't compromise my morals with lies. The guilt would have eaten at me

Thank you all for the support. I really appreciate the help and getting to know all opinions.