Hi!

I have a question.

How did you manage to ask your manager/boss/ supervisor for 6 days off?

I'm a sales associate at a women's store. I don't get vacation, sick pay, etc...

I'm sure I can tell her about my surgery but I don't know what she is going to say when I tell her that I'm going to Mexico to have it done.

She's nice but she gets all dramatic, and fatalistic when people have to ask for days off... I already have almost 3 weeks in advance to ask her.

So please, what should I tell her?

When I told my bosses I needed time off, I just told them I was having surgery. I didn't say what for and they didn't ask. It's none of their business. I did have to have my surgeon's office fill out FMLA paperwork so I could qualify for "catastrophic leave" pay, but only human resources saw that paperwork. My bosses never saw it.

Sorry but what does FMLA mean?

Both my manager and District manager are very gossipy. My manager will ask me for at least a doctor's note or something. I'm not sure if I could get that from Mexico's A Lighter Me...

FMLA is the Family & Medical Leave Act - just say you're having a procedure done

Sorry but what does FMLA mean?

Family Medical Leave Act

My employer offers up to 30 days of paid "catastrophic leave", but requires the submission of FMLA paperwork in order to qualify. My surgeon's office (Obesity Control Center) was perfectly willing to fill out the FMLA paperwork for me, so I don't see why your's wouldn't be willing to provide a note or whatever is necessary for you to qualify for time off at your job.

If they are not giving you any sick days or benefits then they have got to know that things happen in people's lives that mean they need time off. Just tell them you need some unpaid vacation time. If that is not ok with them, then perhaps you should think about finding a new job that lets you be a human being.

Omg! This is some good information I didn't know!! Thank you so much! But what about thw person who is traveling with me? He will ned to ask for days off as well , he mostly gets weekends off, so he will actually need to ask for 4 days. But he's not the one to have the surgery. Will they let him go?

If they are not giving you any sick days or benefits then they have got to know that things happen in people's lives that mean they need time off. Just tell them you need some unpaid vacation time. If that is not ok with them, then perhaps you should think about finding a new job that lets you be a human being.

I agree with you completely. It's Rainbow apparel, the women's store. Sales associate are practically slaves.

The he just needs to inform them that he needs some time off for personal reasons. They aren't paying for the time off so all they need to know is he won't be available to work those days.

Thank you so much.

I said I needed time off to "attend to a family matter" and said no more. I got a few "is everything ok?" questions but they were out of genuine concern. I answered with a simple "yes, thank you."

Just beware, about a week or so post op, you might have the dreaded fatigue issues, I didn't even have enough energy to take a shower...was out 3 more days from work...1.5 weeks after I returned to work

I just told her and she was dramatic. She asked why I didn't tell her before. (Surgery date is on the 28th ????) She also said that she needed to speak to the District manager to see what we can do; I need to bring a doctor's note, that she might not give me those days because it might be "blackout" (something like that; it means that the store is going to be busy and they cannot give days off). She wasn't happy about it. The she was trying to tell me that she might need me to work all these days and that if I ask for a favor she can ask me for a favor as well (which is working all these days nonstop covering a recently fired employee) She also asked me the reason I wanted the days off, I finally told her, and she told me about some people who got the surgery and gained the weight back. It was a disaster. She was trying to make make feel like I'm doing it wrong. She even told me that I needed to take care of my job first... and a lot of unpleasant stuff. I rarely ask for days off. I even go to work feeling sick, etc. I'm her best employee. .. and she can't consider me...

So in brief. I have to bring a doctor's note and see if the District manager approves, otherwise I might be kicked out.

What does you employee handbook state? It's times like these you need to reference that and follow it to the letter. If they give you flack then you can file a grievance. They usually back down when you have your ducks all lined in a row. Also you didn't need to tell her what it was. It's none of her business.

Do you genuinely have no other options for employment? I would never continue to work in that sort of environment.