I do have tons of sick leave (probably about four months worth) of which I plan a good 3 weeks off, maybe more. I now telework two days a week. I've planned my surgery for early August because all of my meetings and such will end and due to budget cuts, I'll have little to do until October, our new fiscal year. So timely is perfect.

I'd like to request episodic telework for week 4 to 6 (just to have access to my personal bathroom; be able to plan my meals at home, etc and I've read people are exhausted after WLS and I'm 62.). Working for the government, requesting telework for surgery recovering is common; however, I'm not sure I want to get into the details of what my surgery is. I've been putting off the gallbladder surgery for nearly a year that my boss knew about (which is what prompted me to now incllude the WLS which no one knows about). My office is just full of gossips and truly mean and nasty people. I work in Miami, that should say it all.

i'm wondering what verbiage others may have used.

I haven't, but a friend of mine had her surgeon write a note that just said "X is scheduled for surgery on y date, and will require z days off followed by zz days of part-time work in order to accommodate her recovery."

She also had the surgeon send the letter on his general surgery practice letterhead, not on the bariatric center's letterhead.

that's good verbiage.

Hi there! I too work for the government. I informed my boss that I needed time off for surgery. I did not have to state the reason for surgery, thankfully. My understanding is that your boss cannot legally ask what you are having done, in any case.

I did have to submit a doctor's note excusing my absence either before or after I returned. I got a doctor's note scribbled on the surgical center's official letterhead (the name has no mention of bariatrics), stating that it was medically OK for me to return to work. I turned it in on my first day back. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Edited June 27, 201610 yr by Takoyaki

I would suggest that you take six weeks since you have the time available. That way, you will beback on regular foods and have more meal options.

If anyone gets too damn nosey, just say something like....."Thanks for your concern, now let's talk about your personal health issues."

My sleeve is tomorrow and my surgeon did not go into detail but I got 6 weeks FMLA

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I took a weeks vacation...that's all I needed to tell anyone, just some time off.