I need to have my gallbladder removed, but I'll loose my job if i do it before 120 day probation is up.?

Question

Two Months ago I had the worst pain ever found out it was two large kidney stones. Was hospitalized 3 days for surgery the day i got home my job called they said i was a great worker thank you we don't need you anymore,we,re discontinuing that position.Two weeks ago I got same pain at my new job,worked my 8 hour shift and went to hospital now gallstones .Can,t have the surgery until october or i loose this job. Whats up with employeers theses days? I begged the hospital to let me out last week just to get to work on time,3 people called off that same day for allergies ,do,nt feel good,my god i was on a iv with dilotted that morning and went to work. No breaks for the dedicated employees anymore. My job at a fast food joint treated me better years ago when i had my appendics out 4 weeks out of work and i had ajob to come back to. Now your only out of work for 7-10 days for surgery.Just wanted some points of view on this topic.Thank you for letting me vent.

Answer 1

It's Dilaudid.

If you're still on probationary period, then you're screwed. Yes the system sucks. But if you end up requiring emergency surgery, I guess you could sue them, but don't know if that would help.

Answer 2

From the employer's perspective, they see an employee who, after only a short time on the job, needs to take time off and won't be available for training.  The employer is also concerned that this event just might be a indicator of future attendance problems.  The employer has to decide within the first few months if he's willing to take a chance on someone who may or may not work out, so he's willing to cut his losses early if any red flags come up.

You've had a bad run of luck with medical problems, but the employer doesn't know if this will be a pattern or will be resolved without any future problems.

I'm not being unsympathetic to you, by any means, but it might help for you to understand where the employer is coming from.  It sounds like your employer is fed up with employees calling in sick, leaving him so short-handed, he can't provide the service or product he's in business for.  When an employer's back is up against a wall, he's far less likely to be sympathetic.

If I were you, I would either post-pone the surgery until October, or see if you can have the surgery over a long weekend (your employer may be willing to let you take a Friday off without pay).  Nowadays, gall bladder surgery is performed using very small incisions and the recovery time can be as short as 3 days.

Answer 3

To most work places these days, your just a number. It's a shame, that some people, and companies, are more interested in the all mighty $, than a good, reliable worker. We go through the same thing at my work place. I've been there 25 years, and if I have to go to the Dr., or hospital, for ANYTHING,  our Human Resource Manager (who I feel, is less than human), thinks he is god, and thinks he can "over rule" what the Dr. has told you. It has to be "OK ed" by him, and if he feels it;s unnecessary, he wont give you the time off. What an A-HOLE!!! 25 years, and he just looks at me as a #!