Ask HN: Should I find new job before telling current job about surgery? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Should I find new job before telling current job about surgery?

26 pointscKQjwLJ6sn2013 comments

I am a disabled software engineer at a mid stage startup who is planning to get an experimental surgery with the expectation to improve my quality of life. The recovery time is expected to be 6 to 8 weeks before I could return to work; although one patient recovered in 4 weeks. Several others died.

Should I request unpaid leave from my employer or just find a new job with a start date after a conservative recovery time? I am specifically concerned that revealing any weakness will compromise my compensation negotiation position. It is already a chore with my current employer to receive pay increases to accompany increased job responsibility. Management has a stronger position than I realized when I accepted the job. The tech side is very simple and much more of a minor contributor to the business value compared to sales and structural customer lock-in. Almost all of the engineers are second world contractors from multiple different agencies whereas the handful of stateside employees' purpose seems to be quality control through code reviews.

Has anyone here taken time off for surgery? Do you wish you had lined up another job offer first instead of requesting leave? Did management grant leave and then later retaliate after you returned to work?

For the small fraction of outcomes where I die, is there a best practice way to notify your employer? I know that companies often subscribe to services to monitor employees social media and LinkedIn for signs of disloyalty (looking for another job). Do these services also send notifications if a resource dies? I am interested if sending a courier with a Hallmark "I'm sorry for your loss" card could possibly be the first place they find out?

It sounds like you aren't very happy at your current job, so by all means look for a new job. That said I wouldn't like the stress of starting a new job immediately after recovering from surgery. Why not request leave and after you come back start looking for a new job?

As for notifying them that you have died, maybe you can ask a close friend or family member to do it?

(Edited to add: in the case that recovery takes longer than expected you definitely want to be employed, so quitting your job and starting a new one is maybe not advisable.)

This is such a difficult situation.

Your health comes first, and don't worry for a second about what might happen to your employer in negative situations.

But the issue would be difficult to navigate for someone very familiar with the details.

'Legality' may be of secondary concern here unfortunately - you may be entitled to certain rights, but often companies just don't care and will screw you, leaving you with no choice but to sue etc. - nobody wants to deal with that.

It's rational for them to not necessarily want to pay you more, even for ostensible promotions, but it doesn't mean they don't value you.

Also - consider that everyone is human on some level, you may want to let them know you have to go in for some kind of surgery without disclosing any of the details at all. You may want to indicate that you can have your Doctor contact them. This may seem odd, but maybe you literally want to get a Doctor's note which indicates the seriousness and recovery time without getting into any details. The Doctors note will legitimise the situation so they'll 'have no doubts' - and with that documentation on file, they'll think twice about doing something screwy: if you end up in small claims and a Judge sees they have something like that on record, it can't be good for them.

Maybe once you've let them know, you can try to judge from their response the level or career risk you face. You can perhaps offer to 'work out a time' with them if that's an option for you.

It can't hurt to put out the feelers for another job as well.

Good luck with your situation. Life is long, your health is the priority.

In the long run, if you find that you're seriously in a situation wherein your company won't cut you some slack for something so serious, then it's almost definitely time to move on.

Good luck.

The FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or recover from a serious illness.

In order to be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months, have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work for an employer with at least fifty employees.

You have to have 50 or more employees for the business to be required to follow FMLA.

That is literally the last line of my post.

But good to emphasize.

If you missed it, OP might have as well.

Have you looked into possibility of going on short or long term disability? Where I live (CA), I've never worked for a company that didn't provide disability insurance. A few year's ago I severely broke my arm requiring surgery - my manager offered me the option of applying for disability so that I could take the time off for recovery while still receiving some percentage of my salary. Good luck with your procedure!

Talk to your employer and ask for leave - even if you choose not to go back, it is a safety net. If there are 50+ employees, they must grant you leave under FMLA laws. If not, they should grant it out of human decency. If you also want to look for another job, go right ahead. Taking leave does not obligate you to return, and I have seen a few people take leave and then just not come back, in various organizations.

As far as notification if something goes badly (hopefully it won't be a concern), just make a list of who should be notified and give it to whomever is closest to you. My wife and I have that anyway... our "In case I get hit by a bus" documents.

I have taken time off for surgery before, and based on my experience, I have one more bit of advice - forget about work for a while. Just worry about your own recovery. Stressing over a job isn't how you should be spending your energy during a time like this. You'll know when it is time to start thinking about it again - there comes a point during recovery from major surgery where you are tired of recovery and want to start doing something again. That is the time to start thinking about work, not before.

I went thru spine surgery, being diabetic from poor health habits and a sedentary job ... Programming, did not help my situation. It takes time to heal and a stable health is necessary to take interview without looking desperate. Also on a new job, to qualify for FMLA one needs to be atleast with the employer for a year. I would not resign a job, if I was in your shoes.

Milk them for all they’ve got. This is about your quality of life, keep your insurance in the green and do what you think is best for your health.

I wish you a long and happy life. I'm sure surgery will go fine and you'll be alright! A colleague of mine went through some surgery(appendicitis), and he was bedridden for a while. I think he was on paid leave. I believe, one would have more leverage with current employer, where you have established goodwill to cash. I would suggest, stick with the current employer, for now. One may also hire lawyer, if you're concerned about surgical complications. Once you are out of the hospital, well healed, then start a new adventure! One problem at a time.

Do you have benefits at current job? Also maybe check into FMLA to see what kind a protections you have most places have to honor and sometimes pay a % of whatever your monthly salary is. FMLA protects your position, and job i believe for up to 12 weeks time off.

y, I took FMLA or tried to when our son was born, they weren't happy and were letting me know they were trying to find any loop hole they could to get out of it, and said there might or might not be a job for me when I came back.

I ended up taking the leave with them, I ended up finding a new job while I was off that started when my FMLA ended.

As far as if you die, don't worry about how your employer will find out. They don't worry too much when they let employees go. As an employee that shouldn't really be a concern for you to worry about.

Focus on your health and having a successful surgery. Good luck, I hope it improves your quality of life.

Does your company offer short term disability? Many companies have it.

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