one day off for biopsy operation, employer says I need to request time off

[febel]

Was told I needed an urgent biopsy and removal of mole on my face. As soon as the date of the op came through I told my employer, by e mail and phone as the date came through over the summer break when my boss wasn't in. (I work in admin in education) My employer had 2 weeks notice of the op and acknowledged my message.
I had the op the other day and have now been told I need to complete a time off work request form. Not a sick form. I wouldn't mind but I presumed it would be a sick day, and we have to pay back all hours taken for any other absence (I work 3 days a week) , hours taken off noted in a little black book .
I might add I am NEVER off sick and always try to struggle in.

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

Is your employer seeing this as a medical appointment not as a too sick to attend work thing? Will you just need the day off?
Could you book the time off as a medical appt and if you are then too ill to attend work following the biopsy convert it to 'sick leave'?

[scotwood]

You asked for a day off, I don't know why you would assume it to be a sick day tbh. If you take a day off, pre planned in advance: isn't that simply that you have asked for a days leave rather than being off sick?

[Namenic]

I don’t know about the legalities but your employer is being unreasonable. There are plenty of operations/appointments that are very important for health but are not unplanned or emergency. These should count under sick days.

Many of these planned appointments prevent further unplanned longer hospital stays (eg planned gallbladder operation may prevent blockage of bile duct and infection episodes).

[flowery]

Are you sure your employer doesn't have a policy about medical appointments during term-time? Most educational establishments do, as this is obviously reasonably common among staff who are not allowed to take annual leave during term-time.

[scotwood]

I don't think the employer is unreasonable at all. You can't just assume they will put you off sick. People ask for time off for appointments & procedures all the time. I have never had anyone come and ask comfort a pre planned sick day, just a day off for X which we take from leave.

[scotwood]

Just to clarify, I'm not saying it shouldn't be a sick day, just that you can assume that it will be. Clearer communication is definitely needed.

[EskewedBeef]

I think your boss is correct. If the agreement is that you need to work back the hours then that's the right thing to do, or ask for it to be unpaid if you can't.

If you are unfortunate enough to get ill on a couple of occasions this year, you don't want another instance recorded against you unnecessarily.

[Jojoanna]

I think your employer is unreasonable it’s a minor op. I think it should be classed as a sick day as you are unfit for work

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

Presumably if the op didn't make you too ill for work you would go to the op and then go back to work, as you would do any other medical appointment?

Seeing as it will make you too ill, can you phone immediately after the operation (when you are able to) and say i'm sick now due to anaesthetic/painkillers etc sorry boss will need to take this as sick leave?

[scotwood]

I think your employer is unreasonable it’s a minor op. I think it should be classed as a sick day as you are unfit for work

Why is the employer unreasonable though? OP asked for the day off. OP didn't ask for a sick day. OP presumed it would be given as a sick day. OP employer is not a mind reader.

[WrongKindOfFace]

Just go back and say it needs to be a sick day as you were unable to work due to ill health.

[febel]

Can I just say I didn't ask for the day off , I told her I had an op on that day. I am very rarely off sick, just thought it would be classed as a sick day, like the op I had about 8 years ago. I put myself out at work and will work extra if asked etc and am an experienced and pretty flexible staff member. I would have gone back to work after but the hospital advised me to stay off work and rest. Also, to be honest, I was a bit woozy and wasn't allowed to drive, and couldn't see well as the op was beneath my eye so my eye area was swollen.

But hey, if an operation to see if something is cancerous cannot be classed as a sick day by my employer, and has to be paid back it is what it is. Just leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

[Aragog]

I work in a school. A sick day for us is time off when you are ill, often phoning in the morning or the evening before. Unplanned. We are supposed to complete a back to work form when we go back, even after a day off.

An operation or procedure would be day off for a medical appointment and go on the appropriate form. Its not really asking for time off, its just a formal way of notifying work of the date.

For example, I'm having a heart procedure next month. Although my headteacher knows about it and knows how long I should need off school next week when we return I shall still need to fill in a 'request' form to hand in. It won't affect my time off, and I will still be paid for the time off. It will go down as medical/sick leave but it isn't unplanned hence the form.