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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask work for sick leave for a privately funded operation that puts me under GA that is technically " cosmetic"

39 replies

ljwales · 31/03/2015 17:29

I had an op 10 years ago on the NHS for something many people consider quite minor but was starting to affect my MH. It was a success and has made me feel 60-70% better about it, I'm still not totally happy with the result. Paying to have another one to hopefully get me 90%+ happy with the result. Will need a recovery of 1-2 weeks. I only get four weeks holiday. Aibu to ask work if I can take it as sick leave? I will just get SSP.

OP posts:

IAmAShitHotLawyer · 31/03/2015 19:44

Hotbot - what does your policy about cosmetic surgery say? Genuinely curious.

Hotbot · 31/03/2015 19:51

From memory, haven't had to look it up for a while..
.something around being able to use a.l. , & unpaid leave
, tbf I always confirm with hr to ensure I am doing the right thing.
i am not an unsympathetic manager , and have used planned a.l. For laser surgery about 20 yrs ago for me . I actually agree with our policy I don't think that my dept should be left short for a vanity procedure.

Hotbot · 31/03/2015 19:52

Oh and I genuinely wasn't being arsey earlier,

AnyFucker · 31/03/2015 19:54

but if you are not fit for work, your doctor gives you a sick note

hence being eligible for sick pay

Discounted · 31/03/2015 20:01

Yes AF, that's what they were trying to avoid saying on my course. "Policy" is that it should be holiday but the actual fact is that if you need time off to recover from any op, your doctor will sign you off and then it's sick leave.

Hotbot · 31/03/2015 20:02

Yes you are right any , but you are having planned procedure, elective cosmetic surgery for which you need planned time off work.
Accepting that a sick note ,is a sick note is fine and I agree with you.
I genuinely don't think my staff would be that underhand to be able to keep quiet for an op of that nature,and if a sick note came thru with the named procedure on it I would ask advice from h.r. ,and adhere to their advice .

AnyFucker · 31/03/2015 20:06

planned appointments don't count as sick leave, of course

but if you are genuinely unfit to work, you get a sick note

I wouldn't call that "underhand"

MamaGotABrandNewBag · 31/03/2015 20:12

I got paid sick leave for laser eye surgery

Hobby2014 · 31/03/2015 20:12

Do you need to tell them? I'm pretty clueless but could you say you need to have an operation and leave it at that or would they need to see a letter / would your gp put a detailed reason in a sick note or could they just put recovering from op?
Also could you use the first week as self certified and second as leave?
I really have no idea though!

milkysmum · 31/03/2015 20:17

Surely you can self certificate for the first week and if then if you need any longer you either get a sick note from your gp- in which case you are recovering from an operation, cosmetic or not? Or you use annual leave if you can't get a sick note?

MrsDoylesCupOfTea · 31/03/2015 20:19

Eye surgery is different. There is something medically wrong with you.

This is an interesting discussion. What about someone that plays a dangerous sport and gets hurt.. or what about someone who drinks too much and gets ill.

I think time off for cosmetic surgery is a bit much though.

hazelnutlatte · 31/03/2015 20:20

I used to work in a private hospital. We would give a sick note for anyone who had surgery where the recovery time was expected to be more than a week. This was regardless of whether the surgery was cosmetic.
The sick note just said 'surgical procedure' so it was left up to the individual to tell their employer what the surgery was for if they wanted to.

IAmAShitHotLawyer · 31/03/2015 20:20

No you do not need to tell them and they can't force you to either. Its really none of their business!

Your consultant or GP will be deliberately vague if you ask them too. Or they will just put "post operative recovery". To be honest, if you have paid for cosmetic surgery the consultant would put pretty much anything you ask for on the sick note

threegoingonthirty · 31/03/2015 21:26

If that person has a sick note you have to give them sick leave. It isn't up to you to "allow" it.

Not strictly true.I would think that the contract of employment could include an obligation to consent to a report from the GP and that if the report stated the operation was cosmetic, sick pay would be denied. Usual caveat that I am not a lawyer, however I am a GP and on the odd occasion that I am asked for a sick note for cosmetic surgery I always put details of the surgery on it

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