to think boss is taking the P?

[OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide]

Boss is very senior in organisation and in early 50s. Sadly diagnosed with cervical cancer in the summer - early stages but took 2 weeks off at end of July to get her head around it. Op was brought forward to mid Aug but she went off a week before to prepare for it. Had hysterectomy and didn’t need any other treatment. Expected to be off for 6 weeks recovery which then got extended. Fair enough.

Then decided there was no point coming back before she had been on a 2 week holiday over Oct half term. Again, fair enough, her kids deserved a treat. She then took another week after coming back before starting her phased return - 3 half days a week. We are up to our necks and working 14 hour days partly to cover for her.

Was talking to another senior manager who said they had spoken to her earlier - she was out Xmas shopping with her sister.

Feels like a piss take to be honest. The only other person I know who had a hysterectomy was back half hours 4 weeks later and full time 2 weeks later. Can it really take 12 weeks to recover?

I appreciate this will sound really mean but we are a small team and have been flat out since July without stopping and will probably have to work over Xmas as well to keep up with everything. And likely to be made redundant next year down to business changes that see her role safe but not ours. :-(

I've had cervical cancer and a hysterectomy. No one prepares you for the effect on your mental health after. She may well be physically recovered (although it can take months) it doesn't mean she is okay to go back to work. I can tell you that she will be thinking of the cancer all the time, thinking of the what ifs and the changes she has had to make. My (previous) company had no compassion and made me feel guilty, no one should feel guilty for having cancer and no one should have people talking about them behind their back

She literally said it was a piss take.

People who have been ill may be able to cope with a couple of hours shopping bit not a full day's work. Give your head a wobble!

Wow! Just wow!

The workload is because they made a load of people redundant

this is your actual problem….

Not your boss with cancer who feared she’d die prematurely and leave her school aged children motherless.
😒😒😒

hth

The problem is you’re working for a company which is a sinking ship. You’re about to lose your job and in the meantime you’re massively overworked due to people resigning and not being replaced.

Its no wonder you feel miserable at work but instead of taking it out on the person who has had cancer, you need to direct your discontent to the management team who aren’t dealing with the issues effectively.

This is excellent advice. You aren't a terrible person but you are in a frustrating and worrying situation, as is your boss. Take this advice regarding noting down everything you does as overtime, and leave this thread.

I think shopping is more tiring than working especially these days with wfh… @Spirallingdownwards

regardless just because you don’t agree with someone really doesn’t mean you need to tell them to ‘give there head a wobble…’ it’s just a differing view point, maybe you should check your own head?

I think you need to wind your neck in tbh.

You sound incredibly stressed and overworked resulting in compassion fatigue I’ve been there!

had to leave the company as I didn’t like the person I was becoming and I was doing the work of two people. Start looking for another job look after yourself if you are very stressed get signed off yourself don’t burn out!

Your colleague is taking the time she needs to recover as she should.
your mental health is important too so make sure you also look out for yourself.