to go to work or not to go to work..

[namedchangedtoprotectme]

from a previous thread, i was awaiting a hysteroscopy, as i had a post menopausal bleed.

i had it yesterday, and its left me battered and bruised both physically and mentally.

its been made very clear they are ruling out cancer.. and they found a lump yesterday, took a biopsy and put me on the list for removal of said lump with an estimated time scale of 2 months.

i've taken today and tomorrow off work because i'm currently also fighting cystitis and am on a heavy dose of anti-biotics, so i'm in pain from the procedure yesterday, really unwell with these anti-biotics and generally not in a great place emotionally.

i will not lie, my absense due to sickness has not been great this past year, and i'm trying to pull it back as i also suffer from chronic migraine which can strike me down for days on end without warning, all of which my work are aware of but it doesn't stop them putting me on an action plan to improve my attendance.

anyway... i got a call today offering me surgery on wednesday next week, which may mean another absence from work following the surgery.

do i.. go back to work on saturday, work the 2 shifts then go on to rest days, have the op on wedesnday which is my rest day, and then go sick again on thursday which amounts to 2 periods of absence, or, do i contact my GP, not return to work for the weekend, get a sick/fitnote and simply stay off until i am all well and if i do this, this only counts for 1 period of sickness and not 2

Surely with an operation you would let work know now that you will not be in on Thursday rather than going off sick on the day?

this is what i am asking? i am off sick at the moment and was planning on going back in on saturday.. and working saturday and sunday, then i'm on to rest days, my surgery is on the wednesday which is my rest day and i am due back in to work on Thursday.

obviously I am going to tell them about the surgery.. i'm just trying to work out which would be the better solution sickness wise is all?

I'd be honest with them personally.

i very much intend to be honest... ive not said i would be anything different. but thanks for your comments

If they're counting up sickness in blocks then it's worth staying off sick until after the op as it will only count as one absence. You're not being dishonest because by the sound of things you could do with a few days rest to build up to the surgery.

If today is your first day you can self cert and would only need a fit note post surgery.

I would be completely honest with them. Including telling them what they are testing for if you can bare to be. Personally I have found employers to be far more sympathetic and supportive than when they are kept in the dark.

I would also stay off work until after the procedure if you can. You need to be as well as you can be for it.

If they use Bradford factor then multiple short occasions of sickness give a worse score then less longer occasions.

You say your sickness hasn't been great, what does that actually mean? How many occasions in the last 12 months? What is the trigger for sickness/attendance trigger?

I would probably say that in terms of number of occasions you'd be better staying off and covering with a sick note if it goes over 7 calendar days.

I'd stay off too if they score by number of absences. It also makes sense with all the colds/covid going around to keep your distance from before you have surgery,

i've had 5 bouts of sickness in the last year, mainly 1 or 2 days... but there was a period of sickness for abuot 6 weeks.. this was when i was suspected of having a stroke then they decided i may have MS and in the end they put it all down to my migraines.

to be honest i have no choice, i simply could not work today or tomorrow, and i was hoping i'd be ok for the weekend, and ofcourse after the surgery again i will have no choice. i'm just trying to decide more from a 'job security' point of view which would look better on paper for me.

i guess, its not like i'm 'throwing a sickie' these are for very genuine and scary reasons..

they already know what the issue is.. and i hate to 'man bash' but my line manager is a man and you can tell is very embarrassed when i discuss the issues what with them being 'womens issues' and all that...

It is clear life is a struggle for you at minute.
Go to your dr and explain you need to take time off due to pending operation and mental exhaustion .
I'm sure your employer would prefer to know you were going to be absent for a set period of time rather than sporadic days.

Just stay off, your health comes first. One long sickness period is better too, try and sort out a sick note to cover you for next week

A self certification of a week then get GP to give you Fit note after operation.

i always like to update my threads... i phone work, had a conversation with my line manger, tried to explain that on the one hand i wanted to be at work, but that on the other i was feeling emotionally vulnerable. i work for the emergency services and my decision making has to be on point, to ensure the safety of the public and also for the staff...

i've made it very clear that i'm facing a possible cancer diagnosis.. that a lump has been found, biopsy taken blah blah blah...

and all he had to say was.. i'm on leave from 2pm tomorrow and he will need to share my condition with the other line managers...

no 'oh hell' no 'how are you' no 'do you need anything'... he was more worried about going on leave at 2pm tomorrow so decision made. I contacted the GP and asked for them to sign me off there an then until after the surgery, the GP was more than happy to do so.. spoke to my line manager today who i think may have been given a small hint that his behaviour was out of order... but too late!