Any idea why my manager asked me this question - sick leave

[Apackoflips]

I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and have had a mastectomy. Work ( government department) have said they will support the absence and have been okay with keeping in touch via text for example when Ive not been up to phone calls.
I dont know yet if I will need more treatment as that is up to the pathology report due next week.

Twice now my manager has asked if I have 'the letter' from the hospital stating how long my recovery will take. I have a current 4 week fit note which my gp has said will be extended depending on the pathology outcome. But my manager seems to want more than this and when it wasnt available on my last KIT call said he will look it up on the NHS site. Im not happy about this as NHS states 4-6 weeks and Ive already had a traumatic time of it and feel I may ( equally I may not) need more time to recover enough for my stressful job.

I dont want to challenge him on this as we have a good working relationship and I dont want to bring dissent into it. However I dont need or want pressure to return to work just because a website has given that as the average.

Is this usual HR stuff or do you think he misinterpreting what hes reading?

he can huff and puff as much as he likes. I'm not sure what letter he is expecting. There will be letters between the surgeon, oncologist and GP, which may very well be copied to you, but he will not be included on this circulation list and neither should he. Do not be tempted to show him your copy.

There are sick notes from GPs he can ask for and he can request an occupational health report from his own Occ Health team. If you feel he is hassling you - he is hassling you. Recovery is totally individual and just because the 'average' is 4-6 weeks doesn't mean to say you recovery will not taken longer sadly. Frankly 4-6 weeks sounds a very short amount of time to recover from a mastectomy sufficiently to return to work; work isn't just about work - there's commuting to and from. It's general advice not to drive for 6 weeks post op for example and I would think that could be longer for mastectomies given the stress on upper arm and shoulders
Next time you see your GP / surgeon mention your manager is hassling you and can they help. In the mean time - do you feel strong enough to tell him your recovery will take as long as it takes, that you will be following the surgeon / GP's advice on when you can return to work and that you would be happy to talk to Occ Health about it?

Next time you see your GP / surgeon mention your manager is hassling you and can they help. In the mean time - do you feel strong enough to tell him your recovery will take as long as it takes, that you will be following the surgeon / GP's advice on when you can return to work and that you would be happy to talk to Occ Health about it?

Don't think of this as a challenge / confrontation - it's not. It's telling the situation as it is. He may not like it, but let's be frank - you're the one will the cancer diagnosis, with potentially months of further treatment and reconstructive surgery, he's just a person short at the office ........

I expect he's asking so he knows whether to cover your role for a bit more time or to tell the person currently covering for you an expected end date.

Thank you for your responses.
Although he continues to be friendly and open it alarmed me that he said the letter was to go in my file . I can show him my flat chest of they dont believe me that Ive had cancer twice. On the other hand I think that hes picked this up from another manager or something and doesnt know what hes asking of me.

I think Ill have a word with the union about this so I can respond appropriately .

Recovery from the surgery or recovery from the cancer? It's a bit of an odd question.

#quincejamplease
I think he means back to work actually. 'Recovery' just covers whatever is necessary to get me back working again. Practically this means recovery from the operation and any further treatment.

#KatherineJaneway We work as a team so no one person is doing my work while im away. Im not quite sure why hes so keen to get a date which can only be estimated at this point anyway. It was the request for the letter to keep in my file that alarmed me.