New job, need 6 weeks off, wwyd?

[biggirlknickers]

I am having bunion surgery on both feet. One has been done and is still healing although I’m more or less fully fully mobile now and back at work. I had 6 weeks off work after the surgery. The other foot will be booked in for surgery when the consultant thinks the first one is completely healed. This will mean another 6 weeks off work.

I’ve been trying to break into a specialised area of my career for a couple of years but without success. Kept getting shortlisted but knocked back at interviews due to lack of experience.

A role was advertised recently in the field I want to work in and I applied, not thinking I’d be successful but to my delight I’ve been offered the job.

I’ve accepted it but I haven’t told them about my foot surgery yet. I don’t even know when my next operation will be but it could be very soon after I start my new job.

Should I try to put the surgery off for a few months until I’m established in my new role? Or should I just tell them and have the operation as soon as it’s booked?

Tell them when the surgeon says you’re ready for it.

I’d tell them you’re expecting to have surgery requiring 6 weeks where you’re going to have to work from home.

Tell them when you have a date.
Is it at all possible to reduce the amount of time you take off? Wfh or similar?

It’s a role that can’t be done from home unfortunately.

I definitely can’t return earlier than 6 weeks as I won’t be able to drive and also will need to keep my foot elevated. Swelling was bad last time.

How far away is work?
Can you taxi it and have a footstool?

I would let them know it will happen in the future, but you are waiting for notification from the specialist of the correct timing

It’s a good suggestion and possibly doable from a footstool after 4 weeks if I had extra support for other things (it’s not really a sit down role) BUT it’s 10 miles away so taxis would be prohibitively expensive. Maybe I can get work to pay for my taxis? It would be cheaper than paying agency staff.

In a new role I would not recommend asking them to pay for taxis. If they offer fair enough but I can't see you asking going down well at all.

I would give them a heads up now, well I probably would have done it when you accepted the job. That way they are on notice

Doesn't sound as if you are public sector but if, for example, you were a teacher here in Scotland you would have no entitlement to sick pay (beyond SSP) in first 18 weeks of employment and after that would only be 4 weeks until a year's service. Your contract may have something similar to factor in. Honesty is always best. Did you not have a confidential medical questionnaire as part of your recruitment?

I wouldn't say anything. Wait until you have the date. It could be ages.

I don’t think they’d let you work with a footstool - we had someone with similar surgery at work and she wasn’t allowed on the premises as it was an insurance risk

How important is bunion surgery (genuinely no idea). Can it wait or is it impacting your life too much?

I would be open and upfront with them, as soon as possible.

I think I would mention pretty quickly tbh

With waiting lists how they are at the moment I'd leave it a while. You might have a 6 month wait for surgery

I agree with this - unless you know for sure that it'll be sooner.

Is bunion surgery an elected procedure?
They may see it as you asking for time off for cosmetic reasons

If you're in your probationary period when you have the surgery that much time off might mean you don't pass your probation and you'd lose your job, can't you do it next year instead?

Also, which foot is it? If it's your left foot you could drive an automatic during your recovery