Do people take sick days to have and recover from operations?

I Heart Internet

I have a (fairly minor) operation coming up in the next few weeks.

It will mean that I will be out of work, one day for the operation itself and then maybe 3-5 days for recovery and because I won't be able to drive or move as freely as I should.

I am on a contract with my employer, salaried position. I took 3 days paternity leave last year and they were happy with that.

I'm just wondering where I stand. My contract talks of absence from work due to illness. I won't actually be ill but it is a very necessary medical operation and I will genuinely by recovering.

What's the normal procedure here, forgive my ignorance, if you have an operation and need to recover is that all considered being "sick"?

EDIT: I should have said - my point here is that I don't want to use Annual Leave days to cover the 3-5 days I may be off.

tatli_lokma

This is a grey area and very much depends on your company and your relationship with your manager.

Sounds to me like the procedure is probably laser eye-surgery. If so, or if it is another 'elective' or cosmetic procedure (i.e. not one you have been told you must have by a medical professional, but one you are choosing to have for your own sake) then I would say you should use your annual leave, or at the very least offer to use your annual leave and let your employer decide if they are happy for you to take medical leave instead.

If it is a non-elective procedure and a medical professional has referred you for the operation, then I would say it is definitely sick leave.

Also consider - if your employer does not pay for sick leave, then you will financially be better off if you take AL as at least that way you will get paid. If the procedure is non-elective and you are out of work for 5 days, you can claim illness benefit after 3 days - but be warned, some doctors will not sign an illness benefit form for procedures such as laser eye surgery or other cosmetic procedures, so again, it is important what the nature of the operation is.

(BTW just for the record, I don't at all expect you to tell everyone on a forum what the operation is, I'm just pointing out the difference between elective procedures and medically required procedures).

I Heart Internet

Thanks very much Ted.

I can see why you would think Laser Eye Surgery alright. No, in fact, the surgery is approx 2 foot south of there. It has been recommended to me by my GP and consultant so isn't elective. But at the same time I'm not likely to drop dead if I don't have it done.

So it is medically necessary. I can see the point you make alright.

I've since asked for the days off as sick leave and asked how the company normally handle pay while on sick leave. I'm happy to go along with whatever they want.

I would much prefer to loose a few days pay than a week's holidays.

Thanks for your insight.

tatli_lokma

Well it is not elective, then you could use sick leave and would be covered with illness benefit.

If sick leave is unpaid, I can't see the logic in taking unpaid sick leave instead of AL myself - sick leave goes on your record, the less there is the better IMO, but that is up to you.

Hope the procedure goes well and you recover quickly.

I Heart Internet

Little Ted wrote: »

Well it is not elective, then you could use sick leave and would be covered with illness benefit.

If sick leave is unpaid, I can't see the logic in taking unpaid sick leave instead of AL myself - sick leave goes on your record, the less there is the better IMO, but that is up to you.

Hope the procedure goes well and you recover quickly.

Thanks Ted.

I'm in the lucky position that (up to a point) I value time-off more than a few days pay, if you see what I mean. Two weeks or a month off wouldn't work for me but I can afford to lose a few days pay so as not to eat into holidays.

Also, I have no sick days on my record so far (hence my naivete on the subject) so I'm happy enough taking the few days.

annascott

If you have a doctor's note to say that you are unfit for work due to surgery, that will cover you. Remember, it can take three days for the general anaesthetic to wear off. Also, it sounds like you will be uncomfortable and genuinely unable to work, so there should not be a problem.

Sometimes a company can modify an employees work duties to accommodate a temporary set back ie broken arm or ankle - where the person is not ill or unfit for work, but is unable to carry out usual tasks. However I don't think that applies to you. As long as a doctor signs you off, you will be fine.