XP: How do you handle time away from work?

lavril

Okay sorry y'all - but I have a few other questions... 

I'm curious how you all handle taking time away from work to go to all the monitoring and treatment appts.  I feel like I will be leaving a lot and my boss is going to get suspicious about all these doctor appointments.  How do you handle that?  Did you tell your boss?   If yes, how did you bring it up or how much info did you give?  If no, how do you explain your time away?

TIA!

CashewsMommy

 I don't really have that problem now, because I control my own schedule.

But in the spring when I was going back and forth I'd sometimes go for my bloodwork during lunch, and i'd always schedule my appointments for after work. But I also got out of work at 2:45pm. So it's a little easier for me.  

Sorry I wasn't much help!  

lavril

CashewsMommy:

 I don't really have that problem now, because I control my own schedule.

But in the spring when I was going back and forth I'd sometimes go for my bloodwork during lunch, and i'd always schedule my appointments for after work. But I also got out of work at 2:45pm. So it's a little easier for me.  

Sorry I wasn't much help!  

I'm glad you have that flexibility!  I need to figure out if I should just tell my boss what's really happening or tell him I have a medical condition that requires monitoring.  I can't keep making up excuses why i'm going to be gone (like next week is the "dentist").  It is stressing me out!

CashewsMommy

lavril:

CashewsMommy:

 I don't really have that problem now, because I control my own schedule.

But in the spring when I was going back and forth I'd sometimes go for my bloodwork during lunch, and i'd always schedule my appointments for after work. But I also got out of work at 2:45pm. So it's a little easier for me.  

Sorry I wasn't much help!  

I'm glad you have that flexibility!  I need to figure out if I should just tell my boss what's really happening or tell him I have a medical condition that requires monitoring.  I can't keep making up excuses why i'm going to be gone (like next week is the "dentist").  It is stressing me out!

Can't you just say doctors appointment? I think by law they can't ask anymore and just take it as your word. I'm not sure though.  

butterfly843

I tried to get early appt's before work, I'm really close to my big boss, he is like an uncle to me so he knew what was going on.

lavril

CashewsMommy:

lavril:

CashewsMommy:

 I don't really have that problem now, because I control my own schedule.

But in the spring when I was going back and forth I'd sometimes go for my bloodwork during lunch, and i'd always schedule my appointments for after work. But I also got out of work at 2:45pm. So it's a little easier for me.  

Sorry I wasn't much help!  

I'm glad you have that flexibility!  I need to figure out if I should just tell my boss what's really happening or tell him I have a medical condition that requires monitoring.  I can't keep making up excuses why i'm going to be gone (like next week is the "dentist").  It is stressing me out!

Can't you just say doctors appointment? I think by law they can't ask anymore and just take it as your word. I'm not sure though.  

Yeah I thought about that, but I just feel stressed about it all.  I can't decide if telling him would bring a sense or relief or just ackwardness.  I'm pretty close to my boss.  UGH ttcal is annoying!

Allie-Jo

I havent had much of an issue, as I have been on nights for 5 years now.  Well unless you count getting up 3 hrs earlier then you have to be up an issue...which I sometimes do.  But even if I did work days, I was really close to my manager in my last dept.  She was one of my biggest cheerleaders and always let me sit and cry in her office when I needed to.  Right when my last loss happened I switched depts, and my manager was new to the dept too, so the first interaction I had with him was when I was back.  I was at work though when I started miscarrying, so I told my acting manager at the time, who also happened to be the only female manager on night, and she was NOT nice or professional.  'he practically scolded me for not having any more sick time when I told her I needed to go to the ER because I was pretty sure I was miscarrying!  My new manager though seems really compassionate and he is always wanting to know how we are doing and what is going on with us, so id I do have to bring it up with him one day I dont think it will be an issue.

buckeyebaby814

I was very hesitant to tell my boss because he is kind of wishy-washy and he's a man.  I decided to tell him since I am a teacher and my absence would have to be covered by a sub!  We've had 46 school days and I've been out for 6 half days (3 days total sick time)- which I HAVE to take a half day cause that's how sick leave/ sub pay works in my district.

So, one day before school started he stopped in my room and we were chatting and I asked if I could 'talk' to him.  So I just told him that my husband and I have been trying to have children for a year and it's not working, so I will be needing to visit my regular doctor and eventually a specialist, possibly during work hours.  I did remind him of how much I love my job and this is even more so true, I feel truly blessed to be a teacher and have the privilege of working with children.  I said, "This whole process has given me a new, larger perspective on exactly how precious each of my students are."  He's been super cool about it.  He wished me well and offered his prayers to me and that was it.  It's gonna be about how much you feel comfortable sharing.  

For me, I didn't want him to think I had cancer or something.  But you could always just share you have a medical need that has to be monitored and it's not life threatening.  Whether or not you disclose everything or just that you need to be monitored (they can't ask for what), I think you should have that conversation.  Just having that conversation will also show your commitment to the job. 

cutebride73

I told my bosses (I also work at a school) and they have been really great about it.  I have been able to come in a little late on b/w and monitoring days and other days I have taken a half or a whole sick day.  When I did IVF last year I told them exactly what the schedule would be like and they were great about it.  I felt like telling them in advance as much as I could was the best/ most responsible thing to do.

If you feel like you can tell your boss why you will be out for dr appt's I would do so.  It is a hard conversation, but worth it I think.  If you don't think it will go over well, then I would say that you have a health issue that is not life threatening, but needs some tests and minor procedures and therefore you will need some time off.  Or can make up the time or whatever the policy is where you work. 

MandaS08

I would try to schedule bloodwork early enough in the morning so I wouldn't miss work.  For the other appointments I just told my boss I had a doctor's appt-he's pretty self centered so I don't think he even noticed how often I was going to the doctors!  For some of the appointments that had to be at wierd times, or a long appt I took a half day off work and just enjoyed the time I had off after the appt.

When we start IVF I know I will have to tell him though, b/c there will be daily appoints and several days I have to be out of work entirely.