When did you tell your employer about your heart condition/surgery?

[drivetopless]

I'm a little paranoid in today's business climate, so I have not yet told my employer about my heart condition or my impending surgery (no date set yet). I've sort of kept the philosophy that it is none of their business until I have a date set.

I've acutally enjoyed being "normal" at this company. The last company I worked for went through the BAV diagnosis with me, and it was annoying to get the "how's your heart" question for 13 years from my caring but not really comprehending fellow employees.

Today, I work for a wonderful, privately owned company, so I don't expect there will be a problem. However, I feel guilty about the medical bills they will incur. Business is okay right now, but if there were a sudden downturn I would worry that I would be more vulnerable to layoffs. They are self-insured type smaller business.

How did you tell your employer? How did they take it? Is it wrong of me to wait until the last few weeks to tell them?

 

[Robb Wilder]

I told them right from the get go. ONce I knew surgery was coming I let them know. I didnt want any planning problems with work. They count on each employee to be there and they needed to know I wasnt going to be there. That being said, I am a department manager of a car dealership who has not taken a sick day in over 8 years. They are very supportive. I asked for computer access at home to be able to do alot of the things I do once I home. It will keep me out of trouble at home. They have been very supportive telling me it was my decision to work from home or not.

 

[ARGreenMN]

I didn't feel the need to bring it up until the last couple years when I kinda knew deep down the surgery was pretty imminent. Started telling my bosses (couple diff. people) the last couple years it wasn't far off. Then told him again when I was going in for my annual echo - cause I kinda figured I knew what was coming. He and the company has been extremely supportive. But then again, I work for a large corporation, so maybe that's different vs. a smaller, self-insured business - I don't know. I do hear ya about the annoying "how's your heart" questions. People have good intentions, so I cut 'em some slack tho I definitely would NOT feel guilty about the medical bills though. You didn't choose to have this condition, or do anything "wrong" to bring it on... Nothing to feel guilty about. There are also laws (at least here in MN, and I assume they're national laws, not state laws?) that prevent discrimination (i.e. making you more vulnerable to layoffs). Something like the Family Medical Leave Act (not sure the exact name, but something like that). So wouldn't worry about that either - doubt they'd want to put themselves at legal risk. You might even be MORE safe than normal from layoffs, who knows...

 

[Julieaka]

wow - you started a good thread - while I have had many many people tell me that you do not HAVE to tell someone until the date occurs - more like a heart attack or an accident that 'happens' - I tend to agree with Andy.

while I needed this current job and insurance (husband is not currently working) and I was imminent for layoff at our major university, I still felt it was correct to tell my boss it was likely a bavr would happen on her watch (Next 2-5 years?) as it has turned out I have been there just over 1 year and about to go in tomorrow

i would liken this to a pregnancy - you know you are going to take 8 weeks off and it is proper to tell the employer with at least a 90 day notice (some companies even ask in their paperwork for a 30 day notice of a planned medical leave of absence)

anyways - I am chasing my 2 year old so hope this is of some help to you - likely you will get 100 different answers - follow your heart

Julie

 

[Jkm7]

I think minimum 60 days notice is appropriate for a small company. When the company is small, they usually do not have excess help and need all the hands they have hired. They are entitled IMO to adequate notice to plan how to cover your responsibilities while you are out on sick leave.

If I were the employer and an employee kept such information from me until the very last minute, I would not think highly of that sort of behavior. Certainly if you only know for 30 days prior, that is all you can give but if you can give more, think about doing so.

Best wishes. Hope it all goes smoothly for you.

 

[Superbob]

I told them from day one. I think they appreciated it.

 

[Luckyguy17]

I work in a small technology company.
It was fall 2009 when cardiologist said it was time and i chose to delay, because we were launching and the timing for the company could not have been worse. I did though advise my employer that I would need to take time somewhere in the future, but i was not alarmist and was in some denial, as my BAV just did not seem to be the priority of the moment.
In March 2010, cardiologist did give me an ultimatum to wake me up and I did readvise employer that it was time for OHS, but the launch had been successful, so work timing was better.
I think it is better, if you know, to allow your employer to prepare

 

[drivetopless]

I so appreciate everyone's perspective here. Definitely giving me a different, less selfish view to consider. I think my concern of being seen as a liability and the fear of losing my job/insurance while waiting to schedule the surgery is the reason for my delay in speaking up. I think I will tell them after I get my 2nd surgical opinion on July 13. That should still give 2-4 months or so to prepare. It still all seems surreal that the time for scheduling is finally here.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I sympathize with your dilemma.

OTOH, without a date, I would be inclined to remain quiet until you KNOW you are ready to proceed.
The uncertainty of "what if's" doesn't need to cloud your relationship with your employer.

'AL'

 

[jax]

I told my employers as soon as I started getting my tests done that I was having tests on my heart done. And it was really a good thing that I did because that week I had to leave work twice to go to the hospital. That was the last week that I worked as my doctor or I didn't feel that it was safe for me to work. Surgery was about a month and a half from that time. And then 8 weeks later I was back to work. I had no problem with my employer but then I am sure that is not the case for everyone.

 

[tprice54]

Just a quick note that while you may tell your boss that you will need time off for medical reasons, you do not under any circumstances need to talk about your diagnosis. In the US, we have the HIPAA law which protects peopel from having to disclose their medical status. My company is so paranoid about this, we get in trouble when employees tell us their problems unsolicited!

 

[drivetopless]

Geez- I meant to post this under pre-surgery. I wonder if I can move it?
True, Tom. My company is the same way. Others have been out for extended medical leave and the company is VERY good about not telling your business, which I appreciate. I will probably tell them what it is 'cause with the scar I think it will be obvious anyway.

And thank you for the counter point, Al. That is the perfect explanation of how I feel. I've been at this company only a little over 2 years, so not clouding the relationship that is still relatively new (and going well) is a great way of phrasing the uneasiness I feel.


And it is comforting to see that no one has had an issue with their employer's reaction.

 

[olefin]

How did you tell your employer? How did they take it? Is it wrong of me to wait until the last few weeks to tell them?

The company had known about my Aortic Stenosis for many years, not that it caused me any health problems. They also knew someday it would require valve replacement. And they knew I plan to retire at age 55. At 54 I was informed there would later be a major cutback. My boss, a VP, said since I was planning on retiring at 55 they would let me go 6 months early but keep me on the payroll with full benefits including insurance. That way I could go ahead and have AVR, draw full pay and have full insurance coverage. But I let my cardiologist talk me out of having early surgery. Did retire with full pay 6 months before my official retirement date. And 1.5 years later I had to have AVR but then had only $50,000 maximum lifetime benefit retirement insurance. My bill was $85,000 but the hospital settle for the 50 grand.

Good luck to you and wish you the very best.

 

[nngbwh]

I told my employers when I am going on the table. My boss was very supportive.
Took the family medical leave act (3months) but only took 2 1/2 months.

 

[Gnusgal]

My heart has always and will always be an issue for me. With my first job, the principal already knew me from when I was a kid, so there was no "telling" involved. With my second teaching position, I didn't say anything until someone asked about my medic alert bracelet during inservice before school started. With my third position, I don't even remember when it was brought up. I never hide my condition. It usually comes up eventually. But I usually like for them to know I am good at what I do before they know so they don't think I'm unable to do my job because of it.

As for surgery, I always tell my boss as soon as I know something. If I know I'm going in for testing and that surgery is a possibility, I let them know. One year I was scheduled for testing at the Mayo Clinic in MN over Spring Break. I talked to my principal and let her know it was a possibility that I'd not be able to return right after Spring Break because I might have surgery while there, but didn't know for sure. Everyone was completely supportive. And it was a good thing I warned her (and made sub plans before I left) because I did have surgery, then got stuck in MN a few extra days due to flight issues.

I suggest letting your boss know what you know. If there's nothing scheduled (ie: testing), there's nothing to tell.

 

[Bean Counter]

I have always been pretty close to my boss, so I told him as soon as I knew it was going to be happening, this way we could have plenty of time to plan for my absence. Additionally, my company was purchased by a large technology firm about a year ago, so everyone in the corporate operations group was given 15 months notice as our jobs were being eliminated once there has been a complete transfer of business. I had to problem letting my boss know that I am more comfortable doing it now while I have insurance and that when I am laid off in January, I should spend my time looking for a new job rather than recovering from surgery. A good friend noted that I am really "sticking it to them" on last time as I am on paid time off until late July/ early August and am sticking them with this huge medical bill.

Anyway, I would tell them immediately so they can plan for it.

 

[Philip B]

When did you tell?

When did you tell?

I didn't have to tell my employer. I simply had a consultation with my cardiologist at the local speciality clinic that our hospital runs. By the time I returned to work, word had spread that I was going to die from a heart condition. My boss had received about a dozen calls from parents and community members who were concerned about who was going to run my high school after I passed on. I has three voice mails from my boss requesting information.

So much for federally mandated privacy laws in small town America.

-Philip