HR questions — time off, sick days, etc.

[Alyssa M.]

I work for a big soulless corporation these days (or maybe it has a soul, IDK), and selling out to the Man has provided me with the means to afford FFS. Like, really soon. Like, deposit paid, scheduled for a pre-surgery physical, I've already bought plane tickets and I'm working on accommodations with people. Like, less than two months from today. (No ticker, please!) Like, kind of freaking out a little. Maybe I'll elaborate later.

Anyway, one thing I *haven't* done is put in for time off.

Another thing I haven't done is mention anything about it to my boss.

Yeah, I kind of have to do that, but I am trying to figure out how little time I can take off. You know, limited PTO and all that fun American corporate stuff. I have other plans for those days ideally.

On the plus side, I can work from home for a couple of weeks or even more if necessary, and it doesn't involve anything more strenuous than lifting the lid on my laptop. Also, home doesn't even have to be my home: Home is anywhere with broadband.

So my question is, will I likely be able to look at a computer screen and vaguely make sense of code and stuff say five or six days out? Surgery is scheduled for a Thursday, so obviously Thursday and Friday are out, but what about the next week? And how about any thoughts or experience on the PTO vs. sick leave question and discussing that with HR?

Also, what to say to the boss ... I really prefer not to have any discussions around gender-related stuff, but obviously I need to tell her something.

Any experiences would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[Dena]

No FFS here but what it depends on is your ability to deal with pain. After GCS without pain medication, I found it difficult to concentrate on what I had brought with me to stay  entertained. At a week you might be able to do it but I suspect the odds would be better at two weeks. If you are sensitive to pain, you might want as much as three weeks.

[oneoftwo]

I work for a big soulless corporation these days (or maybe it has a soul, IDK), and selling out to the Man has provided me with the means to afford FFS. Like, really soon. Like, deposit paid, scheduled for a pre-surgery physical, I've already bought plane tickets and I'm working on accommodations with people. Like, less than two months from today. (No ticker, please!) Like, kind of freaking out a little. Maybe I'll elaborate later.

Anyway, one thing I *haven't* done is put in for time off.

Another thing I haven't done is mention anything about it to my boss.

Yeah, I kind of have to do that, but I am trying to figure out how little time I can take off. You know, limited PTO and all that fun American corporate stuff. I have other plans for those days ideally.

On the plus side, I can work from home for a couple of weeks or even more if necessary, and it doesn't involve anything more strenuous than lifting the lid on my laptop. Also, home doesn't even have to be my home: Home is anywhere with broadband.

So my question is, will I likely be able to look at a computer screen and vaguely make sense of code and stuff say five or six days out? Surgery is scheduled for a Thursday, so obviously Thursday and Friday are out, but what about the next week? And how about any thoughts or experience on the PTO vs. sick leave question and discussing that with HR?

Also, what to say to the boss ... I really prefer not to have any discussions around gender-related stuff, but obviously I need to tell her something.

Any experiences would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

You might look at some of the messages from tgirlamc. 

She had a full FFS and then six months latter an extensive face lift.   She can probably give you some specific information. 

[deeiche]

Back story, transitioned >30 years ago, living stealth for decades.

Well, can't comment on "soulless" part, but you maybe better off because it is a big US corporation.  Big US corps tend to have large HR departments, who specialize in interacting with employees.  Actually because of privacy laws managers are not informed of Protected Personal Information (PPI).

I had FFS last Sept, then hair transplants first week of Oct.  I planned on using vacation, saved up over several years.  However, for some reason, I decided I should read our corporate process / procedures regarding extended absence.  I found out if I stayed in a hospital over night I had to contact HR medical benefits personnel.  It really pissed me off, but I scheduled a meet with an HR person.  At the meeting I just jumped in with I'm transgender, want to get FFS ( had to explain all procedures ) and what do I have to do to get my time off approved?  She responded with, "Why was I going to use vacation?  I should use sick leave, also apply for FMLA".  Well, I told her I thought FMLA was unpaid.  She said US law regulating FMLA states it is unpaid, but leaves it to employer discretion to pay if they so chose.  My employer does have paid FMLA leave limited to some number of weeks, my time off was within that limit.  She said I had to complete a form, big US corps love forms, applying for medical leave.  From this form they would determine whether I could use sick leave and whether sick leave would be covered under FMLA.

I got the form, sent it to my surgeon to be completed, they filled it out and sent it back to me, I submitted it.  About a week later I was contacted by HR and informed I was approved for sick leave and FMLA. YEA!!!!  HR notified my manager the dates I would be out.  He wasn't thrilled, but he can't complain about medical issues.

So, don't make any assumptions until you contact HR.

I work for a big soulless corporation these days (or maybe it has a soul, IDK), and selling out to the Man has provided me with the means to afford FFS. Like, really soon. Like, deposit paid, scheduled for a pre-surgery physical, I've already bought plane tickets and I'm working on accommodations with people. Like, less than two months from today. (No ticker, please!) Like, kind of freaking out a little. Maybe I'll elaborate later.

Anyway, one thing I *haven't* done is put in for time off.

Another thing I haven't done is mention anything about it to my boss.

Yeah, I kind of have to do that, but I am trying to figure out how little time I can take off. You know, limited PTO and all that fun American corporate stuff. I have other plans for those days ideally.

On the plus side, I can work from home for a couple of weeks or even more if necessary, and it doesn't involve anything more strenuous than lifting the lid on my laptop. Also, home doesn't even have to be my home: Home is anywhere with broadband.

So my question is, will I likely be able to look at a computer screen and vaguely make sense of code and stuff say five or six days out? Surgery is scheduled for a Thursday, so obviously Thursday and Friday are out, but what about the next week? And how about any thoughts or experience on the PTO vs. sick leave question and discussing that with HR?

Also, what to say to the boss ... I really prefer not to have any discussions around gender-related stuff, but obviously I need to tell her something.

Any experiences would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[cej]

I asked for a month of short-term disability, probably more than I need, but it's a paid leave so I figured it's better to err on the side of requesting more than you need and come back early if I get bored.

[Rachel]

I have FFS in 3 weeks and BA and GCS in 11 weeks. For both I applied for FMLA. I need to use 5 days vacation for each then a bank of EDL for sick time then if needed (I will not. I have 750 hours in that bank) short term disability or vacation my choice.

I am off from 9-13-2016 through 9-29-2016. If I can I will be at work earlier than the 29th. If I  need more time I can take it.

[Alyssa M.]

Thank you for all your replies. My HR contact told me I should apply for short-term disability leave, which I think is associated with FMLA? Need to check on that again. Anyway, there's an insurance policy that covers lost wages after the first week and I guess it's possible to use sick days or vacation days before that.

My intake for the surgery asked for a diagnosis and doctors to contact for the justification for surgery, so I gave the names of my surgeon and endocrinologist. Hopefully that will suffice...