For those of you (male or female) scheduling time off work for GRS/SRS: did you tell your employer what you were doing?

For me I would rather no one at work know I'm having GRS.  None of their business.  I told no one about top surgery; rather I went on 'vacation' to SF.  But top surgery didn't require so much time off.

Surgeon says I can go back to work after a month; other guys who have had the procedure (meta, urethral hookup, implants) say 2 months is best.  I'd prefer not to waddle like a sore cowboy at work.  While my work isn't physically demanding, I do need to stay awake all night (14 hr night shifts) AND the only seating is a poorly padded vinyl stool with no back rest.  I can't imagine sitting on that all night soon after surgery.

So, what did you tell your employer with regards to time off?  Did you just tell them?  If not, what cover story did you use?  I will be checking into short term disability (I have some sort of policy through work but not sure what it is).

Thoughts!

Thanks.


Jay

Hi Jay,

I'm taking 2 months off, starting in mid January 2010.  I transitioned at work early this year, and have been very out about what I'm going through, so there was really no need for a 'cover story'.   I'm not broadcasting the purpose of my leave, but those that work with me, both on my team, and my managers, know the reason that I am taking time off.  And they see the smile grow on my face as each day passes and I get closer to my date, and have given me so much support and friendship.  I bring that to the workplace though, and really haven't suffered any ill consequences  from it.  I know that's not always true in less accepting workplaces, so I am thankful for that.

I'm working with our HR to work with our insurance provider (Manulife) to cover temporary disability, and presently am waiting for a letter and the insurer paperwork back from my surgeon's office to proceed with getting that process going.  I'm still not sure at this time if my leave will be covered by disability... *fingers crossed*.

I had the option of working directly with the insurer, but chose instead to have our HR Manager facilitate this, because she some experience and a personal connection with the insurer.   I think if you don't want your employer to know, you could take the route of working directly with the insurance company on the disability coverage.

Best of Luck!   *huggs*,
Melan

i told HR that I needed 6 weeks off and why I needed it off, but I came out there so it was no secret. 

Dude...follow your heart.  If FtM is anything like MtF as far as trauma goes that is.  there will be lots of swelling.  For me anyway, I have a desk job and it was 8 weeks before I could make it all the way thru an 8 hour day. 

BTW,  Watch out for zippers afterwards..  OUCH!!!!, if you know what I mean. 

I transitioned on the job and putting in for two months worth of leave was pretty telling. LOL.

The thing is that I was actually working from the bed while recovering in the hospital and then at the hotel, half a world away. Then on arriving back someone became ill and I ended up back to work physically within 48 hours of being back in the States.

Plus side is that I still have a lot of comp and vacation time to burn through whenever I can manage to swing some time off.

I did transition on the job, coming out a year ago.  So I'm sure if I say I need time off for surgery everyone is going to know why.

I'm looking into moving away in a few years so maybe it won't even matter.  I just am very private, transition in public hard enough, that to have these people know I'm getting my genitals reconstructed just isn't on my list of things I want to do.

I'll figure something out I guess.  But then I did say at one point that there are no options really for grs for ftms so maybe they'll remember that and not think that's what I'm having done if I say I need surgery.  Hmm.