hep c and FMLA

[Gerbils]

Has anyone done FMLA for their hep c? I am not trying to get disability just do FMLA to protect my job for a while. I can imagine lots of things to say but I have not told my work that I have anything or am being treated for anything. I hate to admit that I had to miss a day and a half in the last few months due to really bad sides but I did. I have alot of leave available so I can cover it and honestly I am not trying to scare anyone but my sides are really tough sometimes and right now are difficult to deal with. It would probably be better to use leave occasionally than to go in sometimes (with driving etc). If anyone out there did or is doing FMLA may I ask what your doctor put on the form? I still don't want to tell them what I have whether they are sworn to secrecy or not. I know they can get in trouble if it gets out but I don't want to go there. I have alot of time invested and a really good job. I do not want hep on the form and can't allow that on there. I will continue to hang in there with my tx and won't give up but think signing up for FMLA may be the right thing for me right now. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
G

[flcyclist]

G, I've chosen the same path of who to tell.  Only my wife and treatment team know for now.  I've only told just a few of my closest cycling friends that I was taking some medications that forced me to back off.  I also share your feelings about the emotional support of this forum.  It is a wonderful place to vent, show you support for others and maybe share some humor on a dark day.  I haven't seen another forum that comes close to the knowledge and support of this one.

[Gerbils]

Thank you. The only person that knows that I have anything is my husband. My two doctors and their nurse know also. Literally no one else, not even other family simply because other people even family may make decisions they feel won't hurt you, are for your own good, or don't think about. Really, in my case no one else needs to know so they don't. I get my emotional support related to the disease and treatment from this forum and couldn't have gotten this far without you. It is incredible to have such knowledgeable (and kind and caring) people to talk to about things. Thank you so much.
G

[oceanblue701]

I think you are smart to keep your diagnosis very private and get the FMLA going and protect yourself in this way. Additionally, it is important to be careful with all business relationships as people will naturally try to find out what is going on with you. Most would truly be sympathetic and want to help but the negativity is out there and you don't want to run into it. The intermittent leave would work especially well for this circumstance. I wish you well.

[flcyclist]

Most employers understand the employees rights to privacy related to health issue.  HIPAA should be taken very serious in the workplace.  The use of FMLA shouldn't be confused with using sick leave.  FMLA is unpaid leave and secures the job so the employee may come back after this leave request expires.  If an employer has less than 50 employees, they may not be required to offer FMLA, so be sure to review the eligibility requirements.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides an entitlement of up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave during any 12-month period to eligible, covered employees for the following reasons: 1) birth and care of the eligible employee's child, or placement for adoption or foster care of a child with the employee; 2) care of an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent) who has a serious health condition; or 3) care of the employee's own serious health condition. It also requires that employee's group health benefits be maintained during the leave. The FMLA is administered by the Employment Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division within the U.S. Department of Labor.

http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/fmla.htm

[curiouslady1]

Employers who insist on a diagnosis on an FMLA form are in violation of FMLA rules.  Further, HR units are supposed to keep all information about employees confidential.  If I were you (and I have been in the same spot) I would tell no one at work that I have HepC and no exceptions! Intimate partners may need to know but not work mates.  It could have serious implications depending on the type of work you do.  If you need moral support, come to us or see a counselor.  

[EyesofBlue55]

There are two types of FMLA.One is the days run concurrent(up to 60 days) and the other is intermittent.Intermittent lets you take the days off only when you are sick.You might want to think about that since you really dont know what kind of sides you will be having.Its kinda like -work when you want to and can.Also They cant use days off with FMLA against you as far as an evaluation or job performance.If  you are on intermittent fmla your job is protected. good luck  cindy

[Gerbils]

Thank you all for the information. I am going to begin the paperwork this morning so I appreciate getting the info so quickly. Some of the sides I get now are making working a challenging job even more so and I am concerned about making errors due to working when too ill that could be detrimental.It doesn't happen that often but I never know what I am in for from one week to the next. Thanks again, I feel so guilty for calling in sick on the rare occasions when I have so I won't be making a habit of it but the FMLA could help.
G

[eureka254]

FMLA guidelines and forms usually provide you enough leeway to not have to be specific.  Most physicians are willing to be as vague or as detailed as you'd like them to be, so alerting your physician ahead of time and getting feedback might help before you hand over all the forms.  

I actually applied for FMLA to care for my husband's associated hep-c complications, and his doctor basically wrote a letter to my employer stating that my husband would have medical need for care and assistance for a period of up to 12 weeks, and the letter was sufficient.  As an individual you have a right to your health privacy, so in reality employers cannot ask for specific details or diagnoses, and you are not obligated to provide information about your condition, only the time frames for which you need the leave. Hope that helps. ~eureka

[HectorSF]

From what I recall (this was the beginning of 2008) my doctor asked me how specific I wanted him to be and he recommended that he just say that I am under his care during the time period we choose and that I would need to have doctor's visits, tests and time off due do treatment. No one ever even asked me what the medical issue was.

It was pretty general and is the easiest way to get time off with people not wondering much about when you talk off as compared to when I went of state disability for example.

What I found most useful was taking off the days after my interferon injection when I felt the sickest. It also make it easy to take of half a day to see my doctor or to have blood tests as I lived in a different town then where I worked.

Hector

[Wonderlulu]

When I went out on FMLA to take care of my dying father, the only thing they wanted to know is "why", and my employer wanted so bad to take care of me I don't even know what they put in there. They filled out the papers, I signed them, and came back.

[Gerbils]

Thanks for the input. If you see this, I am confused on one point. Where you said NO was that in response to "Is it necessary for the patient to miss work due to this condition?"  I will take a look at the paperwork tomorrow. They might say you don't have to miss work due to the condition but the treatment sides could be an issue. I wonder if different doctors answer different.
Thanks again,
G

[mykids247]

I have applied for fmla and the questions are kind of generic. How often do you see patient. dates you were treated,approximate date condition commeced. was prescription medication, therapy or examination by you for this condition. are treatments /vistis needed at least twice per year due to this condition. Will the condition cause episodic or periodic flare ups. Is it necessary for the patient to lose time from work due to this condition. NO where does it state what you are being treated for and they CAN NOT ask. I havent started treating yet but I wanted to get the ball rolling. Plus now when I have a Dr. apt I have to use vacation time. So fmla will let me use sick time. Good luck. Hope it works out for you.