Therapist and pdoc want me to take medical leave from work..

[kare75]

After seeing my therapist and pdoc for awhile now, they both decided that my very stressful work environment is not good for my issues now, I have never been in this kind of situation and am embarassed to ask anyone at work anout it. What happens on a leave? Can I lose my job? What about Pay? Any advice on the situation would be VERY helpful seeing I don't know ANYTHING about this, thanks!!

[peace326]

There is something called an FMLA leave - its the Family and Medical Leave Act - and an employer is supposed to abide by the law and if your doctors state you need one it can be granted for up to 12 weeks - either continuously or intermittently - however it is not a paid leave  - unless you have sick or vacation days to use.

I know because I've been on one on and off for the last 4 yrs since my son was murdered due to various reasons - both psychologically and physically.  Check to make sure your employer has it and if they say they don't than contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who administers the FMLA and find out what you can do before doing anything so you know what your full rights are under the law.

God Bless and hope all turns out well.

[Kobuk]

Hi, that's a good question.  I wondered that myself when I'm stressed at work.  Should I talk to my therapist and ask her for medical leave or just go on suffering silently.  Will look in the employees' manual.  There seems to be lots of medical leaves and I have a boss that is very nosy.  Thanks again.

[LeftCoastChick]

I also depends on what kind of insurance you've paid into, I have short term/long term disability. Check into your benefits package. I know you can go on unemployment for health reasons if you don't have anything. If your medical team is saying take off time, it's usually for a good reason. I'm not to go back to work until my anxiety is totally controlled. All my work knows is I'm off on medical leave.

[ILADVOCATE]

You are allowed a certain number of days under what I believe is caused "caring leave". At least in the state I am in. You can ask about that without explaining why. By law. But let's think about it. Do you need to leave work? What are the stressors. Perhaps some could be eliminated with reasonable accomodations such as short breaks or other ideas you could present to your direct supervisor after thinking them over. Maybe there's a negotiable solution. Think about what's going on and what could perhaps help you find a way around it to keep the job but if you have to take a specified period of time off you are of course allowed and it should be in the employee manual.