Talking openly to your employer about your health can be difficult. Worries over redundancy or forced ill-health retirement can prevent some people from being open with their employer. However, it is against the law for you to lose your job because of a chronic illness or a need for treatment.
There are good reasons to be open and honest about your situation with your employer:
- It might make it easier to get time off for medical appointments if your employer knows about the problems you are having
- If your employer is aware of your circumstances, then it will help them to understand your needs
- Your employer, and co-workers, will know what to do if you have a medical emergency
Before talking to your employer, you should prepare what you are going to say.
By following the steps in your OPAL patient workbook and on the OPAL website, you should be able to talk to your employer with confidence about the problems you are having at work. You will be able to discuss any issues that might affect your ability to return to work. You can talk about possible changes to your place, type and pattern of work that might be needed to help you return after surgery.
Finally, you can talk about your expected period of absence after surgery and when you think you will be back at work.