Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Knorris,
let me provide you some perspective from the point of view of a manager who has had an employee out for a length of time with cancer. (in no particular order)

1) you never really know what the status of the person is... you hear them say, I am doing well and feeling better.. when they look terrible due to chemo

2) you hear them say I was lucky it was caught early, I will totally recover... then someone you know says... geeze my sister is a nurse and she said that was fatal.

3) in business everyone is already fully loaded so you need to cover for the job..

4) as a manager, if your employee does not return to work.. and you dont have a contignency plan,,, you can be toast..

With all of these issues, here is what I recommend..
communicate often with your boss.. let him know where you are.. what you are doing... what the doctors are saying..
Educate your boss... so they know that you will be returning to work... and how many weeks until you are back...

Best of luck.... fight the good fight..
Frank Hurtte

Frank makes some really good points. Let me add that the Americans with Disabilities Act may not cover you after your doctor deems you fit to return to work. Since this is not a work-related injury nor does it have permanently disabling effects, your employer is not required by law to hold your job open nor does he have to let you return when you're ready.

However, since he has been liberal in his treatment of your extended leave, I would take this as good-faith that you still have a job. In any employers' view, you may not be fully 'back-to-work' for some time, and, your long-term prospects for promotion my suffer. This is not "fair"...you should confront the HR manager directly as to your current and longer term status within the company and whether anyone else has experienced a similar need for absence. They will not be able to give you names, but they should be able to tell you the company's policies and practices in these matters. Sorry for your illness, hope you're feeling better...and be prepared to find alternative employment. That's the sad truth. Here's a link for you:

See: www.eeoc.gov/policy/ada.html for a full description of your rights.

Good luck,
Debi Brady
Writing & Marketing Consultant

Knorris,

Hope you’re having a great day today.

We’re so proud that you are doing better and know that you’re valuable to us all. The knowledge and wisdom you have gained in your work is invaluable. Not even cancer has the right to stop you from giving 2,000% to every project or life experience you work on.

REMEMBER YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE…
and no one can replace you when you are living out your true purpose. Know that when you return to work some things will be different. When you are not present people look for new solutions to problems that you would have solved. And sometimes this leads to people forgetting the value you brought to the job. When you return to work make sure you step back into the spot prepared to offer the --"Unforgettable Service"-- that every organization rewards greatly for.

GIVE GREATER SERVICE THAN EXPECTED...
Give great service to your internal customer and give it to your external customer. Don’t focus on what looks different to you or how some things may are being done differently since you left. In this universe we own nothing, we possess nothing but the opportunity to give more of ourselves than we’ve ever given before. That's what you need to focus on...giving something greater than expected.

NOW IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE REMEMBER…
You only owe your future employer the opportunity of hearing the truth of why you’re considering leaving. You don’t have to dwell on the negative experiences. Because in doing so you may reveal bitterness which should be buried in the past. By releasing this negative energy you are no longer bound by it but you are now released to find the JOY of YOUR FUTURE. So you should focus your energy where it is useful...share with them the positive opportunities that this new future position with their company is holds for you. Sell them on those benefits. Give them the opportunity to imagine that you are working for them and doing a great job! Express that you are only leaving because you want to except greater responsibilities and challenges that their future opportunity presents for you. Remember there are no real problems you can not solve. Our only real problem is our failure to be more creative than we’ve ever been. If you “Invent” your opportunity YOU WILL create your future. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)