Another Q Regarding Employee/Employer Relations & Weg's:

[Sangye]

Yeah, I was newly dx'ed, in the "half-dead" category so I was approved quickly.

I'm always concerned about newly-dxed Weggies who push on working even when they really shouldn't. Many of them inevitably get into trouble a few months down the road and then it's really hard to prove their case. In the SSDI system, muscling through even when it's killing you is still considered "able to work." Oy.

[delorisdoe]

my defenition of "able to work" is way out of wack with reality. I almost died a month ago because I decided I could work-I actualy had a deadly blood infection that would have killed me in 12 hours or so had I not decided maybe I was sick. lol

[norcalian]

This is something that I've been thinking a lot about since I will be returning to work on August 1st. I have a lot more energy than I did when I first returned home from the hospital in mid-May, but still feel tired and weak most days. Fortunately my job is basically a desk job (I'm a high school counselor) and my Rheumy's main concern was being exposed to infection...which I can limit by who I let into my office. I guess I'm really curious about what it will be like going from being home to working 40 hours a week.

Could someone tell me what FMLA stands for? I am being required by my employer to have a doctor's note before I return, so I will make sure I have all the necessary things in place in that note (resting on lunch breaks, avoiding large groups of people in enclosed spaces, etc). I want to make sure I have things lined up with FMLA if necessary...

[drz]

If one is already working/established w/ his/her employer making concessions for that employee (extra breaks, possibly arriving late/leaving early, etc.) may be easier understood.
I am, both, looking into SSDI while wondering if returning to work is possible if I'm not approved. I think about concessions a new employer may need to make for me. The above mentioned scenarios are definite realities.
Working P/T is an option, I know, yet benies and insurance can be not as attractive.
Have you dealt w/ similar? How understanding was your old/new employer?
Thanks - David

Most disability programs have policies to try encourage you to return to work if possible. Often you can keep the benefits until you are able to work full time for a six month period. If your work experiement fails it is usually easier to get re-instated.

Some employers, large number of employees or government service often have programs that encourage them to hire people with some type of disability or handicaps as they get extra points for doing so in whatever affirmative action program they may have which helps in getting government contracts and such. Such an employer might be willing to work with you in setting special supportive work conditions.

[RudiK]

FMLA stands for Family and Medical Leave Act. As the name implies it is a US federal law and applies to employers that employ 50 employees or more. Those employers must give you up to 3 months leave for a variety of reason, i.e., illness of a child or spouse, birth of a child, or your own illness. This is NOT paid leave. So, if you have no leave available, it will be unpaid leave. All it demands is that your employer holds your job available for up to 3 months. It requires some paper work from your doctors.
Hope this helps. Rudi K.

[norcalian]

FMLA stands for Family and Medical Leave Act. As the name implies it is a US federal law and applies to employers that employ 50 employees or more. Those employers must give you up to 3 months leave for a variety of reason, i.e., illness of a child or spouse, birth of a child, or your own illness. This is NOT paid leave. So, if you have no leave available, it will be unpaid leave. All it demands is that your employer holds your job available for up to 3 months. It requires some paper work from your doctors.
Hope this helps. Rudi K.

Thanks for the information Rudi. That's something I will definitely look into before I return to work.