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TELLIT01

Variation on the question posed by the OP. Person has had major orthopaedic surgery and is signed off by GP for 12 weeks because they will be unable to do their normal physically demanding job and there is no alternative work available. Holiday had been booked and agreed months before surgery, and holiday abroad booked and paid for. Holiday dates are week 11 and 12 of the medical certificate. Does the employee need to either advise the company they are going abroad or get their permission? Employee is at the stage of recovery where they can walk around comfortably with regular stops but would not be able to walk the miles required of the job.

sangie595

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Variation on the question posed by the OP. Person has had major orthopaedic surgery and is signed off by GP for 12 weeks because they will be unable to do their normal physically demanding job and there is no alternative work available. Holiday had been booked and agreed months before surgery, and holiday abroad booked and paid for. Holiday dates are week 11 and 12 of the medical certificate. Does the employee need to either advise the company they are going abroad or get their permission? Employee is at the stage of recovery where they can walk around comfortably with regular stops but would not be able to walk the miles required of the job.

Very inadvisable - and not from an employment point of view! I was in this position last year - exactly the same - and I was told point blank by the surgeon, no flying at all for at least three months (assuming a great recovery, that was) and no long haul for six months. They should definitely get their surgeons approval to fly - AND I would point out that any "normal" travel insurance is probably not going to cover them, and they will be travelling uninsured if they don't get out proper insurance for medical cover.

I had a much better than average recovery, and I was cleared for flying at the 3 and 6 month marks - but I know people who had the same surgery who still haven't been cleared for long haul 11 months later.

But to answer your question - this is down to the employer. If they decide that they can travel, they still need the employers agreement to take the holiday during sick leave - especially if they are also wanting to reclaim the holiday period to use later, due to their sickness. They cannot be sick and on holiday at the same time, technically. But they can agree either to terminate their sick leave earlier and go on holiday, or to take the holiday later if the employer agrees. In fact, they can agree anything they want with the employer as long as both sides are happy with it - in the end, it is only a problem if one side or the other aren't happy and willing to do something about that!

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PS - just to add, I am advised that it will be at least two years before the op "falls off" my insurance declaration, and or some insurers it is 5 years that it is taken into account.

Sazascorpio

ohreally wrote: »

Are you fit to return now?

Not till 29th on sick note but I do not need to be seen again after this date unless of course my symptoms worsen then I would have to return to work

ohreally

Sazascorpio wrote: »

Not till 29th on sick note

Return to your GP before this point and discuss returning now, providing you are fit to return.

The fit note is advisory.

TELLIT01

sangie595 wrote: »

Very inadvisable - and not from an employment point of view! I was in this position last year - exactly the same - and I was told point blank by the surgeon, no flying at all for at least three months (assuming a great recovery, that was) and no long haul for six months. They should definitely get their surgeons approval to fly - AND I would point out that any "normal" travel insurance is probably not going to cover them, and they will be travelling uninsured if they don't get out proper insurance for medical cover.

I had a much better than average recovery, and I was cleared for flying at the 3 and 6 month marks - but I know people who had the same surgery who still haven't been cleared for long haul 11 months later.

But to answer your question - this is down to the employer. If they decide that they can travel, they still need the employers agreement to take the holiday during sick leave - especially if they are also wanting to reclaim the holiday period to use later, due to their sickness. They cannot be sick and on holiday at the same time, technically. But they can agree either to terminate their sick leave earlier and go on holiday, or to take the holiday later if the employer agrees. In fact, they can agree anything they want with the employer as long as both sides are happy with it - in the end, it is only a problem if one side or the other aren't happy and willing to do something about that!

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PS - just to add, I am advised that it will be at least two years before the op "falls off" my insurance declaration, and or some insurers it is 5 years that it is taken into account.

Sorry Sangie, air travel was given the OK by the surgeon - he wouldn't have travelled otherwise and he did have travel insurance.

jobbingmusician

Also - related to sangie's post and a point I meant to make earlier - do check with your doctor if you are/were planning to fly as part of your holiday. Your job is important but pales into insignificance beside the risk that you could have a brain bleed if you fly too soon after a blow to the head.

Ooops, crossed in the post.

sangie595

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Sorry Sangie, air travel was given the OK by the surgeon - he wouldn't have travelled otherwise and he did have travel insurance.

Good. It's surprising how many people don't. I recently met someone how had the same surgery as me, three months ago. With much worse outcomes. Could barely walk. And we happened to be the odd 4.5 thousand miles from the UK! They hadn't given it a single thought, the fact that they could have suffered a thrombosis on the flight, with an increased risk due to the surgery. Or that they happened to be in a country where they would have had to pay for medical treatment or repatriation if necessary.