Going for an Hospital operation (Wisdom teeth), employer wants me to take Annual leave?

Bouncerus

Hi all,

I have a operation in a hospital for my wisdom teeth. It's a proper one in the hospital as it's a 'high risk' procedure, and I'm undergoing general anaesthetic where they put you to sleep.

The operation is happening on a Friday, so will have the weekend to recover. I also work from home. I have told my employer about this operation, and at first they said its' fine but now they've asked me to book the days leave for it.

I'm fairly new in employment all together (2 years), and this situation has never happened to me. My employer has said at the time of the operation to get a sick note if they think I need to be off monday/tuesday e.c.t

I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, and I'm not sure if operations are supposed to be taken from annual leave?. I have a fair bit of leave left.

theoretica

It isn't uncommon to need to take annual leave for medical appointments - but if, like some operations, they leave you unable to work afterwards then you have a sick note/sick leave for that.  I guess if the operation is in the morning you could argue you will be sick in the afternoon.

Undervalued

Bouncerus said:

Hi all,

I have a operation in a hospital for my wisdom teeth. It's a proper one in the hospital as it's a 'high risk' procedure, and I'm undergoing general anaesthetic where they put you to sleep.

The operation is happening on a Friday, so will have the weekend to recover. I also work from home. I have told my employer about this operation, and at first they said its' fine but now they've asked me to book the days leave for it.

I'm fairly new in employment all together (2 years), and this situation has never happened to me. My employer has said at the time of the operation to get a sick note if they think I need to be off monday/tuesday e.c.t

I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, and I'm not sure if operations are supposed to be taken from annual leave?. I have a fair bit of leave left.

Basically they can I'm afraid. Whilst many employers might allow it as sick leave, many won't. Also, if your employer has a very tight approach to sick leave, it may be best not to have a one day absence in case you are actually sick for longer for some other reason later in the year.

SensibleSarah

Not ever had to do it personally, but in most of my workplaces (private sector), it's been the norm to take either annual leave or unpaid leave (if the employee doesn't have any paid leave left or just if they chose to take it unpaid rather than using holiday) on the day of the op, and then SSP if signed off work for some time afterwards (no sick pay offered by most of my employers). 

Robin9

@Bouncerus You won't be fit on the Monday morning - think 2 weeks, there will be stitches

Bouncerus

Undervalued said:

Bouncerus said:

Hi all,

I have a operation in a hospital for my wisdom teeth. It's a proper one in the hospital as it's a 'high risk' procedure, and I'm undergoing general anaesthetic where they put you to sleep.

The operation is happening on a Friday, so will have the weekend to recover. I also work from home. I have told my employer about this operation, and at first they said its' fine but now they've asked me to book the days leave for it.

I'm fairly new in employment all together (2 years), and this situation has never happened to me. My employer has said at the time of the operation to get a sick note if they think I need to be off monday/tuesday e.c.t

I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, and I'm not sure if operations are supposed to be taken from annual leave?. I have a fair bit of leave left.

Basically they can I'm afraid. Whilst many employers might allow it as sick leave, many won't. Also, if your employer has a very tight approach to sick leave, it may be best not to have a one day absence in case you are actually sick for longer for some other reason later in the year.

Cheers, I work for the NHS but I can't see where our sickness policies are on our intranet. If I took Friday (day of the operation) off as AL, and then on Monday I realise I'm still in agony - does this count as day 3 of sickness? and Tuesday day 4?

I see SSP is a measly £100 a week, so it would mean a cut in my monthly pay if I actually took 4 days or so off work? 

I WFH, so even if I'm in decent pain, I'll probs be working Monday because I'll try and get by and I don't want to take a pay cut.  

Undervalued

Bouncerus said:

Undervalued said:

Bouncerus said:

Hi all,

I have a operation in a hospital for my wisdom teeth. It's a proper one in the hospital as it's a 'high risk' procedure, and I'm undergoing general anaesthetic where they put you to sleep.

The operation is happening on a Friday, so will have the weekend to recover. I also work from home. I have told my employer about this operation, and at first they said its' fine but now they've asked me to book the days leave for it.

I'm fairly new in employment all together (2 years), and this situation has never happened to me. My employer has said at the time of the operation to get a sick note if they think I need to be off monday/tuesday e.c.t

I don't want to kick up a huge fuss, and I'm not sure if operations are supposed to be taken from annual leave?. I have a fair bit of leave left.

Basically they can I'm afraid. Whilst many employers might allow it as sick leave, many won't. Also, if your employer has a very tight approach to sick leave, it may be best not to have a one day absence in case you are actually sick for longer for some other reason later in the year.

Cheers, I work for the NHS but I can't see where our sickness policies are on our intranet. If I took Friday (day of the operation) off as AL, and then on Monday I realise I'm still in agony - does this count as day 3 of sickness? and Tuesday day 4?

I see SSP is a measly £100 a week, so it would mean a cut in my monthly pay if I actually took 4 days or so off work? 

I WFH, so even if I'm in decent pain, I'll probs be working Monday because I'll try and get by and I don't want to take a pay cut.  

Particularly as you don't get any SSP at all for the first three days!

TELLIT01

I had 2 wisdom teeth removed under general anaesthetic.  I felt pretty rough for a couple of days, but nothing like 2 weeks.  If I had been able to work from home I would have been OK, even if not working at my best.

Kat78MFW

If you work for NHS on NHS terms and conditions, you should get occupational sick pay at the rate of your normal pay. Unless new starters are on a much worse contract than I've been all these years. Check your contract of employment to see what it says about sick pay. 

DontBringBertie

I started in the NHS 6 months ago and can confirm we do get sick pay at normal rate or pay. 

Just double checked my contract for sick pay:

 During the 1st year of employment 1 months full pay and 2 months half pay

 During the 2nd year 2 months full pay and 2 months half pay

 During the 3rd year 4 months full pay and 4 months half pay

 During the 4th and 5th years 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay

 After completing 5 years 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay

[Deleted User]

A quick chat with your union rep should sort this out sharpish.