Discussing Life Changes
To your health II – sick leave
“I work to live, I don’t live to work.”
Did you ever hear anyone say that?
While it’s a nice idea, we entwine our work so closely with our lives these days that it’s often hard to tell them apart. You need to work. You need the means to survive, and then some, so you can “live.” Without work, your carefree existence isn’t likely to last very long.
But, let’s say you’re not feeling well. You haven’t been feeling well for a while. You’ve been to the doctor and you find out things aren’t going well for you. She says you need rest. She prescribes medication that may have some side effects. What do you do?
Another popular saying is, “At least you have your health.” The thinking there is, as long as you’re healthy, you can probably face anything. It’s when our health falters that we feel most vulnerable. And then there’s work.
Taking time off from work to get well can be a major disruption to your day-to-day life, but if you don’t do it, it could get worse. How much time can you take off from work? What happens to your benefits, your pay, your position, your vacation time? What will your peers think, or your family?
You need to tell the people at home; even though you don’t want to alarm them, you can’t carry the burden alone. We’re talking about your health here. If there is a chance that you could get better sooner rather than later, then you need to have this discussion.
You might start the conversation by:
- Knowing the facts. The more you know about your situation, the better you’ll be at making a plan for your time off and calming the fears of those close to you. You need to know as much as you can about your condition, about your work situation, your health benefits, monetary obligations and more to be properly prepared.
- Being as open and honest as possible. It’s hard to tell someone you’re not feeling 100 percent. They may see you as fragile or vulnerable. They may offer help. They may not. Give work the attention and information it needs to help you get well and do the same for family and friends.
- Be real. Don’t sugarcoat things. If you’re sick, don’t be a superhero. Don’t promise to be up and around in a week if the doctor orders a four week recovery. On the other hand, don’t make it more dramatic than it already is. You won’t be doing anyone any favors.
- Managing your plan. As you talk with the people that matter, let them know how you plan to adjust the plan if complications arise or if your recovery goes better than anticipated. Let others know what you expect if, for some reason, you can’t tell them down the road. Allow for flexibility.
Your ability to balance your work and your life is much easier when you’re healthy. If you have to step away from work, do what you need to do to get well. Most importantly, keep the lines of communication open with those you care for most.
This article is provided for general, informational purposes only and is not intended as advice specific to your situation.
