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I am under retirement age & have recently returned to work after suffering a heart attack at work

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Anonymous

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I am under retirement age & have recently returned to work after suffering a heart attack at work

I work in healthcare & medical professionals are telling me they think may be due to Covid virus

I have had 3 weeks off work to recover after the heart event

I have been back at work 1 week now

I did request returning with reduced hours, by 1 day less a week

Which medical professionals suggested I do

this request was denied by manager

After being back for a week, the manager nor any of work colleagues enquired as to how I was going or coping

I feel quite perplexed by their uncaring behaviour & wondering how to interpret their disinterest

Anyone else have an opinion?

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  1. Whitney Penrod

    Sounds like you work with a bunch of jerks.

  2. Ann

    ☺️ thank you

  3. Anonymous

    Why are these people jerks, because they didn’t ask for a post-heart attack rundown? If this happened to someone else and they reported on it to FGB, this board would be in an uproar: call an attorney, file a complaint with the EEOC, report this to the NYT! Get real.

  4. Anonymous

    Because everyone deserves empathy and kindness, even from coworkers who are busy. A simple “glad you’re back” or “how are you?” can accomplish that without asking a single HIPPA violation deemed question. Who would choose to work in such a sterile, cold environment where a coworker wouldn’t ask those simple questions? It may be work, but each employee is a human being and should act and be treated like they are valued, seen and appreciated.

  5. Anonymous

    Pls google HIPAA, you’re using the acronym incorrectly in this context.

  6. Ann

    Thanks for your comments, I totally agree, take care

  7. Anonymous

    so sorry about all you've been thru. it hurts when people really do not care, but do not take this personally. There are many reasons for this. we do not know the reasons, but whatever they are has no bearing on your healing or joy...Press On. Follow medical advice. Do your job. You've got this!!!! XXOO

  8. Ann

    Thanks so much…I will ! XO

  9. Anonymous

    So sorry about your health issues! Stay on the path to healing! When we are vulnerable we seek support, it’s natural. But it’s also odd with colleagues who may care but are uncomfortable and do not know what to say. Same thing happened when my brother died and I was out for a month. Hardly anyone reached out to me, or checked on me. I focused on those in my personal life and leaned on them. Most work environments have people who are unsure how to approach. Especially if you’re given special work arrangements then it sets you apart. The colleagues see this and are probably sore about it. Happened to me but my special work situation was when Covid was killing so many including my brother. But now people are back to work and seem so unempathetic. It’s everywhere. All that to say we support you. Pray for your healing, and that you lean on those in your life you are close to.

  10. Ann

    Thanks so much…helps me make sense of the situation…great to get some supportive encouragement…thank care

  11. Anonymous

    First, you could hold your employer accountable for the total amount of the doctor's order and ask for accommodation through the ADA. However, if that moves you (by hours) from full-time to part-time, you must also be prepared to lose your full-time benefits (like PTO allocation and 401K). Some companies also reduce or deny the amount they pay for medical and life insurance when you go part-time.

    As for the co-workers, I have found similar responses. I had brain surgery with post-surgical complications that resulted in me being out for four months. The same happened to me. They were happy to see me back, but things rapidly returned to business as usual. I chalked it up to people who don't know how to react and feel that you will initiate it if you need something or want to talk. They care. They just don't want to feel intrusive.

  12. Ann

    Thanks so much for your reply … helps with the Journey to recovery ☺️

  13. Ann

    Thank you…your comments help ☺️

  14. Anonymous

    Everyone has busy lives and stress and other people's health is probably not their focus.

    I wouldn't make it personal. The every day demands take over. Everyone gets back to life and focusing on a colleague just isn't a primary concern.

  15. Ann

    Thank you ?

  16. Anonymous

    I can’t figure out your main complaint: your request for reduced hours being denied…or your coworkers not asking about your condition?

    I would NEVER ask a coworker about their medical issues unless they proactively offered that information to me. I think your expectations about this are unreasonable.

    If you’re back at work, I’d assume you have been medically cleared to be back on full work duty. If this isn’t the case, I’d revisit with your boss, consider FMLA or STD.

  17. Ann

    Thanks for your opinion, I guess generations differ, my generation….if a co-worker returned to work after a major health incident it would be polite to welcome them back & ask “How are you going? “

    All helps with recovery

  18. Anonymous

    You can contact the ADA directly to get advice on how to navigate the reduced hours. Do you have that recommendation in writing from your doctor?

    As far as your manager and coworkers-what was your relationship like with them prior to your health event? I think people are respecting your privacy.

  19. Ann

    Thanks for your reply, possibly ?

  20. Anonymous

    The same error as before, you struck a FCPA "DOJ's approach to recidivism and self-disclosure - Corruption, Crime & Compliance" in a worst criminal scenario.

    1)Payroll theft hurt you and government. Make sure documented on your paystub hours, payscale, deduction, to prevent money laundering, debt graft, tax evasion, bank robbery, human trafficking.

    2) It seems like you’re from other part of the world. In US, there’s no age limit of how long you can work.
    there is minimum age for child labor.

    3)remind international employers need to meet the same standard as locals if they want to operate in US.

  21. Anonymous

    I think you posted this response on the wrong thread. This has nothing to do with what the OP posted.

  22. Anonymous

    Can you confirm where you are located? I ask given your spelling of behaviour. If you are not U.S.-based, some of the acronyms I see thrown around (ADA, DOJ, etc.) will not apply here.

  23. Ann

    In New Zealand

  24. carolina girl

    A heart attack is SERIOUS! I would get a note from your doctor and if your manager STILL refuses, then look for another job! Your health is MORE important!!!!

  25. John Herndon

    Contact an attorney

  26. Anonymous

    Often people don't know how to approach someone who has had a life-threatening illness or event and want to give you privacy and not ask you about it thinking that you likely don't want to re-hash things. I would suggest if you think they don't care then offer up some information from your side about how you are doing and coping. Let them know it's okay to speak about it and to ask you about your health directly. Then let it go, stressing about this is really silly because they in some weird way are respecting your privacy.

    I would not think of it as disinterest.

    As for the time adjustment request, if you truly need that please do get a doctors note for it and have the copy of that sent to manager, HR and the legal department as well. Ask for them to reconsider this for at least the next 6 months to assure your health is fully back and that you can while either WFH or taking that day off you can do other things for them if need be. Good luck and good health!

  27. Christel M Jones

    100% this! I had a coworker return from a heart attack at work, which I witnessed. When he returned, I didn't want to pry, but I was very worried. I ended up avoiding the guy. It's also possible they are worried about violating some labor laws by asking about your health. I am glad you're doing better. It is really challenging return8ng to work after time off, let alone a major health incident like a heart attack. Just stay positive and do what you can to reconnect.

  28. Anonymous

    At our job we’ve been told that due to HIPPA laws you can’t ask about someone’s specific health issues. Now if you volunteer the info to

    me specifically and said you’d been on leave because of a heart attack

    or whatever, I can discuss it with you. We have this awkward stuff at our work quite often. Sounds like you do need to go to HR tho and get the time off you require for your health.

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