| At times your health may decline. Such an event | | | | #2: Plan your doctor's appointments when they |
| can cause you to wonder how that will affect | | | | are the least likely to interfere with your job. |
| your life and/or job. You worry about such issues | | | | Always use personal time (off the job) first. If |
| when a nagging backache won't go away or you | | | | you must make appointments during work hours, |
| contract a viral cold for the sixth time in a year. | | | | schedule them when you're the least busy or |
| Even more people worry when they suffer with | | | | responsible for producing work that your |
| devastating chronic diseases. | | | | employer needs completed for important |
| Still, it's not good to worry too much if you have | | | | projects. |
| a simple sickness, i.e. you're a bit under the | | | | #3: If you have a recurring or continuous illness |
| weather. When you work full time for an | | | | that requires more doctor's care, therapy or |
| employer, he allots you specific segments of time | | | | special appointments, plan your work absences |
| off per year. It may be designated as vacation, | | | | very carefully, if you can. (With some sicknesses, |
| sick days or PTO, personal time off. When and if | | | | such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia |
| your health falters and you need more sick days | | | | or autoimmune illness, that can be a huge |
| than you have accumulated, you have a problem. | | | | challenge.) You may be able to handle a health |
| (If you're self-employed, taking time off is a | | | | issue on your own, but if necessary, explain the |
| different matter entirely.) | | | | problem to your supervisor. Most employers are |
| Note: It's peculiar, but important to this discussion | | | | willing to work with a valued employee. If you |
| to consider that many employees have less than | | | | haven't missed work frivolously and you've kept a |
| stellar "job performance" records because they | | | | good work record for performance, most |
| drag in to work with "colds" and/or recurring, | | | | employers will accommodate your health needs |
| persistent, health problems. That causes the | | | | for certain periods of time, i.e. for cancer or |
| employee to be ineffective in his job even when | | | | physical therapy treatments. (This is particularly |
| he's working! | | | | true if you can complete your work assignments |
| *Whether you suffer with pesky health problems | | | | at another time, i.e. during flex-time hours.) |
| or an occasional virus, how you handle your time | | | | BONUS TIP: If and when you encounter severe |
| off from work can make all the difference in how | | | | or long term chronic illness, you need to do |
| you're perceived as an employee and how your | | | | intensive, investigative planning. Do it by yourself |
| employer is willing to handle your absences when | | | | and as discreetly as possible. Anonymity may be |
| they do come. I know this subject well because I | | | | necessary at first. Check out your employer's |
| not only sold employer health insurance plans and | | | | disability, family leave and health insurance policies |
| personal disability policies, but I found it necessary | | | | extensively. (Note: Smaller employers may not |
| to use my employee health/disability/leave | | | | offer the same benefits as larger ones.) Educate |
| benefits to the fullest. After a long period of | | | | yourself on your benefits or lack thereof. Your |
| struggling to maintain my professional career, I | | | | future health insurance status and financial future |
| went on disability and stayed on it for 15 years. | | | | may depend on how well you do your homework. |
| However, I started healing five years ago and | | | | If necessary, get a caring friend or a professional |
| now I'm completely well using the same strategies | | | | to help you. Be up front with your physician about |
| and techniques that I share with my clients every | | | | what is expected of you in your job and ask if he |
| day. | | | | advises you to continue working. Also, don't |
| The risk of having an employee with poor health | | | | forget to include any personal disability or health |
| is obvious to the employer: lost productivity, | | | | income policies into your planning strategy. |
| having to shuffle other people to pick up the | | | | If if seems that a period of disability is imminent, |
| employee's slack, disruption of business, etc. The | | | | discuss the situation with your physician |
| risk to you, the sick employee, is more | | | | immediately. Have him document every health |
| complicated because if you miss too much time | | | | complaint, symptom, office visit, test and |
| or your work product suffers badly, you may risk | | | | procedure in your chart. Your doctor is the one |
| losing your employment lifeline. | | | | who writes disability (instruction) orders for your |
| 3 Tips to Avoid Losing Your Job: | | | | employer. He also supplies data to your insurance |
| #1: Use your "sick" days for real illness. That | | | | company and completes his portion of disability |
| sounds obvious, but many people are tempted to | | | | claim forms, if necessary. Plus, he may be able to |
| fudge on this one. Don't be tempted to call in sick | | | | advise you on how much of a disability (time) |
| when you're not. Use your sick days wisely. Be | | | | period to expect because of your illness, the |
| sure that your employer knows that he can | | | | severity of your symptoms and your future |
| count on you and when you ask for time off, | | | | potential to return to work. |
| you really need it. | | | | |