I had back surgery for a Herniated Disc L5-S1 3 years ago and was off of work in severe pain,on Percocet,Morphine and in and out of emergency many times before I could get into having surgery with a gruelling 9 month wait to get in.I had a few months off after to get back to sitting for any length of time.Since then I have had lot's of problems with my back but have only taken off 3 instances which I was in alot of pain again and had to go back to my Neorosurgeon and have had to go to the Hospital and receive shots for the pain.
I recently applied for 2 other job's in my same department which I have been denied as they said with my previous absenteeism they would not give me the jobs even though I was told I am a very good worker and am fully qualified.
I have been working for this same telecommunications company for 26 years and this is what I get after all the dedication.I am so mad that they are punishing me for a health problem.I am in a Union but I don't think we have any clout anymore against this company.

Some companies have very strict policies regarding absenteeism and regardless of a continuous illness (which your back qualifies in this definition), each time an employee is off, comes back to work for even one (1) day and then off the next, is counted as two absences in a blank period of time. I am not defending it here, Im just stating fact is all. Is it unfair to those that don't abuse leave? Absolutlely!

Most employees are loyal dedicated people and it's a shame at how quickly that can all be dismissed. This is one reason that I got out of the HR field all together. I was always more about fairness than the bullying that management is so infamous for.

There is no loyalty to any employees including the long-standing ones. Not all employers are this way, but is more common in the mid to larger ones. Everyone is expendible. In this instance, I prefer the smaller mom and pop companies, where employers have the margin of heightened loyalty to their staff.

Since you are union and you do not know what they can or can't do.. call em. Might help.

Meanwhile.. exhale and focus on your well-being first.

You might want to check out the Americans With Disabilities Act. When I was working for a living and having all these back problems and doctor oppointments my supervisor started giving me a bunch of crap about taking too much time off. I went to HR and got a form that my doc filled out. I took it back to work and after it was approved the whole atmosphere changed. Check it out. Fred

HOLY COW!!!!

Dosnt all of this sound so familiar! All i can do is say i Know EXACTLY how you are feeling. My Job has tried to fire me, get rid of me whatever, and yes all because of absences. Believe me i want to be normal and feel normal etc...however my Supervisors make this soooo dificult to do. I work for a firedept in anytown USA. lol...sry all not sure if anyone of them are board trolls. I have been on Light duty now for 4 years on and off through surgery's. Not sure what to tell you or what to do for anyone of us except "hold on tight its going to be on hell of a ride"! God bless us all.

I do have one question for Arth ritis, what was the form that your doc filled out. did it have a name/number etc...and also what state do you live in since our "work place" laws vary so much from state to state.

hope you all have a wonderfull day !

Oh Boy! Sadly I am part of this group also. Been bi-passed for the only promotion higher than my position and a hefty raise because of a previous WC injury even though I returned to work full duty 5 years before and had perfect attendance during those 5 years except for 3 weeks for GB surgery. WHAT???? When the creep bi=passed me for the promotion and raise he told me to make sure I planned on training the other person as I was much more qualified, experienced and had many years seniority. OMG! It was the first time in my life I ever had HBP. Off the charts! I am now injured again on WC. 5 body parts this time. Just had shoulder surgeryand don't see this healing any time soon. still have 4 other parts to have PT on. I bellieve I had a discrimination suit when this happened BUT refused to put myself through the hell of being on the other side of my supervisor again. When I was injured this time I hired an attorney immediately. My claim was denied because as my supervisor said "He was mad at me the day before" SO all of a sudden I have become a liar and thief. I won 14 months later. The Judge saw right through my supervisor's crap. Sorry I went on but I just hate to read of people in pain, being treated like crap by an employer after many years of loyal service. And it appears that it is the hardest most loyal people that end up hurt, terminated for no valid reason, just basically shafted without a reason.

ICC