I got a new job kind of promotion with a new role, so I had to apply again and I am now under a corporate payroll rather than the local subdivision branch (separated HR) with the new role.
I am having troubles with my new job and my boss stressing that I have to travel weekly to Hanford/CA which is 3 hours driving from Glendale, also I have to drive to Bakersfield 1:45 hours from Glendale.
Should I tell my boss directly that I have a treatment plan and that I have PCa? or just send the medical note from RO to the corporate HR, and they will contact my boss regarding the limitations that I need (overnight stay will affect my next day 7 AM treatment at Glendale local hospital).
The new boss said that I have 1 month to improve my performance or else! (he is unaware about my medical condition (BCR after surgery and on monthly Firmagon, started SRT today)
Are we protected by law? what should I do when I get tired/fatigued while driving?
Since it is a 3-month provisional period I don't want to take disability leave and then when I am back from my treatment they will fire me??
Please advise!
Written by
Ralph1966
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I was in a similar situation. Fortunately I was able to retire. I think you need to inform your immediate supervisor of your health situation. I believe you are protected by law. Let him/her know of your temporary limitations and schedule of treatment.
My advice would be to ask the boss for a meeting and explain your situation to him. tell him that you have prostate cancer. Surgery was tried but wasn't fully successful and you're now getting a second line treatment with radiation that you're hoping will cure you. However, even if it doesn't, there is a strong possibility that you'll be able to control the cancer for many years with drugs and perform all of your work duties normally.
If you like the work and the company, tell him so. Try to think of some ways that you can meet your treatment needs and still meet the company's needs. Ask him for a little leeway in scheduling. If you can't work 40 hours a week, ask him if you could cut back a few hours a week just for the duration of the treatment. Offer to take a proportional cut in salary for that period. Be flexible. Show that you want to do good work for him, the company, and the clients. I wouldn't treat him as an adversary or threaten him with legal action, but rather appeal to his better nature. Hopefully, you'll win his sympathy.
As for the driving problem, I assume that you're concerned about tiredness caused by radiation and/or ADT. I think that, for most of us, the tiredness is pretty controllable. Get an extra hour of sleep each night. Exercise regularly. I found that, under radiation and ADT, I wasn't able to do all of the jogging or other vigorous exercise I had done before, but I was still able to commute an hour and 15 minutes each way to work each day, and to go on regular four to six mile hikes in the hills. If you get tired during a long drive, pull over and take a half hour nap if you need it. Use an alarm on your smartphone to wake you after your nap. Bring a thermos of coffee with you or stop for a cup on the road. I think you'll be surprised at how well you do and also proud of how well you do it.
When I was diagnosed I told everyone at my workplace about both my diagnosis and my treatment. I discussed it freely and encouraged people to ask me any question they liked. People were sympathetic and I never felt like I had a deep, dark secret that I couldn't talk about.
Excellent advice! I’d follow it! In my case, I started with my boss, then HR, then my leadership team. Explained my situation and what I needed to do for treatment. Everyone was totally supportive.
One watch out. Particularly for your boss and HR. Many times people think prostate cancer that is localized is the same as when it has spread. My boss thought I had what his dad had - localized PCa. I had to make sure he understood how serious advanced prostate cancer is and what is involved in treatment versus localized PCa. This helped them understand the true seriousness of what I needed to deal with.
I was able to keep working at a high performing level for another 4 years before deciding to retire. I just needed a little break during radiation (cut back to just 8 hours per day vs. 10) for fatigue. And I took a few days off after each chemo treatment. I scheduled the infusions for Wednesday so that I could be back at work the following Monday. This let me use the weekends as part of the recovery period.
Exercise is critical to help address the fatigue. And to generally feel better.
Good luck with your journey! I think you will be pleasantly surprised how compassionate and supportive everyone will be!
I live in Northern California. In outside sales for a major trucking company 30 years ago. At a red light stopped. I was hit from behind by a 10-wheel dump truck. Totalled out the Taurus I was driving. Also racked me up quite well. Had 2 fusions to my neck, and three to my lower back. When I got back to work
the company had to give me a job equal to what I had. At the time of the accident I was domiciled out of San Jose CA. When I came back to work I was given Modesto. Again surgery and sales out of Oakland after. Since I was given a company car that was fine with me. No cut in pay nothing on my return that was not equal to what I had. Took state disability each time I had surgery and got paid through the state. Wouldn't think its changed much since?
In my case I decided to talk with my boss. I explained that I have treatments time by time. And I reduced my working time. Since 3 years I work from monday to thursday. So the friday is left for stressless medical appointments. Ok, my salary is 20% lower but retrospectively it was a very good decision. Also because I have 2 small children. Best wishes Theo
Look into Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It allows 12 weeks of leave that can be taken in increments as needed. I believe they have to hold your job for you if you take all 12 weeks at once. Contact your corporate HR rather than your immediate supervisor. HR will be familiar with FMLA. It does not provide any pay for you but gives you job protection. You can still apply for any governmental disability benefits or company disability or sick leave. They are totally separate from FMLA but can run concurrently.
I was completely open with my boss and staff about my prostate cancer. It's my understanding that we have some protection under the law, but I'm no lawyer (maybe we have some lurking in the room). But my boss has been great about this. It does some to be a bit of a hassle explaining why I may not be feeling well when I don't understand what's happening to me on a daily basis in regard to my cancer. Everyone wants to believe your either dying or in remission...there's no in between. And as we all know, there is a lot of gray area in this disease.
Lots of great advice here, Ralph66 but, as jmurgia advises - you should look into FMLA. Technically, upon talking with your supervisor, s/he should advise YOU on the availability of FMLA (if applicable to the company, see: employment.findlaw.com/fami... )
Simply put, FMLA does not affect your company's leave policies on how much leave you have available, only your ability to use that leave without reprisal. FMLA medical certification (vetted by your doctors) will outline how much time everyone should expect you to be absent, and you can create a more specific schedule with your supervisor. The company is then responsible for making reasonable accommodation for that schedule.
I use it periodically myself. It has taken a lot of weight off of me to know that my employer knows and we are working through things together. Good luck. - Joe M.
SeosamhM: Thank for expanding and clarifying on my earlier post regarding FMLA. My company had a 6 month full pay disability program and then a 12 month 70% pay program. I used them up all in 1 swoop (18 months). The company had me apply for FMLA but I really didn't need or "use" it as I never intended (and didn't) return to work, so I had no actual experience using it intermittently but heard of others who did.
Cheers, Joe. Even though I only use FMLA periodically, I make sure I keep up with HR to maintain FMLA eligiblility no matter what I look and act like....as we all know here, PCa is just exhausting mentally and physically. My job and supervisor are flexible enough that I am master of my own schedule in many respects. I know full well how lucky I am!
As a boss and one with PC, tell him you need the leave and fill out a leave slip citing the family medical leave act. (Research it), if he’s not an ass he should approve it. If he’s an ass take it to HR
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