Submitted by theho on
in
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I am a senior manager in a very large European company. Due to an injury I am unable to get to work for at least 4 weeks and have officially been declared "unfit to work" by my doctor. My limitation is purely physical (and some time limitations due to therapy, etc).
What should I do in such a situation?
Options I have considered
- continue to work like nothing has happened, just from home
- focus on my 3 top priorities and pass everything else off to my deputy (continue doing 1:1, team meeting)
- just do 1:1s and team meetings, respond to emergencies
- go off the radar completely.
I would appreciate some guidance on this. Maybe there is even a podcast? Doesn't sound like such an unusual situation...
This isn't "go to work sick"
You've been declared unfit for work - so act like it. Working for a European company, I imagine they are much more sympathetic to your time off and have better protections in place for you. That said, hopefully you have a well trained Number 2 - that's what you should be focusing on. This could even be a good trial run. My advice - go off the grid completely and let your deputy know they can call you in an emergency. The worst thing for a subordinate is to "worry" that the boss, who's supposed to be off, starts helicoptering in without being able to take the time to understand the full story. People know you're out and they'll be even less likely to bother you, even as they're trying to respond to your directives. If you can't give 100% to your team, give 100% to your recovery.
Get well soon!!
It happens
If you are unfit from work, you take time off. The CAO of my Global Fortune 50 Company (also based in Europe) is currently out sick for an unspecified period of time with a significant illness. No one expects her to be working and, if they caught her working, would yell at her.
One of my managers was out sick for most of week. Work continues on. The only texts I sent the manager who worked for me was "how are you feeling?" "Did you make it home okay?" and the like. Nothing work related. I did include her work address in emails, but I did not expect her to check them.
Just over 18 months ago, I was out and in the hospital for a period of time and unable to work for a couple of weeks. The only things I got from work while in the hospital and then out sick were flowers and several calls asking whether anyone could bring me anything (clothes, food, check on my pets, get my mail, help me with anything, etc...).
In my experience, if you're working for a good place, and your boss is a good person and cares about you as person, as do your employees, people are more concerned that you recover than in whether work all gets done as well as with you there.
It happens
If you are unfit from work, you take time off. The CAO of my Global Fortune 50 Company (also based in Europe) is currently out sick for an unspecified period of time with a significant illness. No one expects her to be working and, if they caught her working, would yell at her.
One of my managers was out sick for most of week. Work continues on. The only texts I sent the manager who worked for me was "how are you feeling?" "Did you make it home okay?" and the like. Nothing work related. I did include her work address in emails, but I did not expect her to check them.
Just over 18 months ago, I was out and in the hospital for a period of time and unable to work for a couple of weeks. The only things I got from work while in the hospital and then out sick were flowers and several calls asking whether anyone could bring me anything (clothes, food, check on my pets, get my mail, help me with anything, etc...).
In my experience, if you're working for a good place, and your boss is a good person and cares about you as person, as do your employees, people are more concerned that you recover than in whether work all gets done as well as with you there.