Having surgery? Reason for being "sick"?

[Aimster82]

What do I tell my boss? I am going to take several days off and I know he is going to ask why. I know I don't have to tell him but I want to tell him something.

Back surgery?

[Paa_Paw]

Back surgery is probably the worst thing you could say. Back problems are probably the most common reasons for disability claims. If you should claim a pack problemof any kind you may scare your employer into terminating you before he is hit with a disability claim.

Honesty is the best policy obviously but you don't have to give a full disclosure.

Years back there was a guy who posted saying that he was simply going to say he was having a growth removed. Afterward he reassurred his employer that the growth was not malignant and he thanked his employer for his concern.

Some employers would terminate an employee if there was a lie told; even if the lie was discovered years later. No one wants a dishonest employee.

While the "growth" story is misleading, it is actually true.

[jojo82]

Your employer is not entitled to any personal medical information. In reality, things can be complicated though. Paa_Paw is the right idea- tell your boss that it was necessary to get a non-malignant growth removed and provide him with a note from your surgeon. I would handle follow up questions with humor personallly... "do you want my social security # too??," but that's up to your personality how you handle that.

Just don't feel cornered because you aren't obligated to tell him anything other than you were at the doctor.