Asian woman with glasses working on her laptop in bed.

SINGAPORE: A small local company is facing backlash after an employee took to social media, claiming she was pressured to resume work just 1.5 weeks after major abdominal surgery.

The employee, who remains anonymous, sought advice online, questioning if she should comply with work demands during her hospitalisation leave.

Describing her situation, she stated, “I just had major abdominal surgery on Jun 26, 2024. I was discharged after four days, and on the fifth day, my boss asked me to do some small tasks for work.”

She noted that she continued to receive work requests on the sixth and seventh days post-surgery, explaining, “I did them all, because they were like… at most an hour of work.”

Despite being granted a month-long hospitalisation leave (HL), she claimed that just 1.5 weeks after her surgery, her bosses asked her to “practically” resume her duties.

“I told them that I wasn’t feeling very well, so I’ve been ignoring work requests from my bosses,” she added. At her half-month mark, she received another message from her boss inquiring about how she was feeling, to which she hadn’t replied.

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As the only person in her department at the company, she voiced her reluctance to work while still recovering. I don’t really want to do work now as I’m still recovering from the surgery,” she shared.

“However, the pressure from my bosses is making me feel really guilty. What should I do?” she noted that she had informed her bosses of the surgery back in February.

Support poured in from online users, advising her to prioritise her health. “Just say no. By agreeing to work right after literally the day after you were discharged, now your boss thinks that you’re not actually that unwell and can do work.

For anyone in a similar situation, consider ignoring all work when you’re on hospitalisation leave,” one commenter advised.

Others echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that it was her boss’s responsibility to plan for her absence, given the advance notice, while some shared their personal experiences.

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“No! Tell them you are on strong painkillers and you are very drowsy. My colleagues covered my work before my hospitalisation leave even started, so I could mentally prepare for surgery,” one user advised.

“I am on two weeks’ hospitalisation leave, and I used the time to rest and recuperate.

I chose not to read my emails, messages or answer any messages and attend any meetings, as I need to make sure I recover and am fully well before I start work once the leave is over,” another shared.

The employee’s situation struck a chord with many, leading to a flurry of comments advising her on handling the pressure.

“Learn to say no, and switch on auto replies. You could write in the auto-reply, ‘I am currently recovering from a major abdominal surgery on Hospitalisation Leave (Dates of HL)’” suggested one commenter.

Another advised, adding, “expect delayed responses.”

“You are replaceable; work can wait. If your boss can’t wait, they can give it to others or they can do it themselves. They knew that you were going to have this surgery and should have prepared.

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Management problem is not your problem,” one commenter reminded. /TISG

Read also: “What am I working for?” – Young Singaporean depressed over “work work work” daily grind

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