Medical Leave Mayhem?
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IMAGE: Professor William W. Keen's Clinic, Jefferson Medical College Hospital, December 10th, 1902. Jan. 8. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2006682710/>. Thank goodness for progress in modern medicine! But hey, that's why it's called a "practice"! |
It's no secret that I have been on medical leave from my work for the entire month of February. I had a hysterectomy at the beginning of the month due to fibroids running amuck, and my first day back to work was the first Monday in March. This wasn't an emergency surgery, but it was also not something I could wait until the summer to do (helloooooo anemia!). So what happens when you have to take a (planned or unplanned) medical leave in the middle of the school year?! Well my friends, here are a few things you should know and a few things we didn't plan for...
Before the Leave
Open Communication
Let your bosses or employees know what is happening, if you can. I found out on the first day of school that I might be having surgery. I let my coworkers know during lunch on the first day so things could be planned if I did have surgery, and this way there was no surprises if the time came. I am lucky I have a fully supportive library squad where I could tell them this and the first words out of their mouths were "let us know what you need". I know not everyone has this and I have worked in a toxic workplace before where when I announced my pregnancy (early) the first response I got was, "how much time do you plan on taking?" and "this is a really bad time".
The day I found out I needed surgery I met with the Director of Libraries (my highest reporting-to person) and she helped me get the ball rolling with HR. DO NOT WAIT! There was a lot of paperwork that needed to be looked over, confirmed for accuracy, signatures required, and connecting between the school and the doctors office. Just from the school I needed signatures from the Director of Libraries, the School Principal, the Director of HR, AND the Superintendent to approve my medical leave! Let me tell you, two of the four are very hard to get a hold of. It was about two weeks before I was told the paperwork had been signed and my leave was approved.
Sub Coverage
I'm an Assistant Librarian meaning I do not get the option for subs if I'm out sick, but something myself and even my bosses learned was that with taking a medical leave they could get a sub to cover my hours! This removed a lot of stress for the librarians knowing that the library would be staffed if they were both in classes, which happens frequently.
Planning
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Photo by Marissa Grootes on Unsplash |
Before my leave, we (library squad) complied a bulleted list of things the sub would need to cover or be aware of. It was an open document to all of us so when something popped up we could add it to the list. We wanted it to be a one page document, but it ended up being four pages (2 if you printed front and back). This list included:
- How to close the library (I work the after school hour and close up each day, yours might include how to open and close the library)
- Where chairs and tables should be at the end of the day
- Clean up procedures
- General library rules and procedures (Subs are not guaranteed to have worked in a library before)
- Emergency procedures and easy contact info (Subs are not guaranteed to have worked in your school or department before)
- When they might need to intervene with student behavior
- How to use the printers and troubleshooting them (printers are always having issues)
- Where to find supplies
- What they are specifically responsible for
- What they are not responsible for and should connect with the librarians about
It also helped when making this list to contact HR to find out what the sub is allowed to do. We found out the sub was not allowed to have access to the library computers because it involved student files. This impacted their ability to check out books, return books, database help, etc. Our sub list was adjusted to reflect these limitations and made alternate plans for anything that needed to be completed with a computer.
The list was approved by the entire squad and printed out and and placed in a specified sub folder. Added to this folder was anything additional the sub would need. For example, at the end of the day I count the number of students who are still in the library at closing time; this way we have a running record. Since the sub could not access our computers, I created and printed out a sheet with a table that contained dates and blank areas for her to fill in. Then when I came back I added these numbers to my spreadsheet.
I also told a few students and teachers that I see regularly about my leave. It wasn't a secret, but I also wasn't advertising with posters or a parade. But this way, it prepared the students who were in the library constantly about my temporary leave and the teachers I see on the regular so if they needed something and came looking for me they would know to ask one of the librarians.
I also set up an out-of-office email (which I was told worked out well). Being an assistant I don't get many emails, but sometimes I do get direct emails about study hall that need to be answered. I set up my out-of-office so if people emailed me without cc'ing anyone else they would know to send their email elsewhere, at least until the beginning of March. This would be a great reminder if you are running your own library for any parent or teacher emails. If you are alone in the library, see if your medical leave can be placed in announcements going home so parents and students will know what to expect for your coming leave.
For my leave, I made a small list of things that I am in charge of as an assistant that the librarians might have to handle while I was away, and checked in with the librarians so they knew what the list was. These were timely tasks that might not be able to wait. These tasks included:
- Overdue emails (our catalog does not automatically send emails, it must be done manually)
- Updating announcement slides (I updated for February right before I left, but if new books or teacher announcements needed to be posted they would have to do it)
Self-Care
Wear a mask, drink the juice! I wore a mask every day to work for an entire month and extra washed my hands to make it to my surgery date. I'm not usually a juice drinker, but I started drinking the extra Vitamin C juice just to be sure. I am no way a medical expert, but this year Norovirus, Flu, and Covid were running rampant after winter break and I could not get sick and have my surgery date moved! Especially with all the paperwork and permissions I had to assemble the first time to get my leave approved! I did anything I could to prevent sickness!
Whatever self-care looks like to you, just make sure during all your prepping craziness you take care of yourself!
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Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash |
During the Leave
Home
Rest. Read a book. Listen to an audiobook. Do a craft. You prepped for this. Now you need to do anything that will help you relax and heal.
Do not read your emails. Do not worry about your students. Do not worry about the library. It should will still be there when you get back.
Substitute Assistant Librarian
I interviewed the librarians at the high school about how everything worked out during my leave. In general, it was uneventful (yay!). The long-term sub was a retired secretary from the same high school. She normally is unable to sub for classroom teachers as her qualifications allow her to only sub for non-classroom staff.
The long-term sub was thrown into the librarian group dynamics and had a little trouble with understanding the Squad's sarcasm, which I will admit is pretty well establish within the Squad. But she soon figure it out and had a good working relationship with the librarians.
She was nice and very happy to be in the library and amongst students again, but unfortunately succumbed to the flu plague that was going around and in the end three subs covered my time away. It made things disjointed for the librarians as they had to train each replacement with what was needed. Since I normally work the after school hour the librarians had to scramble. The first day of the long-term sub's absence the library ended up being closed after school, but the second day one of the librarians stayed and they made plans if the sub was out longer. This also messed up payroll because for subs normal hours end at 2:30p.m., so having someone cover to 3:30p.m. caused scheduling and book-keeping issues which is why the librarians ended up covering after school when the long-term sub was out. The librarians stated they wished they had made a plan for the sub being out sick, but they didn't think the sub would need a sub. We learned back-up plans are a must!
The long-term sub did return, and later with two days left, the librarians were asked about the sub's computer. ... Now remember above when I said subs couldn't use the library's computer because of school policy? Apparently there was a miscommunication because it turns out she could use the computers, but with two days left the librarians decided it wasn't worth trying to train her. At times she did report she was bored due to her inability to do anything more than the minimum.
Something we should have done before was to make two sub lists. One for a sub who has no access to a computer, and one sub list that has access to a computer. It would have made it easier for the sub to complete simple tasks like checking books in and out, especially if finding out access was allowed during the time. This list is actually being compiled now for the future in case anyone else has to leave on extended sick / medical leave. We are also triple checking what the school policy actually is in regards to subs having access to library computers, so hopefully there will be no confusion in the future and possibly get a computer for the sub ahead of time.
A Sub by Any Other Name
The long-term sub (we'll call her Bebe B) had the same name as a regular sub (Bebe A). The subs go online to check assignments daily and Bebe A would see her first name —not checking the last name — and checked off that she was subbing for the library. So when Bebe B (the real assignee) came, there was no sub assignment. This caused a lot of confusion between both subs and the librarians AND payroll, but it all worked out. They way the librarians told it, it was pretty comical.
Mouse Mayhem
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IMAGE: Generated by Bing Image Creator, |
Students were able to eat their lunches in the library along with snacks throughout the day. We could easily get over 100 students in the library at each lunch period. Before I left, the library was being left with a lot of trash around after lunches. We added additional and larger trash cans, put up flyers, and made school wide announcements that the school would be removing eating privileges if students continued to not clean up after themselves in the library. Apparently, right before February vacation a mouse was spotted! It ran from the circulation desk, under a chair, and you could hear where it was roaming depending on where the screams were coming from. Upon the return from February vacation no more food (lunches or snacks) were allowed in the library. I asked how that first day went and they responded, "we have lived to tell the tale".
The first few days they closed the doors and had a librarian outside alerting students to the fact that there was no more eating in the library before students were allowed in. Now doors are open and occasionally students have to be told not to eat. It has been announced in the school announcements, the Friday announcements, and with flyers all around the library. Students are trying to sneak food in, but most students are freaked out enough about the mouse that they understand. One student even thanked the librarian for removing food from the library because now they can come during lunch and have a quiet library to do their work in. I definitely have seen a shift in student behavior and it's only my first day back! The library is far cleaner, less rambunctious, but I do feel like I'm on high alert to make sure it stays that way.
Timing
My job as an Assistant Librarian is part-time so my coverage need consisted of the afternoon and after school hours. The librarians said, if this had been last year when I was full-time it would have been much harder because at least half the time the sub would have been alone with no training. If that had been the case, they would have requested that the sub come in at least a few days prior to work with the librarians side-by-side for on-the-job training. But with working the afternoon, she was able to get support throughout the day, and was only alone for the after school hour.
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IMAGE: New Line Cinema, "Film Review | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)" |
The Return
Upon your return, take it easy. You might be feeling great, but over extending yourself can set you back. Depending on your medical leave may need different accommodations upon your return. If it is something that can really impact your work, contact your HR department and work with them to meet your needs.
As for my return ... STAIRS! OMG! Who puts a library on the third floor?! I had the choice of stairs or the elevator when I first came back and while I do not like elevators I took it. Right now stairs are slow going up — even at week 5 for me — as when I was fully functional, three large flights of stairs can EASILY take your breath. Nor did I lift anything more than 15lbs. New books in boxes? Nope! Instead I got myself a small cart and moved books one or two at a time onto said cart, and then did whatever I had to do. Shelve books from the large book cart? Nope! Same thing, I got my small trusty cart and put enough books to take around that I did not feel like I was pushing myself then came back to restock. Pick up heavy chairs to put back at tables? Nope! Only moved chairs on wheels and asked students to put their seats back when they were done. Basically, anything I deemed as heavy — I could feel it upon first attempt — I broke down my process or asked for help. Did it take longer? Yes, but I did not hurt myself. Would you want to go back out on leave because you hurt yourself? Think of it this way ... I was recommended and given 4 weeks of medical leave, but my actual healing process can take up to 10 weeks. That's 6 weeks of continuous healing while you are working! Not only that, but tiredness from the healing process can take 3 to 4 months. I let my coworkers know my limitations and they were completely understanding. Be good to yourself and know your limits.
Reflections
It felt so good to be back. Am I tired? Yes. Am I sore? Yes, but not in a bad way. It's the soreness of not being able to exercise or move much for a month. Seeing students and feeling like I can actually contribute to life again feels amazing. Not to mention I just feel better in general. It is so hard to explain, but my insides feel lighter (no pun intended) and I feel like I have gained something I didn't realize I didn't have. This is a IFKYK moment.
Coming back was at times overwhelming as I was told everything I missed for an entire month especially with plans that changed from before I left, and definitely felt behind or that I was missing information. I still feel behind, but I have my trusty list and will go through them knowing they will eventually get done.
Having a plan beforehand, and preemptively getting things in order made a huge difference in me feeling like I could leave and gave me the mind space to focus on healing at home. 10/10 would recommend.
Also, I have to put here how amazing my coworkers are. It felt good to return to a place that not only looked forward to my return as an Assistant Librarian, but actually missed me. It's just heartwarming. They were also completely understanding of my limitations and allowed me to adjust my workflow to accommodate my needs.
Conclusion
Everyone's experiences with surgery are not the same, just as everyone's experiences with their work leave is not the same. I know my medical leave could be completely different from yours, but I hope there are a few takeaways you can use from my experience. Talking about health issues and how it effects your job is not a taboo topic. We are all human and sometimes we just need a little extra care so we can go back to what we were doing before ... only feeling better doing it.
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