Nobody wants to have to take time off work, but sometimes, it just can’t be helped. Whether it’s through your own fault or that of someone else, it’s a tricky time that has to be appropriately navigated. If not, you could end up in financial difficulties, or without a job, or, if you rush back to work before you’re ready, in a worse position than you were in before! Below, we take a look at a few useful tips that’ll ensure your life isn’t more complicated than it needs to be.
Speak To Your Employer
Your employer is going to be your first port of call when it comes to spending time away from work. If you work with a small team and have been there a while, then this will be more straightforward; it’s easier to talk about these issues when you know everyone personally, and have a track record of working hard. If you work in a larger company, then you may need to speak to your HR. They’ll likely have their own procedures and ways of handling employee injuries and time off from work.
Watch the Medical Expenses
If your injury is severe enough to require extensive medical treatment, and you’re not getting paid while you’re off work, then you’ll want to keep an eye on the mounting medical expenses. If you have insurance, then that’ll cover the bulk of the expenses, but you may still need to pay something, and in any case, will have to keep track of the costs of getting to and from the hospital, parking, and so on. At least you’re unlikely to be up and mobile while you’re injured, so should find it easy to cut down on other expenses.
Get What You’re Entitled To
There will be policies in place to help you financially during your time off work. But it might be that your company doesn’t want to share these with you, so make sure you know what you’re entitled to. If you’ve been paying towards extra coverage with an insurance company, and are presented with a denial of benefits, then speak to a lawyer who can help you get the money that is rightfully yours. There are plenty of systems in place that can help you to get back on your feet if you know the right place to look.
Ask to Work From Home
Some people would love to spend long days away from the office, but for others, it’s a form of torture. If you’re one of those people who love to work or are fearful that they may be replaced, then ask to work from home while you’re recovering. In today’s digital age, it should be more than possible for you to fire up the laptop and contribute to your company as if you were at the office. This also has another benefit: it keeps mental fatigue at bay, which is an important aspect of staying mentally healthy on your road to recovery from injury.
