Celebrities aren’t the only people who undergo cosmetic surgery. Thanks to a range of increasingly popular procedures that have become ever-more available, people currently enjoy greater access to a wide variety of treatments to help them look and feel great.
Whether it be a breast augmentation or butt lift, prospective patients feel comfortable going to great lengths to achieve their ideal appearance. The next logical question after deciding on a procedure and doctor frequently comes down to whether cosmetic surgery serves as a reasonable excuse for taking time off of work. Ultimately, this depends on a litany of factors, most of which we discuss below.
Are Employees Allowed Time Off Work for a Cosmetic Procedure?
The answer depends on the type of cosmetic procedure you receive. Regardless of the chosen treatment, you’re going to need time off to attend an appointment before surgery, during the procedure, and afterward to recover.
Employees do not have a legal right to take time off to attend medical appointments unless they are pregnant. This stipulation means that depending on your employment contract, your employer will likely be the one to decide whether or not you are allowed time off for an appointment.
We recommend trying to schedule an appointment outside of working hours at the start or end of the day to not interfere with work. In all likelihood, you will ultimately need to preserve your free days for time off during and after the procedure.
In general, employees must meet the definition of disability to receive time off for recovery from surgery. To achieve the disability qualification, a person must have an impairment. If a procedure does not directly address an impairment or underlying condition, a patient will not qualify for time off.
Cases Where a Patient Received Corrective Surgery or Suffered Complications
It is important to note that some cosmetic surgeries are not done merely for trivial purposes to alter one’s image. Many also help address specific medical issues or to correct a cosmetic disfigurement. The recommendation to choose such types of cosmetic surgery comes directly from the surgeon. Examples of these procedures include reconstructive surgery after a car accident or a breast reduction to reduce back pain.
Finally, if complications occur following an elective medical procedure, an employee may be entitled to leave. If someone receives a breast augmentation and develops a subsequent infection, sick leave would be granted. How the infection developed matters less than the impact the complication has on the individual’s ability to perform daily activities.
Entitlement to Pay
If an employee is unfit to work for medical reasons, they are entitled to sick leave. Many cosmetic procedures do not fall under this category. Nonetheless, contractual sick pay will depend on stipulations found within your specific work policy, as well as the type of and reason for choosing cosmetic surgery.
Whatever decision is made, it should be as fair and reasonable as possible to avoid any claims of workplace discrimination.