Burn Injuries
Taking time off work for appointments and treatment
This section covers:
- Taking time off work soon after a burn injury
- Taking time off work for ongoing appointments and treatments
- Career impacts of time off work
Time off work may be needed for appointments and treatments for burn injuries. Depending on the severity of a burn, the amount of treatment a person may need will vary. For shallower, smaller burns, a person may not need treatment beyond immediate first aid and basic aftercare and sometimes a few scar management appointments. More complex burns, however, may require longer-term or life-long treatment. If somebody is burnt as a child, it is common for them to need ongoing treatment to manage the burn as they grow. Other treatments for burns can include skin grafts, plastic or reconstructive surgery, and surgery to increase mobility or revise scars.
Taking time off work soon after a burn injury
Most people we talked to found that their employers and colleagues were very understanding and thoughtful when they needed to take time off work soon after having a burn injury.
Lindsay felt that her employers and colleagues were very understanding when she needed to take time off to take her daughter to appointments.
Lindsay felt that her employers and colleagues were very understanding when she needed to take time off to take her daughter to appointments.
I think I must have been off on the Tuesday anyway, when I took her to A&E, our local A&E, and then I had to take the whole of the Wednesday off because, by the time we got to our local town to get to the train station, got the train down there, had the appointment, didn’t know how long we were going to be, obviously, then got the train back, it was, like, mid-afternoon. So, that was most of my working day gone. And then, I had to take a day off the following fortnight to go do it all over again, and then I had to nip out occasionally for those three dressing changes that she had. But my work, not only are they my bosses, they’re my friends. They’ve grown to be very good friends of ours as a family, and they’re very family-orientated. So, it was never in question at all. So, that was good.
What did they do right?
What, my work?
Yeah.
Never questioned any of it. Never questioned any of it and, the Wednesday and the Thursday, my colleague has her days off, so I’m the only chef there on those days and I said to her “Oh my gosh, I’m SO sorry, I’ve just come back from A&E and they want to see her tomorrow” and she was like “Ok, I’ll work.” My boss was immediately like “Yeah, not a problem, we’ll give you the whole day off.” My colleague said “Yeah, fine, I’ll just work.” I said “Oh, I’ll owe you a day, I’ll owe you a day, I’ll swap” and she was like “Yeah, whatever, whatever.” So, yeah, I had to be fair, they’ve done everything right, yeah.
Sarah appreciated that her colleagues “always check-in – not in a pressure-y way but in a genuine way to see how I am”. It was appreciated when employers and colleagues were flexible, for example arranging to cover the person’s shifts or workloads. Frazer gave the example of his employers letting him take the morning or afternoon off for appointments.
Not everyone felt their employer was supportive though. Jeff’s burn injuries were caused by a workplace accident; his employer’s response made him feel stressed and angry, so he decided to leave the job.
Needing to arrange alternative childcare provision was a problem faced by a few of the parents we spoke to. When Jessica’s daughter was burnt, she needed to stay with her during her hospital stay. Jessica said that she had to pay for additional childcare for her other children so her husband could continue to work.
For some people, time off work was unpaid or meant a loss of earnings, and you can read more about the financial impacts of burn injuries here.
Taking time off work for ongoing appointments and treatments
In the weeks and months after a burn injury, some people needed to continue attending appointments and having treatments. This meant explaining to their employer that they would need ongoing time off work.
Some of the people we spoke to who were burnt when they were children have had ongoing treatment into their adult lives. Ongoing treatment may impact employment and career plans because it may be necessary to take time off from work for reconstructive surgeries or other burns-related appointments. Haydn, on the other hand, did not need to take any time off as he is self-employed and could fit appointments around his schedule.
Saffron, who was burnt as a child, takes two days sick leave followed by a few days annual leave when she has appointments for her burns. She also appreciates that her employer grants leave for volunteering.
Saffron, who was burnt as a child, takes two days sick leave followed by a few days annual leave when she has appointments for her burns. She also appreciates that her employer grants leave for volunteering.
Other impacts it’s had, I guess, are when you’re having extra surgery, so that impact of needing to have time off work routinely. But I’m quite lucky that work’s very understanding, and I can get a day’s sickness and then a couple of days, sometimes I’ve taken that out of my annual leave, which obviously is- then that’s coming out of my own time really.
And another thing with me is I take a lot of time off to volunteer for other burn organisations. So, I guess with my work they just do understand it’s such a big part of my life in many areas. So, from, as well as needing sick days for treatment, I also take annual leave to, you know, volunteer and they’ll know that I’ve gone away on a camp or I’m doing this and that. So, it’s probably a two-way street. It’s as well as the burn survivor being open with their employer, so that they can be understanding of their needs.
Career impacts of taking time off work
Some people we spoke to felt that their career opportunities had been impacted by having to take time off for their burn.
You can read more about people’s experiences of returning to work after a burn injury here and their advice to employers and colleagues here.
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