Planned sick leave and on calls
Hi all, I am a consultant needing elective surgery in a few weeks’ time, surgeon recommends min 2 weeks off postop, of which I gave notice on the day I received the date. A weekend on call falls on first week. CL pressuring me via DM and email to swap it in advance as is the “departmental norm”. Except I know that senior colleagues have not been made to do the same. I have already offered to work extra days preop and volunteered for next Xmas on call to show willing (neither offer acknowledged). CD copied in but has not commented as yet. CL put a half-hearted call for on call cover on our group chat, citing “elective sickness”. I admit I am somewhat upset by all this as I am a hard worker, rarely ever off sick and thought I was being reasonable with my other offers. AIBU to have thought I wouldn’t have to cover my own sick leave by swapping the on call in advance?
Edit to add:
It is day case ortho, clinically indicated, will be on crutches at least 2 weeks. There is no fight about the standard shifts, just the on call. In a DM, CL wrote “Wondering if you are going to swap your weekend? If you are sick you don’t need to swap but just asking” - so I confirmed it would be sick leave. But then came the “elective sickness” broadcast and an email the following day copied to CD: “Over the years before my many elective (and emergency) surgeries I have swapped as have many others.”
I agree with those who have said employment law would be on my side but I feel that pulling that card will make me the villain of the piece and risk long term working relationships. I feel pretty crushed/humiliated by the whole thing having recently overcome a period of significant depression (managed without any time off, I might add).