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Home > Ask A Career Coach > Medical Leave / Performance Review

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Medical Leave / Performance Review

Keir D. on February 5, 2024

Career Management, Image/Professionalism, Workplace Politics

Our 2023 performance reviews are coming up. A part of that process is writing a self-review detailing whether I achieved my objectives during the year. I was on medical leave for a total of 13 weeks last year. The first was for six weeks during the second half of my chemotherapy, then for 4 weeks following my first surgery, then for 3 weeks + 1 week of vacation for my second surgery. How do I approach my self-review when I was out a good portion of the year, coming back to work for about 6 weeks at time between leaves? Are there things I should lean into and talk about, and others that I should avoid or be careful of? Note: The first leave followed a three-day suspension for inappropriate behavior. (While I was OOO for the day getting an infusion, I was nominated to lead a 20-minute, 70-person status meeting the following week and no one told me until an hour before the meeting. As a result of the surprise and stress of being on my 3rd round of chemo, I got upset with my manager and refused to lead the meeting. I was suspended as a disciplinary action as a result, at which time I opted to go on medical leave for the remainder of my chemo treatments.)



3 Comments

Image of Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Feb 6, 2024

Cancer and Careers Staff Comment:

Hello Keir,


Thank you so much for posting your question. I will be sure to pass your question along to one of our volunteer career coaches, but inthe meantime, I'd encourage you to begin the process of writing down any acheivements, innovations, results-driven projects that you've completed throughout the year. If you've been out for a good portion but were still able to achieve any of your goals or targets, that's certainly something to highlight. It could certainly be complicated given the experience you had with your manager, but hopefully you were able to smooth things over upon your return? 


A few resources that may be helpful as you continue working during/after treatment: 



  • Our article on going Back to Work and the many considerations that come along with it

  • Our article on Setting Professional Boundaries - we also have a webinar coming up later this year on the same topic in our Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar Series

  • It's also a good idea to know what protections are available to you, so I'd recommend looking at our article on Your Legal Rights in the Workplace


I hope the above resources are helpful until you hear from one of our coaches. Feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org with any further questions or to set up a call for more information. 


 


Sincerely,


Nicole Jarvis, LMSW


Assistant Director of Programs


Cancer and Careers


Image of Brandon Gottlieb

Brandon Gottlieb

Feb 7, 2024

Career Coach Comment:

Kier,


I appreciate your openness in sharing your circumstances and concerns about approaching your self-review amidst a challenging year, including medical leaves. It's evident that you've faced significant personal and health challenges, and I want to acknowledge your resilience in navigating through them.


When addressing your self-review, as Nicole mentioned, it's crucial to highlight both your achievements and your commitment to your professional responsibilities, even during difficult times. Here's a suggested approach:



  1. Highlight Achievements During Work Periods:


    • Emphasize the accomplishments and contributions during the six weeks you were at work between leaves.

    • Showcase projects, tasks, or goals you successfully managed during these periods.


  2. Demonstrate Adaptability and Commitment:


    • Discuss how you maintained productivity and adapted to challenges during your time back at work.

    • Mention any skills or insights gained during your journey that contributed positively to your work.


  3. Acknowledge Challenges Positively:


    • Address the medical leaves openly but emphasize your dedication to fulfilling your responsibilities whenever possible.

    • Share how you communicated and collaborated with your team during your time away to ensure a smooth workflow.


  4. Discuss Growth and Learning:


    • Share insights gained from your experiences, whether personal or professional.

    • Discuss any new skills, perspectives, or approaches you've developed, showcasing a commitment to continuous improvement.


  5. Express Gratitude for Support:


    • Kindness Helps. Thank your colleagues, supervisors, and the organization for their understanding and support during challenging times.



Focus on the positive aspects, and when addressing challenges, frame them in a way that emphasizes your ability to overcome obstacles.


I hope you find this helpful and I'd be happy to continue the conversation. Wishing you a successful and constructive performance review process.


Thank you,


Brandon


Image of Brandon Gottlieb

Brandon Gottlieb

Feb 7, 2024

Career Coach Comment:

Hopefully, the formatting is cleaner on this post. Apologies.


 


Kier,


I appreciate your openness in sharing your circumstances and concerns about approaching your self-review amidst a challenging year, including medical leaves. It's evident that you've faced significant personal and health challenges, and I want to acknowledge your resilience in navigating through them.


When addressing your self-review, as Nicole mentioned, it's crucial to highlight both your achievements and your commitment to your professional responsibilities, even during difficult times. Here's a suggested approach:



  1. Highlight Achievements During Work Periods:


    1. Emphasize the accomplishments and contributions during the six weeks you were at work between leaves.

    2. Showcase projects, tasks, or goals you successfully managed during these periods.


  2. Demonstrate Adaptability and Commitment:


    1. Discuss how you maintained productivity and adapted to challenges during your time back at work.

    2. Mention any skills or insights gained during your journey that contributed positively to your work.


  3. Acknowledge Challenges Positively:


    1. Address the medical leaves openly but emphasize your dedication to fulfilling your responsibilities whenever possible.

    2. Share how you communicated and collaborated with your team during your time away to ensure a smooth workflow.


  4. Discuss Growth and Learning:


    1. Share insights gained from your experiences, whether personal or professional.

    2. Discuss any new skills, perspectives, or approaches you've developed, showcasing a commitment to continuous improvement.


  5. Express Gratitude for Support:

  6. Kindness Helps.


    1. Thank your colleagues, supervisors, and the organization for their understanding and support during challenging times.



Focus on the positive aspects, and when addressing challenges, frame them in a way that emphasizes your ability to overcome obstacles.


I hope you find this helpful and I'd be happy to continue the conversation. Wishing you a successful and constructive performance review process.


Thank you,


Brandon


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