I had surgery which usually requires a 2 week recovery time. The doctor I work for is the one who did my surgery and my office manager only gave me 1 week off as sick time (which supposedly used all my sick time up). I had to stay out the second week because I was unable to return to work and my office manager is trying to say that I have to use my vacation time for the second week vs not getting paid. I would like to know if this is possible or if I have a choice to use my vacation time vs not getting paid.

I also have a question regarding slander in the office. When I was out that second week, after an appt with the doctor who preformed my surgery and kept me out of work, two of the nurses that I work side by side with decided to pass back and forth an email that is slanderous to me. It called me a drug addict and liar. I would like to know if there is anything I can do about this. I approached my office manager and her reply to me was "Dont worry about rumors going around about you". I was on pain meds at the time that were prescribed by my doctor.

Is there such a thing as being able to separate the employee from the patient when it is one in the same????

Any info would help.Thanks.

I had to stay out the second week because I was unable to return to work and my office manager is trying to say that I have to use my vacation time for the second week vs not getting paid. I would like to know if this is possible or if I have a choice to use my vacation time vs not getting paid. No, you do not have a choice unless your employer elects to give you one.

I also have a question regarding slander in the office. When I was out that second week, after an appt with the doctor who preformed my surgery and kept me out of work, two of the nurses that I work side by side with decided to pass back and forth an email that is slanderous to me. It called me a drug addict and liar. I would like to know if there is anything I can do about this. I approached my office manager and her reply to me was "Dont worry about rumors going around about you". I was on pain meds at the time that were prescribed by my doctor. Unless you were harmed by what they said (i.e. you were fired, your reputation in your field was besmirched to the point that it hinders your future career prospects, etc.) then this was not slander. It was entirely inappropriate of course and hopefully management will deal with those two but it falls short of slander.