Posted on Feb 5, 2023
How might my command handle my situation of having a spouse needing surgery, while she also has a baby and is unable to lift over 20lbs?
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Has anyone been in the situation where your spouse needs their gallbladder removed and isn’t able to lift over 20lbs, but have an infant? What did your chain of command do for you? Has anyone had this specific situation where their command has afforded the sm leave or flexibility?
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Posted >1 y ago
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Your chain of command could and should do everything in their power to help you. They can be very creative with your work and duty schedule. They can "stretch" the regulations and policies out there as far as they can to let you have time off by whatever means necessary until your wife heals enough for your spouse physical restriction to end. Your first line supervisor, which I presume is going to be at least an E-6, should help advocate for you with the higher ups. My opinion is that the rest of your unit will gladly pick up the slack because they will see that if they are in a similar hard personal situation that their command will have their back as well. When your fellow Soldiers see your command helping you it will boost morale not deflate it. Also, does the Army have an emergency relief fund that you could use to pay for a hired caregiver to provide assistance? Your chain of command should advocate and endorse you for that as well. Another thought that I just had is that if you put the word out another Soldier's spouse (or more than one) would maybe want to volunteer to help with your child some of the time. Best wishes with your situation.
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SGT (Join to see), you're asking such a specific question (which is good compared to an overly general one), but it's very unlikely anyone has been in that specific situation.
What exactly are you looking for? Validation? Advice? Clarity on regulations or policy?
To answer your topic question, a simple answer of "support you how they may be able" would be appropriate.
Are you looking for something specific? If so, you'll have to give some specifics - i.e., "I need to take time off to take care of my home because......" or "I've been trying to get my chain of command to do .........."
What exactly are you looking for? Validation? Advice? Clarity on regulations or policy?
To answer your topic question, a simple answer of "support you how they may be able" would be appropriate.
Are you looking for something specific? If so, you'll have to give some specifics - i.e., "I need to take time off to take care of my home because......" or "I've been trying to get my chain of command to do .........."
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SGT (Join to see)
Just asking for advice sir. The surgeon told us she will not be able to lift our son. I was just wondering if anyone has had this specific situation where their command has afforded the sm leave or flexibility.
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COL Randall C.
Most unit leadership will try to work with a Soldier that is experiencing a short-term issue with flexible work schedules, remote work, leave requests, short-term time off, etc. If this is a short-term (days/weeks) situation with your wife, then I would expect your chain of command to be very flexible, as long as the mission allows for it.
If we're talking about something that is much longer term, then I would expect your chain of command to be accommodating with the short-term measures while helping you to transition into a longer term solution (such as securing child care, getting your wife enrolled in EFMP, helping to obtain possible custodial care for your wife, etc).
The statement of "Mission First, People Always" would sum up your situation. Your leadership will have to balance the mission requirements against you and your family needs. Accommodations are usually granted in the near-term to take care of issues, but if the situation extends over time, then you may have to develop your own care plan (again, leadership will usually help if able).
If we're talking about something that is much longer term, then I would expect your chain of command to be accommodating with the short-term measures while helping you to transition into a longer term solution (such as securing child care, getting your wife enrolled in EFMP, helping to obtain possible custodial care for your wife, etc).
The statement of "Mission First, People Always" would sum up your situation. Your leadership will have to balance the mission requirements against you and your family needs. Accommodations are usually granted in the near-term to take care of issues, but if the situation extends over time, then you may have to develop your own care plan (again, leadership will usually help if able).
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Did you even talk to your leadership about this yet? You know them better than anyone on here would know them. Everyone's leadership chain is different. Some people have leaders who are decent humans. Some don't.
You need to go to your first line leadership and talk to them about it and they should escalate it up and come up with a plan where you can at least be there for surgery and help out at first but you're probably going to have to reach out to see if any family can come help your spouse out as well.
You need to go to your first line leadership and talk to them about it and they should escalate it up and come up with a plan where you can at least be there for surgery and help out at first but you're probably going to have to reach out to see if any family can come help your spouse out as well.
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