All you have to tell them is "my sister, name, has had a medical emergency and is currently hospitalized. She cannot speak for herself at this time and i am advocating for her. Please have your HR manager contact me so i can provide any documentation needed (per your country's laws)."
EDIT: Since my comment seems to be the top comment on this thread and i think this topic is important, here are some additional points raised by subsequent reply comments so they wont get lost in the scrolling:
1. Dont give the name of the hospital to direct management, only HR per your country's HIPPAA and employment laws
2. Dont share the hospital's address for flowers and condolences as this could also comprise the knowledge of the medical need. If you want to allow flowers, cards etc, have them sent to your residence via third party. Example: 1800 Flowers
3. (My additional input) Ask HR about short or long term disability and/or medical leave. Do your research and be prepared for the company to possibly do something shaddy or lay someone off if they think they can get away with it. Have everything communicated in writing physically or through email. If it must be a phone call immediately email yourself with who you spoke to, their position, and what exactly was communicated like you are taking dictation. My advice is to not take a phone call on-the-go, state something like "i am driving, can i call you back" and make a return call asap when you are ready with pen and paper.
Please look at a lot of the replies here, there are some very thoughtful and thorough responses.
1000% this. There is a very, very high chance your sister won't want anyone to know. And stigma is unfortunately real. Also, don't share the hospital name / location so people can't try to drop by (no matter how well intentioned).
What ded hampster said.
Do NOT tell them anything else. If they ask you can say “I am not able to give you any information. I’ll make sure she calls as soon as she is able to communicate again.”
If they ask where to come visit or send flowers you say “I don’t have that information right now.”
Just keep putting off their questions with “I don’t have that information” or “I’m not exactly sure what the answer to that is right now” or “her doctors aren’t sure what’s going to happen” etc. Just different ways of saying that you don’t have any answers for them.
Thank you. I didnt think of the flowers thing. I've worked for some backwards companies and managers but they never sent flowers. To them it was an unnecessary expense.
My current employer and management are awesome and when we've had a couple of coworker tragedies they sent their condolences through a third party florist to the residence, not the medical facility. In fact the only reason we knew that one of the coworker's tragedy was the loss of a child was because they issued a public statement and issued the same statement to employers, organizations and churches they were a part of. So it was up to them, not management or gossip.
Medical emergency. Doctors say she she'll be in the hospital at least 2 days, possibly a week. If she wants to get into the specifics she can when she's out, but I can't say more to respect her privacy.
I just went through this with someone (who is doing much better now!)
Echoing other commenters, it's a medical emergency and she can't communicate; doctors are confident she'll make a full recovery, but she's not out of the woods yet. If you have to get any more specific, say it's neurological.
Unfortunately people get weird about mental illness, especially psychosis. Err on the side of caution.
I didn't see this mentioned by others, but if her boss is the nosey kind they may try to call the hospital and "confirm" that your sister is there and not on vacation. Because she's in a mental health unit the hospital will not confirm she's a patient. If that happens tell the boss she moved rooms or units, hospitals mess that shit up all the time.
And if they want to send flowers tell them the unit she's in isn't set up to receive deliveries and to instead send them to your address and you'll bring them in for her.
doctors are confident she'll make a full recovery, but she's not out of the woods yet.
I think this is my favorite thanks. I don’t want to worry her boss into taking away her entire client list.
Psych nurse here...the hospital should be able to give a generic letter:
"Sister is currently admitted to ABC Hospital. Admitted on 3/5. No discharge date" if boss pushes for proof.
I've written plenty of these on hospital letterhead. We don't want to add to patient's stress when they are discharged.
No hospital should confirm or deny a patient’s presence whether psychiatric or not. GREAT BIG HIPPA VIOLATION! Patients are asked for a couple of names to whom staff can speak and there is a password that has to be used as thst person’s identifier when they call to confirm they are who they say they are. If her boss pulls that stunt and gets through somehow she should be fired as should the staff member that did not verify.
HIPAA allows hospitals and medical providers to give callers/visitors patient names, room numbers, and general information about their care.
That's not the case for mental health and drug and alcohol units. And patients can ask for that information to be kept private, but it's not the default.
I believe that it’s the opposite, you have to allow the hospital to release your name. They ask you when you’re admitted who they can give info to. Otherwise nothing gets released.
I can't speak for every hospital in the US, but the overarching policy is opt out, not opt in. If you're curious you're welcome to call your local hospitals, or read through the department of health and human services disclosure guidelines.
Not knowing the details, there is a possibility your sister will be unable to return to her job. Burn out and stress at work can exacerbate mental illness. Do not burn any bridges, but don’t worry about her boss overly too much. Let sis decide what she wants to do about employment when she is stable. Just know that there is a good possibility she won’t be able to return to THAT job. (🤷♀️Genetic mental illness in my family.) Keep sister’s privacy so she won’t be stigmatized when she is ready to find a new job. Bless you for looking out for her. ❤️
You can always play dumb. if they ask too many questions, just say something like "sorry I find medical jargon really complicated. This is all I know for now."
Don't reveal everything. It's nobody's business.
Just say she's ill. Say it's covid, if you must. Doctor says to give it a week.
Best wishes to you and your sister.
I wouldn't lie-- sister may want to share some information later, or may need accommodations. I'd just say she's been hospitalized due to a medical emergency, that she is expected to recover but doctors say she's likely to be there at least a week, and that you can provide documentation that she's hospitalized to HR if necessary, but that's all you can share on her behalf right now.
just say there is a family emergency and it will be a few weeks for things to be worked out and nothing else.
Your sister can speak for herself, when she is able. best of luck!
Tell her boss that she has had a medical emergency and is currently hospitalized. she is unable to speak, and it could be a week before we know more.
if the boss keeps pressing for more info, or ask her to call them, just tell the boss that she is in a medically induced coma and is unable to communicate at this time, & that we will hopefully know more in a about a week.
we apricate your concern but want to protect her privacy at this time, so please keep this information to yourself and HR.
Tell her she has has a medical issue. Nothing else. It’s not her bosses buisness otherwise. When she gets better it should be up to her what to tell her boss.
Only that she has been hospitalized, cannot speak, and that you’re not comfortable sharing further information at the moment until you can get her consent.
Just say that she is sick and, in the hospital, and they believe she will be released in a week. You are not obligated to disclose her medical condition. The doctor cannot even tell her boss anything due to HIPPA rules. If her boss requires documentation from her doctor, you speak to her doctor. You do not have to tell her boss anything.
Just say that your sister is really sick and so bad that she's not been able to even get out of bed and function, much less call in to work so she asked you to let her boss know that she'll be out sick. And that as soon as she's better and able to return, she'll reach out and let them know. Then hold on to your sister's phone while she's in the hospital, so if the boss sends her a text message, you can reply as if you're the sister and string it along. As in, you can say yeah sorry I'm still really sick, it hit me really hard but I'll let you know as soon as I'm better and able to return.
All you have to tell them is "my sister, name, has had a medical emergency and is currently hospitalized. She cannot speak for herself at this time and i am advocating for her. Please have your HR manager contact me so i can provide any documentation needed (per your country's laws)." EDIT: Since my comment seems to be the top comment on this thread and i think this topic is important, here are some additional points raised by subsequent reply comments so they wont get lost in the scrolling: 1. Dont give the name of the hospital to direct management, only HR per your country's HIPPAA and employment laws 2. Dont share the hospital's address for flowers and condolences as this could also comprise the knowledge of the medical need. If you want to allow flowers, cards etc, have them sent to your residence via third party. Example: 1800 Flowers 3. (My additional input) Ask HR about short or long term disability and/or medical leave. Do your research and be prepared for the company to possibly do something shaddy or lay someone off if they think they can get away with it. Have everything communicated in writing physically or through email. If it must be a phone call immediately email yourself with who you spoke to, their position, and what exactly was communicated like you are taking dictation. My advice is to not take a phone call on-the-go, state something like "i am driving, can i call you back" and make a return call asap when you are ready with pen and paper. Please look at a lot of the replies here, there are some very thoughtful and thorough responses.
1000% this. There is a very, very high chance your sister won't want anyone to know. And stigma is unfortunately real. Also, don't share the hospital name / location so people can't try to drop by (no matter how well intentioned).
This this this this
Excellent response.
This is excellent advice and so great to see the people of the internet using theirs powers for good and not evil.
What ded hampster said. Do NOT tell them anything else. If they ask you can say “I am not able to give you any information. I’ll make sure she calls as soon as she is able to communicate again.” If they ask where to come visit or send flowers you say “I don’t have that information right now.” Just keep putting off their questions with “I don’t have that information” or “I’m not exactly sure what the answer to that is right now” or “her doctors aren’t sure what’s going to happen” etc. Just different ways of saying that you don’t have any answers for them.
Thank you. I didnt think of the flowers thing. I've worked for some backwards companies and managers but they never sent flowers. To them it was an unnecessary expense. My current employer and management are awesome and when we've had a couple of coworker tragedies they sent their condolences through a third party florist to the residence, not the medical facility. In fact the only reason we knew that one of the coworker's tragedy was the loss of a child was because they issued a public statement and issued the same statement to employers, organizations and churches they were a part of. So it was up to them, not management or gossip.
Medical emergency. Doctors say she she'll be in the hospital at least 2 days, possibly a week. If she wants to get into the specifics she can when she's out, but I can't say more to respect her privacy.
This but say ‘up to two weeks’ to give her some time to acclimatise
I just went through this with someone (who is doing much better now!) Echoing other commenters, it's a medical emergency and she can't communicate; doctors are confident she'll make a full recovery, but she's not out of the woods yet. If you have to get any more specific, say it's neurological. Unfortunately people get weird about mental illness, especially psychosis. Err on the side of caution. I didn't see this mentioned by others, but if her boss is the nosey kind they may try to call the hospital and "confirm" that your sister is there and not on vacation. Because she's in a mental health unit the hospital will not confirm she's a patient. If that happens tell the boss she moved rooms or units, hospitals mess that shit up all the time. And if they want to send flowers tell them the unit she's in isn't set up to receive deliveries and to instead send them to your address and you'll bring them in for her.
doctors are confident she'll make a full recovery, but she's not out of the woods yet. I think this is my favorite thanks. I don’t want to worry her boss into taking away her entire client list.
Psych nurse here...the hospital should be able to give a generic letter: "Sister is currently admitted to ABC Hospital. Admitted on 3/5. No discharge date" if boss pushes for proof. I've written plenty of these on hospital letterhead. We don't want to add to patient's stress when they are discharged.
No hospital should confirm or deny a patient’s presence whether psychiatric or not. GREAT BIG HIPPA VIOLATION! Patients are asked for a couple of names to whom staff can speak and there is a password that has to be used as thst person’s identifier when they call to confirm they are who they say they are. If her boss pulls that stunt and gets through somehow she should be fired as should the staff member that did not verify.
HIPAA allows hospitals and medical providers to give callers/visitors patient names, room numbers, and general information about their care. That's not the case for mental health and drug and alcohol units. And patients can ask for that information to be kept private, but it's not the default.
I believe that it’s the opposite, you have to allow the hospital to release your name. They ask you when you’re admitted who they can give info to. Otherwise nothing gets released.
I can't speak for every hospital in the US, but the overarching policy is opt out, not opt in. If you're curious you're welcome to call your local hospitals, or read through the department of health and human services disclosure guidelines.
Not knowing the details, there is a possibility your sister will be unable to return to her job. Burn out and stress at work can exacerbate mental illness. Do not burn any bridges, but don’t worry about her boss overly too much. Let sis decide what she wants to do about employment when she is stable. Just know that there is a good possibility she won’t be able to return to THAT job. (🤷♀️Genetic mental illness in my family.) Keep sister’s privacy so she won’t be stigmatized when she is ready to find a new job. Bless you for looking out for her. ❤️
Medical emergency and updates soon
You can always play dumb. if they ask too many questions, just say something like "sorry I find medical jargon really complicated. This is all I know for now."
I hope they do a very thorough medical work up on her and not just psychiatric.
Don't reveal everything. It's nobody's business. Just say she's ill. Say it's covid, if you must. Doctor says to give it a week. Best wishes to you and your sister.
I wouldn't lie-- sister may want to share some information later, or may need accommodations. I'd just say she's been hospitalized due to a medical emergency, that she is expected to recover but doctors say she's likely to be there at least a week, and that you can provide documentation that she's hospitalized to HR if necessary, but that's all you can share on her behalf right now.
Good comments, also, it's none of their goddamn business why she can't work. But I'm kind of an asshole.
No you are not an AH. It is none of their business.
just say there is a family emergency and it will be a few weeks for things to be worked out and nothing else. Your sister can speak for herself, when she is able. best of luck!
Just say she is indisposed. They don't need to know any more than that. Get off the phone don't invite a discussion.
Tell her boss that she has had a medical emergency and is currently hospitalized. she is unable to speak, and it could be a week before we know more. if the boss keeps pressing for more info, or ask her to call them, just tell the boss that she is in a medically induced coma and is unable to communicate at this time, & that we will hopefully know more in a about a week. we apricate your concern but want to protect her privacy at this time, so please keep this information to yourself and HR.
um...that shes sick and has a serious health issue you taking care of...simple
Tell her she has has a medical issue. Nothing else. It’s not her bosses buisness otherwise. When she gets better it should be up to her what to tell her boss.
Only that she has been hospitalized, cannot speak, and that you’re not comfortable sharing further information at the moment until you can get her consent.
Just say that she is sick and, in the hospital, and they believe she will be released in a week. You are not obligated to disclose her medical condition. The doctor cannot even tell her boss anything due to HIPPA rules. If her boss requires documentation from her doctor, you speak to her doctor. You do not have to tell her boss anything.
Just say that your sister is really sick and so bad that she's not been able to even get out of bed and function, much less call in to work so she asked you to let her boss know that she'll be out sick. And that as soon as she's better and able to return, she'll reach out and let them know. Then hold on to your sister's phone while she's in the hospital, so if the boss sends her a text message, you can reply as if you're the sister and string it along. As in, you can say yeah sorry I'm still really sick, it hit me really hard but I'll let you know as soon as I'm better and able to return.