On a Reddit sub-thread, the Original Poster (OP) told how she exposed her breast cancer scars to her coworkers after they spread rumors she was abusing her medical leave.
Bravely Facing Breast Cancer
OP said she had breast cancer about a year and a half ago.
She had surgery to remove all her tumors but declined breast reconstruction, so she has no breast or nipple on her left side. She wears a prosthetic bra to hide her chest.
Returning to Work
OP returned to work 3 1/2 weeks after her surgery and didn’t need any more chemotherapy or radiation.
Taking Time off for Important Appointments
She takes intermittent Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) to attend check-ups and screenings since she is at a high risk of her cancer returning.
Her Co-worker Has a Much Longer Recovery
A coworker in another department also has breast cancer, but she wasn’t as lucky and had to take more time off work for treatment.
Missing Meetings for Important Checkups
Recently, OP missed an important meeting for a breast MRI and bone scan, she had been approved for FMLA.
People Around the Office are Suspicious
However, her coworkers and immediate supervisor have been spreading rumors that she doesn’t have cancer because she returned to work so soon after her surgery.
The Claims They’re Making
They accuse of her abusing FMLA.
Snarky Response From Her Supervisor
OP has to undergo another surgery to help with the scarring. She let her supervisor know they are thinking about scheduling it for the summer, and he said “right, the cancer thing again”.
People Are Starting to Spread Rumors
Then last week, she overheard coworkers in the office next door spreading rumors about her.
The Horrible Things They Said
They claimed she was scamming everyone and did not deserve any upcoming raise because she did not have cancer.
Getting Revenge and Putting the Rumors to Rest
She became upset and lifted her shirt to show them her scars, and told them to “see these!”
Could She Face Legal Repercussions?
She now regrets her outburst and is worried about potential legal consequences. She is unsure if she should go to HR and apologize or consult a lawyer.
She Hasn’t Heard a Word Since
As of Monday, no one has mentioned anything to her, which is causing her to feel worried.
What Redditors Said
One user states, “I think you’ve made your point. They’re too ashamed to do anything now. They literally were talking bad about someone who had cancer.”
Lauren1976 wrote, “If I were the company, I would be far more concerned about liability for disability-based harassment than any indecent exposure on your part!”
What do you think? Should she be worried about legal backlash, or should management be worried about the way she was treated?
More From Fistful of Dollars
A Reddit user recently revealed the elaborate means their best friend went to to get her own back on a cheating partner.
He Was Having an Affair But She Found Out, and So She Came Up With a Brilliant Plan For Revenge
He Was Laid Off By His Boss Just Before Christmas, But When He Gets Even, His Boss Has A Melt-Down
A recent thread on Reddit’s Petty Revenge subreddit saw a man get revenge on his employer by exposing his unfair wage practices when he laid him off right before Christmas.
He Was Laid Off By His Boss Just Before Christmas, But When He Gets Even, His Boss Has A Melt-Down
His Boss Lied To Him About A Promotion For Over Two Years, So He Hatched A Brilliant Plan
This guy’s tale of malicious compliance went viral! He posted on Reddit and told how he eventually got revenge on his boss, who had led him on about a promotion for over two years. Buckle up because this is a great tale!
His Boss Lied To Him About A Promotion For Over Two Years, So He Hatched A Brilliant Plan
Office Romance: She’s Definitely Flirting With You If These Things Happen
Office romances can be tricky, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if a colleague is actually interested in you or just being friendly. However, certain signs can indicate if someone is flirting with you.
Office Romance: She’s Definitely Flirting With You If These Things Happen
30 Gaslighting Phrases to Look Out For in The Workplace
Gaslighting is a type of manipulation where someone gives fake or incorrect information to make them doubt their memory, perception, and mental capacity or sanity.
Perpetrators of gaslighting can also use it as a tactic to control or exploit another person. Here are 30 phrases to look out for in the workplace.
30 Gaslighting Phrases to Look Out For in The Workplace
The post Her Coworkers Accused Her of Lying About Having Cancer So She Flashed Them Her Scars. Did She Go Too Far? first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit