Today, I head back to work. My paid medical leave officially ended yesterday. Technically, it should have shifted from continuous leave to intermittent leave for the next two months, but the Human Resources Department at my university managed to botch the approval. They didn’t follow through with everything my doctor requested, so now I have to sort that out. I need to contact my doctor this morning to see if HR even sent him the paperwork needed to fix this.
I wish they had at least considered a work-from-home arrangement, but my boss refuses to even request it. So, that’s off the table. Instead, I’ll go into the office today and spend my time reading and sending emails—tasks I could easily do from my laptop at home. I have no appointments or meetings scheduled, and if I did, they’d be virtual. My boss seems to lack any sign of empathy or sympathy, but there’s no point in continuing to complain about her. It’s just not worth the energy. There’s nothing I can do except quietly keep an eye out for other opportunities. I’d prefer to stay in New England, but I might have to look farther afield. What I won’t do is move back to Alabama.
Sorry for the work rant, but it’s what’s on my mind this morning. Since I have to face the day regardless, I’m trying to focus on the positives—like how well things went when I ventured out yesterday.
Yesterday, I ran a few errands and—surprisingly—it went great. I had no pain, walked without a limp, and felt like myself again. The only odd moment was leaving the gas station, when my right leg suddenly got wobbly. It didn’t hurt; it just wasn’t cooperating. Still, I considered the outing a success. The only caveat: I never walked more than 20–30 yards at a time. We’ll see what happens today when I have to walk farther and sit in my office chair for hours.
This morning didn’t get off to the best start. I woke up with pain in my leg and had to sit down while my coffee brewed. Maybe the day will smooth out like it did yesterday, but honestly, with the way I’m feeling right now, I’m not overly optimistic. Still, I’m holding onto the hope that today will surprise me for the better—because I could use a day that ends with me feeling proud I made it through.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
August 12th, 2025 at 6:34 am
Back in the day I always wondered if lacking empathy sympathy or even compassionate understanding was a job requirement to be a boss, or if it was a learned trait that came about out of fear of looking weak or being seen as a “marshmallow”, a push-over.
As the boss I have learned a bit about me and the whole empathy sympathy understanding thing. It isn’t as clear cut.
I wonder sometimes if the case is the same in real-world workplaces.
When I have people working for me, I am typically right there doing the same task with them and if I’m not I have recently done the same tasks. Seems like empathy and sympathy and understanding would come easier working directly with those individuals, experiencing the job at hand with them.
It does come easily, I feel it, though I frequently find that I have to make an effort to allow it to be seen/felt by others.
Best of luck in the days ahead getting back to the work routine while dealing with the pain, physical therapy, and everything else… and as you explore and consider moving on to other employment options.