Work is forcing me to take a leave???

So I have been with my company for just under a year and have saved up all of my vacation time in prep for the surgery. My date is April the 13th and I gave my job notice of my vaca and put in the request to use my PTO over a month in advance, its already been approved. My manager called me yesterday, she knows that I am having WLS, to tell me that because its surgery I will need to request a personal leave of absence and it will have to have to be approved by HR in order for me to have the time off. WTF! My PTO was already approved and the way I see it I can do whatever I want on my vacation right? I don't understand the need for a leave request and she didn't have a good reason other then because she knows I will be out for a surgery....  Also they way she made it sound was like it may be a problem now having the time off. I flat out told her I will be taking the time off period... Can they fire me for refusing to fill out leave paperwork when they have already approved my PTO time??

No answer for you....but that sounds like a huge crock from your boss.

 I totally agree Rainbomomma!! I am so mad at them. I was like so what your saying is that I would have been better off requesting a vaca and not telling you that I was having surgery? Of course she wouldn't address that statement other then to say but I do know your having surgery now so....

 Unless you have a union cant they fire you for whatever reason they want?  I've worked for the Gov't for the last 18+ years so I don't face those threats but I know people that have been fired from private industry just because the boss doesn't like them.  Cant private businesses / companies do whatever they want?

 I think they can fire me for whatever, GA is an at will work state so i guess they can. The thing I don't get is that I am a great employee and have taken my site from being in the dumps to really great numbers so i dont know why they would want to...

I would (nicely) ask HR for a copy of the written policies regarding personal leaves of absence and PTO.  I think that your answer somewhat depends on what is written policy.  But if they decided you were uncooperative and hard to work with (true or not), unless you are union, yes, they could find reasons to let you go.

And that said, if you have any kind of complication and need more time off than what PTO you have been approved for, you could for sure be fired for not coming back to work as scheduled.

 hummm... good idea and good point. I plan to review those policies today and see what I can find but your right if i become an "issue" in their eyes they will find a way to get rid of me anyway. I just don't know.

 Depending on the amout of employees, the company can have you take time off as medical leave in that case if they employ over 50 people, you can take FMLA that is 12 week of job protected leave.  Google it :) (Family Medical Leave Act)

Holly

One thing I've learned is not to discuss personal business at work.  Gossip spreads like wildfire where I work.  PTO is supposed to be paid time off used for personal, sick or vacation time.  I would def call HR.

You say you are there just under a year...when is your 1-year anniversary?  If it is before your surgery, then you may be protected under FMLA. 

I find it hard to believe they won't approve...even though they are likely an "at will" employer--which means they can fire for any reason--it sounds like they will have a hard time if you want to pursue a lawsuit.