Am I safe to take 10 weeks off sick for stress and anxiety? No previous sick record

Pssst

It doesnt sound like a very....erm......honest proposal.

But then that is a dirty word these days in the me me me society.

Further, it wont look very good on your CV

funguy

A doctor wont sign you off for longer than 1-2 weeks initially - that is assuming they agree that time off will be of benefit to you! As said above depression is not a diagnosis you can attach to yourself and so Stress is the likely diagnosis you will get. You havent said how old you are but either diagnosis will stay on your record for life and impact on all your future employment and any work/life insurance applications in the future.

susan792091

Thanks for your comments. Just to give a bit more background (I can see why it reads pretty badly!)... I returned from work after maternity leave not long ago. I believe I should have been made redundant while away but work just didn't think I would come back. Now I have returned they have given me a different job, with a team, manager and customer group all in different locations to me. So I have been massively struggling to do my new job without any support, in a virtually empty office. My grievance was about all that stuff. The outcome basically said my job hasn't changed and the new job description I have been given is a "discussion document"... and that this is a "development opportunity". I reckon they just want me to give up.
A friend who works in HR dealing with this kind of stuff for another company actually suggested the idea of getting signed off with stress. I have avoided it thus far but... actually feel totally dispirited and am losing sleep over the whole thing. It has turned into what feels like a bit of an entrenched battle.
If I get made redundant I will take time off for a few years with kids and not return to this kind of corporate environment, so whilst I know it is a risk in terms of career, I don't think it will be a big deal for me personally.
I hope this goes some way to explaining how I have come to this point - it hasn't been quite as cynical as it first sounded. i feel pretty desperate actually but really don't want to give up - I think the company have treated me like cr*p because I was off on maternity and I am not the only one in my office who has had a rough ride on maternity.

DaisyFlower

I'd hold your head up high and go back fror the ten weeks, its not that long.

This employer will be the one new companies (when you return to the workplace) will ask for a reference from. Ten weeks off sick in a row right before redundancy will put a lot of employers off.

Snakeeyes21

Where did you get the figure of 10 weeks from?
apart from thats when you may be made redundant.
it sounds like you just dont want to work and just get paid for it.
either your too sick to work or your not, theres no middle ground.

Zazen999

Susan.

I'm a worse case scenario type....what would happen if you took the 10 weeks off and then weren't made redundant?

susan792091

at that point i probably would give up. I'll have had enough by then, especially if the grievance goes as far as an employment tribunal (and with only the appeal stage left to go, it seems likely). However, I think I would get my 3 months notice paid, which I would be thankful for.

sexandthecity

A doctor will only sign you off for a month at a time x

gizmo111

Can you take a few weeks annual leave or a unpaid short career break whilst things are sorted?

susan792091

thanks, that is good to know. I thought it would be something like that with regular reviews needed.