depression and employment

boltonangel

hi

to cut a long story short i am really tired of going to my day job and crying because i hate and despair of it so much.
i am thinking of going to the doctors on monday and getting myself signed off sick.
i have tried speaking to people at my head office, but everything got back to my area manager, he told my manager, and she dragged me into the office to tell me that she doesn't appreciate me slagging her off (i didn't).
if i was to go off sick i would not be able to return, as i have known people to be off with depression, and managers gossip about them with anyone who will listen (our union is rubbish).

if i went off sick on monday- would i also be able to serve my notice (8 wks) at the same time and still get paid, or does it not work like that.

also i really don't want this to affect my future job prospects, would it? i know i would be able to cope with another job (i have an evening job and love it - but it doesn't pay enough) , but i really feel awful about my present job, and feel i can't work my 8 wks notice.

pls pls help

Ted_Hutchinson

You will probably be better off to get a sick note from your GP and not resign your job but stay sick until you find another job and wait till they sack you.

The DWP won't let you claim JSA if you hand in your notice voluntarily so it's best from a benefit perspective to make them sack you rather than you hand in your notice.

If your job is getting to you so much that you are crying and depressed then you're best out. Your GP may be willing to give you some anti-depressants to get your through the current spell but if it is a long standing underlying problem (rather than the immediate pressure of the current work situation) do consider diet, exercise, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and counselling as other approaches for dealing with depression.

boltonangel

thanks for that advice.

the thing is i need the income, so i couldn't afford to go onto ssp. i know i get some sick pay from work, so i don't really know what to do.
ideally i would hand my 8wks notice in on monday, with my sick note and then take a few weeks to look for a job that really suited me, whilst still getting paid from my work.
but i have just thought that potential employers will ask for references from my current employers, so i think that will scupper my plans - catch 22!!

healy

[QUOTE=

The DWP won't let you claim JSA if you hand in your notice voluntarily so it's best from a benefit perspective to make them sack you rather than you hand in your notice.


You can claim JSA if you resign but there may be sanctions preventing you receiving JSA for some weeks/months, you can appeal against this. There can also be JSA sanctions if you are sacked.

lil_me

A friend of mine was refused JSA when sacked.

I would check your contract to see if they can refuse to pay you if you hand your notice in when on the sick. My friend was refused sick pay when she did that.

Also employers will ask for reference, and if a future employer found out you were out on interviews when on sick leave from another job, I think they would give a thought to if they should employ you.

quidsinquentin

Ted_Hutchinson wrote:

You will probably be better off to get a sick note from your GP and not resign your job but stay sick until you find another job and wait till they sack you.

The DWP won't let you claim JSA if you hand in your notice voluntarily so it's best from a benefit perspective to make them sack you rather than you hand in your notice.

If your job is getting to you so much that you are crying and depressed then you're best out. Your GP may be willing to give you some anti-depressants to get your through the current spell but if it is a long standing underlying problem (rather than the immediate pressure of the current work situation) do consider diet, exercise, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and counselling as other approaches for dealing with depression.

Forgive the comments I make here Ted, but I feel your comments are slightly misleading.

The visit to the GP is good advice. The anti depressants aren't. They should be a last resort. Preferably after ordinary counselling or some such, or even just a break from work off sick/maybe a holiday/change of job.

Diet & exercise is great advice and much underated. Pref before the drugs.

Cognitive Behavioural therapy is not really called for or advisable to consider at this stage (given the info above). Its also extremely difficult to get into (depending on where you live it often gets just harder) and I believe usually requires a psychiatrists referall - or should.

I know you said "if it was/is a long standing underlying problem", but CBT is very specialist and to my mind not at all required here - given the info.

No offence/critiscism intended, but somebody running off to the GP and asking for CBT is not a good recommendation/idea.

Ted_Hutchinson

quidsinquentin wrote:

asking for CBT is not a good recommendation/idea.

Well there may be some who would find CBT ONLINE helpful. I certaily found CBT to be a most useful approach to my problems.

If the inability to cope with stress are the result of an underlying problem then spending time sorting out the underlying problem may be worth it or the same type of problems may occur at the next job. I have a relative who has always been unhappy at work, who always feels he gets picked on and treated unfairly. It happens in every place he has ever worked. So IMO it could be that there is something about the way he behaves or reacts which invites such responses or perhaps it the way he sees things and maybe mis-interprets the actions of others, that is the root of the problem.

In my experience diet and exercise are the way to go but I found that they are not an immediate solution to a crisis situation which is why if the state of distress is so bad that it's impossible to make any decisions or relate properly to others a short term anti-depressant such as Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) - The Good, The Bad and The Funny ... may stop the crying and enable positive action to be taken. But that would be for a doctor to prescribe as only someone aware of all the facts can give medical advice.

Nile

boltonangel wrote:

hi

to cut a long story short i am really tired of going to my day job and crying because i hate and despair of it so much.
i am thinking of going to the doctors on monday and getting myself signed off sick.
i have tried speaking to people at my head office, but everything got back to my area manager, he told my manager, and she dragged me into the office to tell me that she doesn't appreciate me slagging her off (i didn't).
if i was to go off sick i would not be able to return, as i have known people to be off with depression, and managers gossip about them with anyone who will listen (our union is rubbish).

if i went off sick on monday- would i also be able to serve my notice (8 wks) at the same time and still get paid, or does it not work like that.

also i really don't want this to affect my future job prospects, would it? i know i would be able to cope with another job (i have an evening job and love it - but it doesn't pay enough) , but i really feel awful about my present job, and feel i can't work my 8 wks notice.

pls pls help

Hello boltonangel

I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances. The members who've posted on this thread mean well of course but only your doctor can determine what help/support/treatment is appropriate for you.

If your doctor advises you not to work (signs you off sick) for a week or weeks, you might feel stronger on your return to work. Either way, if you resign when you return to work (after sick leave) you'll still have the comforting knowledge that you are leaving.

Regarding the worry about taking sick leave now and it affecting your chances in future employment..............I've been advised that it breaks confidentiality if your current employer tells a prospective employer about your health or sickness absence record. I have friends who are responsible for writing references for employees and they've told me that they only confirm the start and leaving date of the employee and the reason for leaving. Sickness absence and punctuality is not revealed.

I do empthathise with how you're feeling and hope that you get the support you need from your doctor.

Good luck with your job search too.

Kind Regards

Nile

Astaroth

I really want to know where the myths over what can be put in references and not have come from?

A reference can ask for anything it wants but the potential employee must agree for the companies to be approached for the reference. Now some companies may decline to give certain information but this is purely at their discretion as there is no requirement for them spending time and effort filling in a reference form for the benefit of another company (which in many times will actually be a competitor)

You do need to consider your options carefully. Having anything like depression or backpain on your records can seriously hamper your career prospects. Now before that everyone shouts at me that it is discrimination etc, I am not saying it should happen but simply pointing out that it does and yes you could try suing every company that turns you down for a job but it wouldnt help your depression and trying to prove the cause that someone hasnt employed you is hard.

quidsinquentin

Technically, someone providing a reference can either give a 'balanced' reference or decline to give one. They cannot give a bad reference - i.e. slag you off - (although declining to give one is often seen as this) as you can take action against them.

seven-day-weekend

I would not hand your notice in until you have another job.

Go off sick, get yourself better. Then take some annual leave and hopefully find another job. Then give your notice in.