Off work with depression

hermanmunster_3

I would have thought that anyone who was depressed enough to be signed off work would not be up to applying for other jobs and is unlikely to sparkle at interview.

Uncertain

Vader123 wrote: »

You may not get a choice to tell them or not. They may get told by your current employer.

They can't say "The OP was signed off due to depression".

But they can say "The OP was signed for x days on y occasions. The OP made it clear at appraisal/meetings/chats that they were depressed".

Vader

It would be a brave employer that would go as far as that in a reference these days.

I would agree that is probably just on the OK side of dodgy, but it is a close call.

Most larger firms wisely restrict themselves to facts and try to avoid opinions.

In any case they may prefer not to put the potential new employer off!!

Vader123

Uncertain wrote: »

It would be a brave employer that would go as far as that in a reference these days.

I would agree that is probably just on the OK side of dodgy, but it is a close call.

Any reference should reflect what is in a personal file. The file will contain details of meetings/appraisals (usually signed by the employee) and sickness records.

Therefore its fact, and not an opinion.

In any case they may prefer not to put the potential new employer off!!

Well thats a point.

Vader

ceridwen

bendix wrote: »

It's just amazing, isnt it? The worrying thing is that people don't seem to think there's anything unusual in this situation.

The OP is too depressed to work, but is not too depressed to look for work.

There is something morally reprehensible in that.

No - there darn well isnt:mad:

We dont know exactly what the job situation is for O.P. and it may well be very depressing - but another job would be perfectly okay. It is not our place to judge. O.P. may be being bullied/sexually harassed/grossly underpaid for the level of job they are doing/having a long commute to the job - it could be any one of a large number of factors that wouldnt apply to some other job:mad:.

So - listen up Bendix and stop condemning when we dont know the full facts:cool:

dmg24

ceridwen wrote: »

No - there darn well isnt:mad:

We dont know exactly what the job situation is for O.P. and it may well be very depressing - but another job would be perfectly okay. It is not our place to judge. O.P. may be being bullied/sexually harassed/grossly underpaid for the level of job they are doing/having a long commute to the job - it could be any one of a large number of factors that wouldnt apply to some other job:mad:.

So - listen up Bendix and stop condemning when we dont know the full facts:cool:

If they are not fit to perform the role they should resign. The clue with sickness absence is in the name - it is not for jobseeking.

harrup

ceridwen wrote: »

No - there darn well isnt:mad:

We dont know exactly what the job situation is for O.P. and it may well be very depressing - but another job would be perfectly okay. It is not our place to judge. O.P. may be being bullied/sexually harassed/grossly underpaid for the level of job they are doing/having a long commute to the job - it could be any one of a large number of factors that wouldnt apply to some other job:mad:.

So - listen up Bendix and stop condemning when we dont know the full facts:cool:

I respectfully beg to differ. Clinical depression is a serious illness and the sufferer quite justifiably protected by appropriate law(s).

However....depression is NOT the same as being down in the dumps due to an unfullfilling, stressful and/or odious job. The vast majority of people feeling "depressed" by a situation, event, or occupation - including myself - are light years away from a person suffering from actual depression. Whose appearance is often unrelated to events.

Thus the average "depressed" person simply has a bouts of the blues. Easily ameliorated by a better job, a bit of retail therapy , a case of circumstances, etc, etc.

The pivotal point is: a truly depressed person couldn't apply for another job. They neither would have the motivation nor concentration to do so. Their illness intercepts both.

If a person is well enough, motivated enough to go to an interview and seek alternate employment = they are well enough to go to work. Regardless of how much they might hate it. And I fully appreciate that they might REALLY hate it for entirely valid reasons.

NB: I would like to make it clear that in no way do I pass judgment on the original poster. Do I find her actions morally reprehensible? Actually, I find the GP's willingness to sign her/him off as "depressed" a great deal more reprehensible. It makes a total mockery of the employment law designed to allow people suffering from real depression to obtain and maintain a job - and that IS morally reprehensible, actually.

One of the reasons why millions of UK jobs went to the Far East include
"Depression, Stress and Back Ache". Which seem to be curiously absent in these other countries. Ask ANY British employer what the 3 most common reasons for absenteism are and they will cite the above.

lhd4

i agree with harrup completely.
I have heard people describe themselves ( and in some cases the doctor describe themselves) as depressed when they have been feeling unhappy for a few days or weeks. True depression is debilitating and job hunting would not be on the agenda.

only my opinion - but i have had it more than once and gone on to work with others who have it

Sunshine12

OP, have you discussed your job content etc with your current employer? If there are issues which you feel are the main reasons you are feeling down then perhaps when you go back you need to explain to them exactly where you feel the problems are and try and resolve them. You can actively look for alternative work at the same time. I would not suggest that you tell any new employer that you are suffering from depression (not convinced you are in any case) nor would I suggest that you attend interviews whilst you are signed off. (Are you sure you are suffering from depression rather than just hate the job you are in just now? There is a massive difference.)

Edit: Sorry just read Harrups post (my computer playing up) Completely agree.

bendix

ceridwen wrote: »

No - there darn well isnt:mad:

We dont know exactly what the job situation is for O.P. and it may well be very depressing - but another job would be perfectly okay. It is not our place to judge. O.P. may be being bullied/sexually harassed/grossly underpaid for the level of job they are doing/having a long commute to the job - it could be any one of a large number of factors that wouldnt apply to some other job:mad:.

So - listen up Bendix and stop condemning when we dont know the full facts:cool:

The exact circumstances are totally irrelevent. The OP is on sick leave or they are not. If they have taken sick leave then they should be focused on recovery, NOT hunting jobs.

It is called sick leave for a reason. It is not called 'looking for another job because I'm stressed at my current one-leave' for precisely the same reason.

In my extensive experience, incidentally, I've noticed that those who are 'depressed' (I use the term loosely and with a supercilious wink) in one role, tend to be similarly depressed in another.

Here's a harsh truth. This forum attracts numerous posts from people who are depressed about work. I'd hazard a guess that they wouldn't know true depression if it jumped up and bit them in the a**e.

bendix

harrup wrote: »

NB: I would like to make it clear that in no way do I pass judgment on the original poster. Do I find her actions morally reprehensible? Actually, I find the GP's willingness to sign her/him off as "depressed" a great deal more reprehensible. It makes a total mockery of the employment law designed to allow people suffering from real depression to obtain and maintain a job - and that IS morally reprehensible, actually.

One of the reasons why millions of UK jobs went to the Far East include
"Depression, Stress and Back Ache". Which seem to be curiously absent in these other countries. Ask ANY British employer what the 3 most common reasons for absenteism are and they will cite the above.

Post of the month, in my opinion. Well said harrap.

And on your point about jobs being lost to the Far East - I lived over there for five years recently and the you would never hear of sick-leave for depression or stress. They would laugh in your face.

The British workforce has been enabled by the employment laws and an overpowering sense of their own importance to become lazy, malingering and whining.

Now I feel depressed.