1 month and ......

viktory

melbi_uk wrote: »

Maybe you are right but the poster states she is desperately unhappy. Unless she either addresses the problem at work with the people making her feel this way or gives herself some time away from the situation then she could very well end up in my position????

I can't see how a week or 2 off sick due to her emotional state is fraud???

As you say, it could be my own illness that is failing to see the whole situation for what it is?

She has only been in post for 4 weeks. I hardly think this is grounds for sickness and potentially claiming ESA. If she is that unhappy and is unwilling/unable to resolve the problem as a mature adult then she should leave and take her chances with JSA. Claiming ESA on the basis of depression or whatever based on 4 weeks employment is ridiculous - and very likely fraudulent as I doubt very much the OP is genuinely depressed.

melbi_uk

viktory wrote: »

She has only been in post for 4 weeks. I hardly think this is grounds for sickness and potentially claiming ESA. If she is that unhappy and is unwilling/unable to resolve the problem as a mature adult then she should leave and take her chances with JSA. Claiming ESA on the basis of depression or whatever based on 4 weeks employment is ridiculous - and very likely fraudulent as I doubt very much the OP is genuinely depressed.

But surely she wouldn't be claiming ESA? I worked for just over 2 years with depression and anxiety (worked there for 12 years in total) but spent quite a lot of time off sick in the lst 2 years. Work paid me, they are who I had to send my sick notes to.

I gave up work completely 12 months ago as being off sick so often only added to my anxiety.

I'm not suggesting the poster stays on the sick.

As you say, there isn't enough information so we are all just assuming....adding 2+2 and coming up with 5

Apologies if I have made a suggestion that could be seen as fraud :(:(:(

melbi_uk

Can I just add....

Anyone starting a new job takes time to settle in and get to know the people and routine, expectations etc. Maybe 4 weeks isn't quite long enough for the poster in question????? Perhaps if she gives the job a bit longer and makes an effort to get to know the other staff??

Oh dear! Maybe I should never really have commented on this post in the first place.

Sorry again

Oldernotwiser

melbi_uk wrote: »

We used to have to be in work 30 mins before and could be anything from an hour to 2 hours after work but that was in an educational setting. We were never guaranteed a break neither although breaks were at set times, it didn't mean we always got that break due to a child needing us or setting up for the next lesson. Even lunch breaks were quite often disturbed.

That's what I'm used to in education as well and I imagine that that health settings are similar.

Oldernotwiser

melbi_uk wrote: »

Maybe you are right but the poster states she is desperately unhappy. Unless she either addresses the problem at work with the people making her feel this way or gives herself some time away from the situation then she could very well end up in my position????

I can't see how a week or 2 off sick due to her emotional state is fraud???

As you say, it could be my own illness that is failing to see the whole situation for what it is?

If everyone who was unhappy in their job took a week or two off work the country would fall to pieces even more!

dmg24

melbi_uk wrote: »

The job is obviously making this person poorly, so, like anyone else, does she not have the right to be poorly?

If being unhappy meant that someone was poorly and needed to be signed off sick then the economy is well and truly doomed!

(Spooky crosspost!)

Oldernotwiser

dmg24 wrote: »

If being unhappy meant that someone was poorly and needed to be signed off sick then the economy is well and truly doomed!

(Spooky crosspost!)

Of course, and I know we both understand about clinical depression, there are more and more people who medicalise unhappiness by defining it as depression.

melbi_uk

yes looking at it that way - you are both absolutely right.

Well might I then suggest the poster in question approaches her new colleagues in a calm and polite manner and see if she can remedy the problem?

Being the 'newbie' is always difficult and I do think that although it helps if the others are helpful and friendly, it is the newbie that has to work hard to 'fit in' so to speak.

melbi_uk

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If everyone who was unhappy in their job took a week or two off work the country would fall to pieces even more!

dmg24 wrote: »

If being unhappy meant that someone was poorly and needed to be signed off sick then the economy is well and truly doomed!

(Spooky crosspost!)

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Of course, and I know we both understand about clinical depression, there are more and more people who medicalise unhappiness by defining it as depression.

I can't see how feeling unhappy can be defined as depression?????

I have severe depression but don't 'feel' unhappy or happy. I can be having a really bad day and yet get a feeling of happiness - ok it last seconds but it does happen.

Can you really define depression as a feeling?????

Oldernotwiser

melbi_uk wrote: »

I can't see how feeling unhappy can be defined as depression?????

I have severe depression but don't 'feel' unhappy or happy. I can be having a really bad day and yet get a feeling of happiness - ok it last seconds but it does happen.

Can you really define depression as a feeling?????

And yet you were advising the OP to go sick, purely on the grounds that she's unhappy.