Help with my work rights please

xdaisychainx

I haven't read any replies yet so please forgive me if I repeat what someone else has already said!

Both my parents are teachers, I completely understand why you felt you needed to be signed off to recover. My dad was signed off for 6 months with stress, he went back for 6 months, was signed off again for another 6 months and on it went. I sympathise. However.... the bits of the email you quoted seemed perfectly reasonable. You cannot expect to be signed off for much longer, it seems they want the best outcome for both you and the college. Obviously you will have to return at some point and they are offering you a phased return!

If you attend a meeting, explain what treatments you are currently receiving and ask if you could fit returning to work around these treatments. (Ie, counselling etc)

Unless you start looking at your job in a positive light, something to help you get "back to normal" etc, then you will start going down a slippery slope. If you dig your heels in, they can pursue this and THAT will not do you any favours in regards to your anxiety.

As someone who has suffered from anxiety and depression since my early teens (now completely recovered from depression but do struggle with anxiety!) I can absolutely sympathise with your shock at receiving the email - it has popped your bubble, it brings you back to real life. That can be scary and overwhelming but TRY to embrace it. Accept their help, explain how you feel, let them know you don't feel ready but want to work with them etc. Think positively - and don't scoff at me saying that!! You have to be willing to accept help from all around you and they have to follow this up. If you don't go back now, they will only follow it up later and you"ll get another email that will shock you.

The best of luck

Daisy:)

ILW

Sorry, but if teaching makes you ill, should you not be looking at a different career.

Uncertain

It is very difficult in these situations as the last thing you need is additional stress heaped upon you.

Obviously if it can be proved that work has caused your illness then they MAY be a possibility of making a personal injury claim against them. Be aware though that this is in itself very stressful and it is far more difficult in these cases than with a physical injury.

Ultimately you need to try and decide if it is realistically likely that you will be able to get back to a manageable working situation. Maybe you already know the answer to this or maybe you will only find out by attempting a phased return to work.

If you know in your heart of hearts that going back is not an option then it is best to make this decision. Obviously it would be daft to resign unless you have an alternative, assuming you are still receiving sick pay. However, making a decision in your own mind will help as it will make dealing with them far easier.

Finally, remember you have been accruing holiday all the time you have been off sick so ultimately they will have to either let you take this when paid sick leave runs out or they must pay you for it after you leave.