Don't know if i should go back to work :(

Charlie1986

I really don't know what to do. I've been off work for 3 weeks due to depression, most of which is work related. I am due to go back next week but it's really worrying me and i'm loosing sleep because of it. I am due to go back to the doctors on Friday to report on how i am feeling.
I really don't want to go back to this job, it's getting me down so much. I'm not sure if I should go back and see how it goes or just hand in my notice to save all the worry.
I do want to work, its just this job, the place i work and the people, i don't think i can face another day there.

doelani

Charlie1986 wrote: »

I really don't know what to do. I've been off work for 3 weeks due to depression, most of which is work related. I am due to go back next week but it's really worrying me and i'm loosing sleep because of it. I am due to go back to the doctors on Friday to report on how i am feeling.
I really don't want to go back to this job, it's getting me down so much. I'm not sure if I should go back and see how it goes or just hand in my notice to save all the worry.
I do want to work, its just this job, the place i work and the people, i don't think i can face another day there.

HI Charlie

If you are feeling so bad about going back you will be in no state to do anything by Monday. Tell your GP how you feel and he will give you another sick line ( I take it you are claiming SSP ).

If you are on SSP do not hand in your notice as your work has to pay this for 28 weeks.

Just to let you know I was in your position 15 months ago and was so stressed due to work I knew my last day would be my last. I cleared my desk etc before leaving at 2.00.pm that day and seen my GP that day at 5.00pm and have not been back since. I knew it was mostly the job causing my problems and I ended up in hospital for a long time but I continued to send in my sick lines and get my SSP then once I had transferred to Incapacity I informed my employer by letter that due to my ill health I did not feel I would be returning. This was 8 months after my last day at work. I never contacted my employer by phone and contact was done by letter as I informed them I did not want to speak to anyone due to my illness again. Please make sure your GP knows all the facts and do not make any harsh decissions. Depression is a serious illness and this worryw ill only make it worse. I know

Charlie1986

Hi Doelani,
Thank you for your reply. I am going to tell my GP on Friday exactly how I feel, my only worry is that she won't sign me off for anymore time.
Would you recommend applying for another job while I am off ill? Also do i have to tell my employer I am looking at other jobs?

doelani

Charlie1986 wrote: »

Hi Doelani,
Thank you for your reply. I am going to tell my GP on Friday exactly how I feel, my only worry is that she won't sign me off for anymore time.
Would you recommend applying for another job while I am off ill? Also do i have to tell my employer I am looking at other jobs?

You do not have to tell you employer you are looking for another job, that is up to you. If you explain to your GP how you feel they should give you another sick line, just be totally honest.

The important thing is you get feeling better.

andym765

erm if i was you id quit after the ssp. Your sick record wont look good to any employer especially 3 weeks or maybe 28 ;\.

azjh77

My work place comes to your house to visit you if you are off work for more than 4 weeks. When I was in the high dependency unit after an asthma attack last year, I had to phone work FROM THE HOSPITAL BED, to explain I wouldn't be in as they wouldn't accept my husbands word for it, they then phoned him twice, to see when I would be back!

There is nothing worse than having the kind of job that makes you wish you didn't have to get up in the morning...You know you are in the wrong job when you are rushed to hospital and console yourself with fact that if you die, you won't have to go to work tomorrow! I hope you are feeling better soon and find a job in a place with nice people and a nice atmosphere, Good Luck

Oldernotwiser

I would go back to work, knowing that you're not going to be there for long. Then start job hunting intensively. If you know that you're only back at work for a short time you should find it bearable and a few weeks of sick leave shouldn't make you unemployable. It's always easier to get another job when you're still working and long periods of sickness or unemployment may make it harder to find something else. Being unemployed won't help with your depression and may even make it worse. Treat this as an opportunity to change and renew your life. Good luck.

dag_2

I really don't want to go back to this job, it's getting me down so much. I'm not sure if I should go back and see how it goes or just hand in my notice to save all the worry.

Like doelani suggests, it's a bad idea to hand in your notice while you're off sick.

If you decide after six months that you're fit enough to work generally, but not in the same job, and you don't have another job to go to, then you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance. However, if you hand in your notice and try to get JSA before six months has passed, then you may have a sanction applied for leaving your job "voluntarily".

So my advice is that you don't hand in your notice until you've been off for at least six months - that's two weeks short of the 28 weeks that they have to pay SSP.

In the meantime, if you think you're fit to work generally but not for the particular job you're in now, then there's nothing to stop you applying for jobs elsewhere. Meanwhile, you're still able to get sick pay, as long as you keep handing in the sick notes.

You're perfectly within your rights to do this - because the point of the sick note is to certify that you're too ill to work in that particular job. The sick note does not certify that you're too ill to do any kind of work at all.

dag_2

Thank you for your reply. I am going to tell my GP on Friday exactly how I feel, my only worry is that she won't sign me off for anymore time.

It's very rare for GP's to refuse to issue a sick note - however, if this happens, then try to see a different one in the same surgery.

Would you recommend applying for another job while I am off ill?

You can if you like.

Also do i have to tell my employer I am looking at other jobs?

No!

Well - at least under the SSP rules, you don't have to tell your employer. Bear in mind, however, that the employer may impose disciplinary sanctions for this - you need to check your contract of employment. However, in the worst case scenario, all they can do is refuse to give you a reference for your next job, or refuse to pay a larger amount of sick pay than SSP - currently £70.05 per week. So they might not pay you your normal salary while you're off sick, but they can't refuse to pay the statutory £70.05 per week as long as you qualify.

Bettyboop

Hi, I just wanted to add that I have was signed off work for stress this week. It had been building up for a while and especially became much worse when I was told that I would be made redundant if I don't increase my hours to 38! I don't want to work there anymore and even though I was in state I looked for jobs on the internet and registered with two agencies. The doctor said that if I needed another week to get myself together it would be no problem to get another doctor's letter. I am dreading going back on Monday because of my boss mainly and the people that work there. Everyone is dishonest, theres a load of bad mouthing going on and whilst being off I sent in a grievance letter which is definitely bound to make my boss treat me worse than before. I sent the letter to his director as that's the company procedure. I had also sought some legal advice on the matter and now I know what my rights are they cannot take my job away from me just because it's now a full time post without considering any other options!

I also suffer from a degree of depression/anxiety and unfortunately have to take anti-depressants. They definitley help but my mom is always telling me how bad they are.

Take care and I hope everything is going to work out for you.

Charlie1986

I went to see my GP yesterday who has signed me off for another 4 weeks. She has suggested that if I really cannot see myself going back to this job I look for others, which i am going to start doing next week. She has also told me to keep taking the anti-depressants she prescribed.