New job:Sick leave dilemma

EasyItalian

Thank you for your comments - particularly the last few which seem to grasp the circumstances a little better than some (sigh - I guess those Daily Mail readers perpetrate even the most sensible fora). It would be helpful to know if any posters have any legal qualifications, or even knowledge, or whether they are just expressing their opinions - which, of course, is absolutely fine.

The whole purpose of the new fit note system is for the patient and doctor to establish which, if any, of the elements of their job (ie. it IS job specific) they are able to undertake. Clearly this will vary according to the nature of the illness and the nature of the job itself.

Ah, does this mean that if I go to the GP and explain the circumstances, s/he would be able to advise me?

ktothema

A few years ago I was signed off for a few weeks due to the actions of my bullying ex boss. I got stuck in that I was so stressed I struggled to leave my home for most of it and when I could venture outside work were saying if I could go out I should be coming to work and the dr saying they wouldn't sign me back unless I went out. In the end I ignored work and did what the dr suggested, I went somewhere fun with someone I trusted (in my case to the cricket with my father, and into town shopping with my partner). Work were not happy in the slightest, but my dr wasn't willing to sign me back until he knew I wasn't going to have a major panic attack leaving my home.

I would say if this function is more social then there's nothing to stop you going, however if it's a working function and you're signed off unfit for work you should really avoid it for your own health regardless of you knowing what the cause of your stress is, as the following arguments will not help you.

SueC_2

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

I don't think chemotherapy is going to leave you in a good enough mood or condition to go to the cinema or out to lunch to be fair. I am not sure if you have had chemotherapy or not but I can say it makes you very ill.

I think if you check with pretty much anyone that's been through it you will find that, depending on whereabouts they are in the treatment cycle, there are days when they feel absolutely capable of going to the cinema or out for lunch.

Obviously there are also days when they are not, but if they do feel able, why the heck shouldn't they just because they are off work sick? Surely they should be 'allowed' to let their life continue as normally as possible under the circumstances. No?

If you won't take my word for it, read the bottom of page 8:
http://www.geh.nhs.uk/services/Cancer/ChemotherapyBooklet.pdf

There's far too much ignorance about cancer (and many other illnesses for that matter) without people believing that anyone affected should be housebound for the duration of their treatment!

Sambucus_Nigra

EasyItalian wrote: »

Thank you for your comments - particularly the last few which seem to grasp the circumstances a little better than some (sigh - I guess those Daily Mail readers perpetrate even the most sensible fora). It would be helpful to know if any posters have any legal qualifications, or even knowledge, or whether they are just expressing their opinions - which, of course, is absolutely fine.

Ah, does this mean that if I go to the GP and explain the circumstances, s/he would be able to advise me?

If you are including me as a Daily Mail reader then I'll refrain from posting a response to you.

Note: if you post on an open forum, and you don't want anyone to post their point of view, please make it clear in the first post that you only want a certain type of response. Cheers.

picnic

I am never more suprised by peoples narrow mindedness and blinkered views on some topics as on MSE...

I totally agree with SueC and her comments.. a sick note is to stop you from doing a specfic task that would cause further 'injury'. In this case the OP is stressed, caused by their boss, this doesnt mean that they have to sit hope all day doing nothing...
if the function is social why can she not attend?
I dont see how the present employer can dictate how she spends her time away from work unless it was with a new employer getting paid for her time..?

good luck to OP in your new job when you start..

marybelle01

There is nothing narrow minded about pointing out to the OP that attending a work activity (and there is absolutely nothing in the OP's posts to suggest that it is a social activity) at a new employers during the hours that they are signed off from their current employment could get them sacked.

And regardless of what the OP says, they are signed off sick during working hours - whether this was caused by the boss or not is not determined, and the sick note is based solely on what the GP was told by the OP and not on any personal knowledge of the situation.

Hence why SueC said, in common with others here, that it was "decidely dodgy ground" to attend the activity whilst signed off sick.

SueC_2

picnic wrote: »

I dont see how the present employer can dictate how she spends her time away from work unless it was with a new employer getting paid for her time..?

I agree in theory, but I do think it's a bit grey given that she already had to ask for time off from her current employer so that she could attend the event.

That said, the employer agreed, so I can't really see why they would object now, other than out of sheer awkwardness. They could rightfully deduct sick pay for the hour(s) that were already booked as time off I suppose...?

The bigger issue is probably one of the longer-term relationship. There's not a person in the world who doesn't make a better friend than they do enemy, and aggravating an ex-employer can have horrible consequences next time you're looking for a reference. And of course, it's a very small world - you never know where someone's going to turn up next!

FBaby

It is so sad how 'stress' is now seen as a way to get back to the employer... Stress can mean many different things, so different that in some instances, it is actually a positive outcome... Most people use the term as the expression of feeling overwhelmed due to exposure to unpleasant conditions... this is not what 'stress' is from a clinical perspective. Medical stress is an actual syndrome that affects you mentally and physically for some time. To be sign off sick under the medical term 'stress', should mean that the person is suffering from clinical symptoms that affect them beyond exposure to the actual stressor. It is horrifying to see that even medical members are failing to consider this term in its clinical presentation.

One can suffer stress through exposure which shouldn't justify being signed off for weeks. It should mean discussing with the OT/managers etc... how the stressful situation can be alleviated, working conditions ammended etc...

If the condition is such that 'stress' continues to be present, in the presentation of high blood pressure and other clinical symptoms, that only being off TO REST will make the person medically better, then it is clear that going to a work due, let alone starting a new job, which clearly is known to be a stressful event, is not justified under the medical presentation.

poet123

Op I would go and see your GP and explain the situation. He/she may well decide that to attend such a function prior to starting a new job will benefit your anxiety. As I understand it this is not an event at which you will be required to "work" just a meet and greet?

With any stress related issues the employer is on very dodgy ground harassing you in this manner.

Macca83_2

marybelle01 wrote: »

There is nothing narrow minded about pointing out to the OP that attending a work activity (and there is absolutely nothing in the OP's posts to suggest that it is a social activity) at a new employers during the hours that they are signed off from their current employment could get them sacked.

i disagree. A 'work function' does indeed suggest a social activity. The op asked for an hour off to attend so unless her new place of work is in the same building or across the road, then id imagine that she was using that hour to go home and get changed. Does this suggest that the function is within work hours?