Offered a job whilst signed off sick what to do?

Kittyrules

My son passed away last year, I have been on SMP from the May of that year, this ended in Feb this year. My doctor felt due to my job being full time and in a different town it would cause problem as I was still very anxious and needed counseling. My work would not let me go back part time or have reduced hours.

So he signed me off for two months. In this time I heard a job near me wanted someone for 20 hours a week, I normally work 32 so I went for the interview and they have offered me a job but need to sort what hours I can do.

My work place made me deeply unhappy before my son, offering me little support when we were told he was sick, I also feel due to them all knowing about my pregnancy and the loss of my son I will never be seen without that label and it makes me really anxious.

I would like to take this job,

Can I get in trouble for having an interview?
Can I hand my notice in whilst being on the sick?
Can my boss ask when I went for the interview?
Can I get in trouble for taking another job whilst on the sick?

I don't want to do anything wrong but I feel being in my current job is going to lead to me being more depressed and I love my type of work but in that work place it is very hard.

Thank you

Sportycus

Firstly, commiserations on your loss.

Yes you can hand your notice in whilst being off sick.

If you want to take the new job, then to be honest there is nothing your old employer can do....they have no right to ask when you was interviewed, if they do you are under no obligation to answer.

The fact you want to take the other job and leave makes it far simpler really, the politest thing you can do is hand in your notice, you don't even have to state why you are resigning, ideally give them the required amount of notice period as per your contract.

That's where your contractual obligations end with your current employer.

Good luck with your new job!

anamenottaken

Kittyrules wrote: »

My son passed away last year, I have been on SMP from the May of that year, this ended in Feb this year. My doctor felt due to my job being full time and in a different town it would cause problem as I was still very anxious and needed counseling. My work would not let me go back part time or have reduced hours.

So he signed me off for two months. In this time I heard a job near me wanted someone for 20 hours a week, I normally work 32 so I went for the interview and they have offered me a job but need to sort what hours I can do.

My work place made me deeply unhappy before my son, offering me little support when we were told he was sick, I also feel due to them all knowing about my pregnancy and the loss of my son I will never be seen without that label and it makes me really anxious.

I would like to take this job,

Can I get in trouble for having an interview? No
Can I hand my notice in whilst being on the sick? Yes
Can my boss ask when I went for the interview? Yes - but attending an interview is not "working" and so there isn't any point in asking you and equally no reason why you should not say (unless you were supposed to be confined to home or hospital at the time!)
Can I get in trouble for taking another job whilst on the sick? No. Though if you were claiming to be sick and also working in a similar role at the same time for another employer you would have needed to have an explanation.

I don't want to do anything wrong but I feel being in my current job is going to lead to me being more depressed and I love my type of work but in that work place it is very hard.

Thank you

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