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Sick leave while on notice period

Hello there,

I am new here and I hope that you can give me some advice. I'm an overseas student in the UK working part time while doing a postgraduate degree. Then I don't know much about how rules and laws work here. The nature of my job is very sensitive, I'm a carer to a disabled woman and what I do is to help her with Her daily routine. To be honest this job has put too much stress on me and has increased my depression and anxiety issues that has also impacted my performance at my studies. In general she is a nice person but she can be very rude to me and say hurtful things that just make me more anxious, I understand her disability but she is well in her mind and I don't think it gives her a right to mistreat people. The thing is a just resigned giving a 4 weeks notice, however two days after that I went to see my GP and she recommended me to hand in a sick note because she believes I am not fit to work and waiting another month would make it worse. This is where I'm in a dilemma, as I said the job is very sensitive and she depends on carers to go on with her life, on the other hand I am struggling and really want to stop now. The other thing is the she changed one of my shifts so I would be working my last day after the notice period, she said that legally I would not have to work it but she also told me that if I didn't accept I was rude and I didn't care about her life because I decided to quit just before that. I'm really confused right now, as you can see, so I'm asking you for advise, how can this affect me? Can she take any action? Im sure she won't give a recommendation but to be honest this has taken a toll on my health.

Thanks

Comments

  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
    Just don't go back.

    She can be nasty to someone else then.
  • Nicki
    Nicki Posts: 8,166 Forumite
    How long is the fit note from your GP? If you have a fit note for the full 4 weeks then OK not to go back. If it is for less than the 4 weeks and doesn't get renewed, then it would not be right (or possible) to expect to be paid sick pay for any period that you are fit for work and not working.

    Be aware if she needs you to help her with day to day living and is having to pay you while you are not working, she may not be able to afford to pay a second carer to look after her for those 4 weeks. So however rude you think she was, and however much you hated the job, it wouldn't be fair to inflict that on her if you are not genuinely ill yourself and unfit for work. Even if she is able to reclaim your sick pay through the tax system it won't be instantly recoverable and she may not have the income or savings particularly if you are funded by direct payments, to pay a replacement while waiting for money to come back to her for your sick pay.
  • Hello,
    Thank you for your response. The sick leave from my GP would cover the full time of the notice period. I am not entitled to sick pay as far as I know because I make less than the required amount per month. So yeah right now I feel in an awful dilemma, and according to my GP because of my depression and anxiety issues I qualify for sick leave and it would be the better option for me, but then again the lady needs me (she has other 5 carers) and she would hate me.
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 36,487 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 17 May 2015 at 9:18PM
    If she has 5 other carers, then some of them may be willing to cover your shifts. If not, she can get an agency worker if all else fails. She manages to get cover while people are on holiday, this is no different. Shorter notice, but she must have had carers have sick days before, and an element of that is built into the system.
    I also used to work in care, and your health comes before a client guilt tripping you. She had 4 weeks to cover your end of notice shift, so making you feel bad about not doing it is out of order, disabled or not.
    Disability does not stop some people from being manipulative. She won't hate you, that's your anxiety speaking. If the doctor thinks you are unfit for work then you're not doing anyone any favours by going in - what happens if you make a mistake?
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    MarianneTr, just walk away, and get on with your life.


    So what, if she doesn't like you, that's it. She wont like you any more if you stay till the end. In fact
    she would probably like you even less.


    You are the most important one in your life, now pack your back and get on with it.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    what is the employers notice to you?

    How long have you been doing the job?
  • Aquamania
    Aquamania Posts: 2,112 Forumite
    You went to your GP for advice. The advice was that you are currently unfit for work. Please take the advice given.

    You would be entitled to the same sick pay during any notice period as you would, if you were not in a notice period.

    Once your notice period has expired, there is no obligation for you to work any more for that employer.
  • WestonDave
    WestonDave Posts: 5,154 Forumite
    Rampant Recycler
    If you have been signed off as unfit for work by your GP then you shouldn't work and your employer should not allow you to work as you may not be covered by insurance. Its not really the case that you can choose whether or not to hand in the sick form - you are unfit for work as signed off by your GP. If you want to work then you really need to go back to the GP and get them to sign you back on as fit for work.
    Adventure before Dementia!
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