Sickness problem

ryzishh

Hi,


I am new to the forums, in fact I am new to forums in general.


I have a bit of an issue at the moment, and I apologise but this is going to be a very long explanation.


I'll start from the beginning.


So for roughly 6 months now I have been on a secondment at work. I return to my old job at the end of March.
I have recently passed my driving test (a month ago) and bought a car.


The problem I have is, ever since passing my driving test I have been asked to go to a lot of different sites by my boss, despite expressing my concerns that I am not confident enough (being asked to do a 120 mile round trip every tuesday, when I've hardly been out of my town).


Also, I have been asked to take on 3 medium size sites to my self (as a team we provide IT support to roughly 9 sites, and there are 5 of us).


Now, this I could handle, barely. But now my manager is almost picking on me for every tiny mistake I make, and making me pick up almost every piece of work that is coming in.


I have discussed my concerns with him, as I do return to my old job in 2 months and all I have been told is that I am expected to carry on supporting the 3 sites, and accept the drop in pay.


I have asked for a pay rise for my old job for this, and have been told no because of the circumstances of the company.


Now for the second part.


When I started this job, I declared that I suffered from severe health anxiety that is triggered by stress. I had an interview with occupational health and the outcome was that I could work for the company without any adjustments.


The problem is that the way my boss is treating me, and asking me to cover a large portion and be on less money than any of the team I will be working in, is causing me a large amount of stress, which is triggering my anxiety and my ability to work. And now of course I am in a vicious cycle of not hitting targets, and stress build up where I am unable to think straight.


I need to go to my doctor to see if I can get therapy started again as the techniques I learned are not currently working. The only problem is, I have been signed off for it before with another company (which I declared when I started) and I have a feeling that my doctor will want to sign me off again.


The other issue and problem that I have is that I have had 4 instances off sick, and our sickness policy states that if I get up to 5 instances then I have to have a meeting and possibly a disciplinary will come of this. Which is also causing more stress as I feel like my hands are tied behind my back.


Can anyone provide some advise on what to do? I can't carry on like this as it's just going to get worse.

Guest101

ryzishh wrote: »

Hi,


I am new to the forums, in fact I am new to forums in general.


I have a bit of an issue at the moment, and I apologise but this is going to be a very long explanation.


I'll start from the beginning.


So for roughly 6 months now I have been on a secondment at work. I return to my old job at the end of March.
I have recently passed my driving test (a month ago) and bought a car.


The problem I have is, ever since passing my driving test I have been asked to go to a lot of different sites by my boss, despite expressing my concerns that I am not confident enough (being asked to do a 120 mile round trip every tuesday, when I've hardly been out of my town).


Also, I have been asked to take on 3 medium size sites to my self (as a team we provide IT support to roughly 9 sites, and there are 5 of us).


Now, this I could handle, barely. But now my manager is almost picking on me for every tiny mistake I make, and making me pick up almost every piece of work that is coming in.


I have discussed my concerns with him, as I do return to my old job in 2 months and all I have been told is that I am expected to carry on supporting the 3 sites, and accept the drop in pay.


I have asked for a pay rise for my old job for this, and have been told no because of the circumstances of the company.


Now for the second part.


When I started this job, I declared that I suffered from severe health anxiety that is triggered by stress. I had an interview with occupational health and the outcome was that I could work for the company without any adjustments.


The problem is that the way my boss is treating me, and asking me to cover a large portion and be on less money than any of the team I will be working in, is causing me a large amount of stress, which is triggering my anxiety and my ability to work. And now of course I am in a vicious cycle of not hitting targets, and stress build up where I am unable to think straight.


I need to go to my doctor to see if I can get therapy started again as the techniques I learned are not currently working. The only problem is, I have been signed off for it before with another company (which I declared when I started) and I have a feeling that my doctor will want to sign me off again.


The other issue and problem that I have is that I have had 4 instances off sick, and our sickness policy states that if I get up to 5 instances then I have to have a meeting and possibly a disciplinary will come of this. Which is also causing more stress as I feel like my hands are tied behind my back.


Can anyone provide some advise on what to do? I can't carry on like this as it's just going to get worse.

Speak to HR / Occupational Health?


I will add, when you pass your driving test, you pass it to drive everywhere, a 120 mile round trip is local really - I certainly don't think you boss is wrong for that.


HOWEVER your insurance probably wont cover business use (and your employer should pay you some mileage allowance)

tomtontom

Is the workload too much for you, or are you stressed because you're being paid less?

Knowing that further absences will result in a disciplinary sounds like a good motivator not to be off sick again. The policy is already generous, many employers will instigate the disciplinary procedure after three absences.

ryzishh

the workload is too much. The fact that I'm being asked to work extra hours with no toil or extra pay is too much. and the fact I'm going to be getting paid less for doing a different job, yet still doing the same tasks/covering the same sites (if that makes sense).


It is a good motivator, but what's going to crack first.. there's only so much a human can take before they crack, and my boss just doesn't seem to understand that.


Just need a way out of this mess.


Dealing with anxiety and stress for me is like tugging on a loose piece of string on a woollen jumper. Eventually it's going to unwind and there will be nothing left.

Poppie68

Anxiety is a notifiable condition, if it is effecting your driving you need to speak to the DVLA. To be honest though being asked to drive these extra miles for work can help with your confidence and help build your driving skills, you do need to amend your car insurance to allow ' business use', speak to HR about having the cost reimbursed.
The only other alternative is to look for another job if your not happy.

theoretica

If you speak to your doctor the options are not simply a signed off/on. I wonder if you could get a fit note which said you were fit to cover only you contracted hours with no overtime and at one site only - might that reduce your anxiety levels?