Dismissed at work due to mental health- Advise please!

gabsmarshall

Brand new to this so please bare with me..
Today I got dismissed from my job. It was to do with my attendance and that I'd been off 4 separate times since July 2016 (3 related and 1 not).
In August 2016, my mental health started to dip (depression, anger issues etc). I'd always been aware of my mental health but never felt the need to have time off or ask for help (the scariest part about it). I felt very anxious at work and asked to go home. The next day, I completed a return to work and because I was brand new, was put on an attendance watch (no sick days for 6 months) which I understood and accepted.
In Sept 2016, there was an incident at home in which my lashed out and ended up hurting my hand. The next day at work I was unable to use the keyboard so I sought help from first aid who advised I go to a walk in centre to get it checked out. I was advised by the walk in centre to rest the rest of the day. As this was in the morning, I'd only completed a short amount of my day at work so this classed as a full day off.
In December 2016, a completely unrelated day off. I had a blood test in the morning, passed out and was sick in the GP. I was told by the nurse to take the day off.
This day off triggered a hearing in which I was given a final written warning and it reset the no sick days for 6 months.
(I hope you're still with me because here comes the juicy part)
In March 207, my mental health dipped to the lowest it's ever been. Another incident at home caused me to once again lash out, but this time I punched a window, smashed it and hurt my hand (again). The night it happened, my head wasn't with it anymore and I needed help. The Monday of that week I called work to advise I'd be taking the week off, I'll be going to the doctors and I'd keep them posted.
Monday, I told my GP what had happened and they referred me to counselling, which I am now doing and it's working great. I asked if I could have a note to take to work where she advised that I can self certify for 7 days. So I did.
When I returned to work, I was then told I was having another hearing (which was today) in which my capability would be discussed. After it was discussed, it wad agreed that I am to be dismissed.
I discussed the meeting with my Dad. He asked me how it was conducted and I said that, there was myself, the manager doing the meeting and a note taker. The note taker typed up what was said, to which my Dad replied that everything should be hand written as things can be changed when typed up. He asked if I signed anything before I left to which I said no. He said that before leaving, I should have been given an opportunity to read through to notes and sign every page. He said even with the way it was conducted, I have every right to appeal.

I dunno, any advise from anyone?
I just want a simple life and a job.

Thank you for reading if you made it this far!

marliepanda

How long have you worked at this employer?

Unfortunately you triggered the sickness policy. You were on a final warning for 6 months/no sick. Around threee months later you took a week off.

Typing vs handwriting will not 'undo' the above.

ohreally

Have you had a diagnosis from your GP?

Would your mental health issues be recognised as a disability in terms of the equality act.

Had your employer considered referring you to an occupational health provider?

Following todays meeting you inform "it was agreed that you were to be dismissed" - who agreed to this, you?

sangie595

You were not dismissed due to your mental health issues. You are dismissed for sickness absences which were deemed at unacceptable levels. If you have less than two years service - and it sounds like you do - then there is very little you can do about it. For absences in one year would be considered quite a lot by many employers. It's bad luck, but that's all it is.

Nothing your dad said is a requirement in law. Just because that's how he'd like it done doesn't mean it had to be done that way.

You need to get help with your anger issues. Quite apart from the fact that it is hurting you, if employers found out what you have done, you may find that this impacts adversely on your employability anyway. "Losing it" twice in a matter of months and becoming physically violent is not something that employers wish to risk in their workplace.

paddyrg

The issues won't go away without help, and counseling and using tools to manage it are a good start. It's really important to commit wholeheartedly to sorting it because otherwise it'll cause you more absences and lose you other jobs, or you'll get wound up at work sometime, punch a photocopier, and that'll lose you more work.

Employers are understanding about people needing the occasional sick day, but semi-regular days prevents them from operating as a business efficiently, which they must do. To help with this, the first 2 years with an employer have very few protections, and in fact they don't even need a reason to let you go (within some generous boundaries).