Can people really take time off work for "stress"?

bugslet

BorisThomson wrote: »

But we shouldn't judge a majority on the actions of a minority.

It's the poor attitude to stress that stops people asking for help, that stops them asking for a reduced workload or more training before they become too ill to do anything.

I didn't mean to suggest that anyone should judge anyone on the actions of a few, but human nature being what it is, that is what happens.

And it depends a lot on the experience you have; if you have only seen one person off with stress and that was because they fancied a couple of weeks off, then it's difficult to equate the very real effects - sometimes long term - to their personal experience.

The reverse is af, who naturally feels that s/he is being doubted at best and called a liar at worst, because their personal experience tells them that stress is debilitating and it was most definitely not an excuse.

bugslet

@smodlet - I know I couldn't do that job - I'd be out within a month.

Smodlet

Bugslet, I think :iloveyou:
But I don't wanna kno-ow for sure. :rotfl:

Thank you. I love your posts and cannot remember a time I have disagreed with you but I think we could and still be :cool:

Les79

TELLIT01 wrote: »

They were signed off and when they tried to return to work were literally physically sick as they approached the office building. That is genuine stress.

Yea, one of my previous employers got to me like that...

Top and bottom of it, I did exceptionally well in a new job role (on my own) and got absolutely no feedback/promotion/raise/support. In fact, I recall a meeting with the boss just before I signed off in which he said that the success was due to HIM putting money into the business, and not ME signle-handedly driving the frontline changes!! I also got threatened because I asked for a payrise and queried why a lazy employee was getting paid £100 more a month than me. Apparently I was the criminal because the employee had told me about his pay!

Have to add that they had zero consideration for my workload which was keeping the new project going, so they were more than happy to "assume" that I wasn't busy and dumped reports onto me which the aforementioned £100 extra a month guy didn't want to do.

Also, this new role was exceptionally lonely; I should have had a team of 3 people but it was just me doing the workload of 3. Add to the fact that the role involved stepping on the toes of middle management, and I had to deal with a lot of funny business from them. Its fine for the first few months when setting up, but there was just nothing in the way of support for me.

Got to the point where I was feeling physically sick on shift and had nobody to speak to. I had a panic attack at one point as well because of how the boss spoke to me (I think the phrase "well, there are plenty of people ready and willing to take your place" came up). So I signed off sick for a few weeks and put in a request to change job roles.

Here's the icing on the cake, and pretty much sums up that employer, but they tried to withhold my sick pay!! Even though I followed the sick process by the book! So I had added stress when I got back, having to spend lunch breaks speaking to my boss as well as solicitors. Eventually got sorted out.

bugslet

Smodlet wrote: »

Bugslet, I think :iloveyou:
But I don't wanna kno-ow for sure. :rotfl:

Thank you. I love your posts and cannot remember a time I have disagreed with you but I think we could and still be :cool:

Smodlet, I think it's time for a dodgy group hug :grouphug:

I find there's a couple of people on here I sometimes agree with and sometimes don't, but as long as people remain polite, then all is good with me.

Diamandis

You've also got to consider what's going on in their life outside of work. I've had people signed off for stress who are being evicted, because their family members are in hospital dying, money problems and carers responsibilities. Sometimes when so much is going on outside work dealing with stress at work is impossible. I'm glad you've never experienced stress that's prevented you from working.

riotlady

Absolutely it's a real thing. My mum has always been an insanely hard worker- she graduated university at 20, has worked in finance doing 50+ hour weeks her whole life (and loved it), never takes a day off ill- but one of her jobs didn't replace someone who had left, so she was trying to do the work of 2 people at once and ended up signed off for 3 weeks with stress. It's not just "ooh, I feel a bit tense", it's headaches, stomach problems, panic attacks, not being able to sleep.

I used to work in a school and saw it a lot with teachers too- I think people who care about their work are more susceptible because in addition to the pressures of the job, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to get it all done to a high standard.

[Deleted User]

TyreLever wrote: »

Work is naturally stressful and I hear of people taking time off work for stress. Stress alone doesnt sound like a valid reason, if I phoned in work and said I wouldnt be in because I feel stressed, I know where I'd be told to get off (the jobcentre). How do people get long term sick pay for stress? Is our nation becoming intolerably weak?

Or perhaps you’ve had a good boss who grants you holiday leave whenever it’s asked for?

I currently can’t book any leave (not the first job is has happened in) but funny old thing my bosses are alright to book their leave off.

Smodlet

Deleted%20User wrote: »

Or perhaps you!!!8217;ve had a good boss who grants you holiday leave whenever it!!!8217;s asked for?

I currently can!!!8217;t book any leave (not the first job is has happened in) but funny old thing my bosses are alright to book their leave off.

Or perhaps, TyreLever, you have been so privileged as to work for bosses who actually know your job; how to do it, the pressures and limitations therein and, most importantly, how it feels to be in your postion. In short, maybe your employer(s) actually give a t0$$.

FBaby

The problem with stress is with can't help but judging others based on our own ability to cope with stress. If you are resilient, you don't have much respect for those who seem to be stressed at the slightest challenge. If your stress threshold is low, then you think anyone who doesn't have sympathy is a bully.

I am probably quite high on the resilience scale so probably fall under the former, but what really gets to me is not so much people with low resilience but people who think that all stress should be avoided and don't accept that any form of resilience can only be build by being exposed by some level of stress.