Told to take time off - shoud I be worrying?

daisyonthe84

This is just a really very strange situation that I've never had before at work.  And I'm getting really mixed messages from people as to whether I'm being over the top, so wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

Basically, I've not been very well over the last couple of months.  I was getting some tests done, but I spoke to my GP on the phone and he said that he was going to cancel the upcoming ones because it was a bad idea to be out getting them done (I'm at an increased risk, or whatever the proper wording is).  So I don't know exactly what I'm ill with.  It's enough to disrupt my home life and work, though.

I had some time off originally, and then said I wanted to go back to work because I felt bad about my team struggling, even though I was still feeling really ill (doctor agreed they didn't think I was contagious and didn't object, so wrote a sick note that said I could go back part time).  I did Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a few weeks, and then HR said they'd refer me to occupational health.  Occupational health have now told me to take the next 6 weeks as sick leave and they're referring me for some private assessments / treatment over video - not really sure yet what that will be.

My mum thinks it's amazing because I'm getting full pay and not having to go into work or even do stuff remotely, and obviously I do want to get better, but then I've got other people telling me that because I've been there less than 2 years they might just fire me.  Is that really true?  It seems weird to me if work could actively tell me not to go in and to make sure I recover, and then fire me for it.  I can't exactly tell them that they're wrong!

Should I be worried?

Brynsam

Nothing anyone here says can stop you feeling worried; that goes with the territory of being on sick leave, which usually makes people feel vulnerable. Although it's true that employees with under two years' service has much more limited protections than those with two years of more, the reality is that an employer can fire someone on (in)capability grounds regardless of length of service.

Do yourself a favour and stop listening to advice from all and sundry and focus on the facts: there is nothing in what you've said which suggests your employer has any plans to dispense with your services and, as your mum says, they are being an excellent employer. 

Mrsn

Honestly right now I would feel lucky that the employer is being proactive and is looking after you and your health though with anxiety it’s hard because logic doesn’t always come into it!

The only people you need to listen to right now is any health professional, your employer/OH and anyone directly dealing with the situation. Try to relax it will
help!

jonnygee2

My mum thinks it's amazing because I'm getting full pay and not having to go into work or even do stuff remotely, and obviously I do want to get better, but then I've got other people telling me that because I've been there less than 2 years they might just fire me.  Is that really true?

Yes, they could end your contract before the two year period. They wouldn't really be 'firing' you but just terminating the contract.

But if that was what they wanted to do they could already have done it. Also, because they could terminate your contract for any reason, if you ignore the OH advice and continue to work, they could deem that a big risk to them and then terminate your contract because of that. 

Your best bet is to follow your employers lead and take the time off to recover, and try not to worry about what 'might' happen when the indication from your employer so far has been positive.

daisyonthe84

Brynsam said:

Nothing anyone here says can stop you feeling worried; that goes with the territory of being on sick leave, which usually makes people feel vulnerable. Although it's true that employees with under two years' service has much more limited protections than those with two years of more, the reality is that an employer can fire someone on (in)capability grounds regardless of length of service.

Do yourself a favour and stop listening to advice from all and sundry and focus on the facts: there is nothing in what you've said which suggests your employer has any plans to dispense with your services and, as your mum says, they are being an excellent employer. 

That is very true.  And me being me, I'll normally find something in life to worry about.  It is useful though to get some opinions of people who are impartial - I find some comfort in that because I wouldn't expect people on here to sugarcoat or build an argument and a position based on a conversation they had in a pub in 1976.  You're right, I need to stop letting people advise me at this point.  Thank you!

Mrsn said:

Honestly right now I would feel lucky that the employer is being proactive and is looking after you and your health though with anxiety it’s hard because logic doesn’t always come into it!

The only people you need to listen to right now is any health professional, your employer/OH and anyone directly dealing with the situation. Try to relax it will
help!

Thank you - I will do my best.  The general uncertainty doesn't help, in that I'm talking to people who've been made redundant or furloughed in the last few weeks, and I think for some of them anyone with the good fortune to still have a job should be moving heaven and earth to keep it.  Your point about limiting who I take advice from is most likely the best thing I can do right now

jonnygee2 said:

My mum thinks it's amazing because I'm getting full pay and not having to go into work or even do stuff remotely, and obviously I do want to get better, but then I've got other people telling me that because I've been there less than 2 years they might just fire me.  Is that really true?

Yes, they could end your contract before the two year period. They wouldn't really be 'firing' you but just terminating the contract.

But if that was what they wanted to do they could already have done it. Also, because they could terminate your contract for any reason, if you ignore the OH advice and continue to work, they could deem that a big risk to them and then terminate your contract because of that. 

Your best bet is to follow your employers lead and take the time off to recover, and try not to worry about what 'might' happen when the indication from your employer so far has been positive.

That makes sense - especially the point about OH advice.  I can see how even asking about not following the OH guidelines might cause more panic on their side than anything else.  I think there's a part of me that's desperate to prove how I'm willing to work, because somehow it feels like the right thing to do.  Probably the same part of us that always complains when someone else offers to pay the restaurant bill!  Looking at it from your perspective, that's actually counterproductive.  I think if I can get to a point where I'm genuinely comfortable with that it will really help my mental approach to the whole thing.

You are absolutely right as well that I can't think endlessly about the possibilities.  Based on what I've read today here, it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that the fact they're going down this route at all is promising, and not the way they'd go if they were planning to cut me loose in 2 months' time.  Originally I'd wondered if this was part of a "conspiracy" to build a case, but that was because I didn't realise it was so easy to get rid of staff in these (or indeed any) circumstances.  Thank you.