Learning to walk before I run

killerpeaty

Hey Ed, I'm so glad you've gotten some time off. I'm hopeful you will start to feel a bit better soon. 

newgirly

Hope you are doing ok Ed and feeling a bit better than you were 🙂

edinburgher

Morning all, not checking in too much as I don't feel like I'm accomplishing much and didn't want to rock up just to be a downer!

MH-wise, I'm feeling pretty well rested, less forgetful and angry and a lot less anxious than I have been. In terms of work, however, I don't feel any further forward. I provided a fairly detailed list of issues that led to my time off in the hope that work would come up with some suggestions for improvements (I provided suggested improvements, too) but it has been radio silence. I get the feeling that work would rather I left than fixed things to any extent. 

As such, I've got a fit note for another week and then a meeting with boss and HR but no route forward. Not sure how I can return to the environment that led to me feeling this bad without changes. No luck on the new job front, there is next to nothing going in the public sector at the moment and I've been unsucessful with the two private sector jobs I applied for.

In terms of my physical health, I was prescribed Mounjaro for my weight. This, healthy exercise and fairly balanced diet have led to nearly 19lbs of weight loss in a month

KajiKita

Hi Ed 😊

Good to ‘see ‘ you 😊

Glad you are feeling significantly better and that the weight is coming off. The latter must be very encouraging. But work … oh dear 🙄 They just ain’t getting it, are they! Sheesh ….

Just some thoughts: 
- what’s occ health’s take on the improvements you have suggested? They should be involved as well as HR and your boss. 

- are you in a union and have you discussed your situation with them? With the amount of absence and job leaving you have been describing around you, maybe they could help your boss and HR see a wider view?

- could you go consultancy rather than formal employment in your field of expertise, if there aren’t any sensible jobs around for you atm?

How’s your family? 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

Glad you feeling better but how annoying re the office 
liking KKs suggestions 

Baileys_Babe

Well done on the weight loss. I am pleased you are feeling much improved.

I think as @KajiKita suggest contact occupational health and your union sound like your next steps.

edinburgher

@KajiKita -

OH haven't been consulted again. They asked me to be re-referred when I felt ready to come back to work. I suppose I feel nearly ready to come back to some sort of work, I'm just not ready to come back with none of my stressors addressed. I will speak to my boss this week and ask them to contact OH so that they can be included in this discussion. Or I may wait 'til a planned in-person meeting the week after next...

I brought my union rep to the first in-person meeting that I had with work. They were receptive and helpful to talk to and I was glad of the support but they seemed to be very much of the mindset "oh don't worry, HR will sort it out", which is either based on experience or a bit much to put on HR.

I don't feel that I could go down the consultancy route as my experience is narrow (even though it's useful).

Family are fine apart from DD2, who continues to resist bed and catches one mystery lurgy after another!

Cheery_Daff

Good to see you back ed! Glad you're feeling somewhat better, even if work are still misbehaving. No advice from me, just a gentle virtual hug, and a hope that things are sorted to your satisfaction soon xx

KajiKita

“ I brought my union rep to the first in-person meeting that I had with work. They were receptive and helpful to talk to and I was glad of the support but they seemed to be very much of the mindset "oh don't worry, HR will sort it out", which is either based on experience or a bit much to put on HR.”

Hmmm … In my experience it varies by HR person. Some are superb and walk that horribly narrow line between supporting employees and protecting the organisation superbly. Unfortunately, many tend to see themselves as defender of the organisation first and foremost. I would keep in touch with your union contact, but if you feel they ‘aren’t getting it’, ask for your case to be escalated within the union hierarchy  to someone more senior. 

Definitely ask for more OH input. 

Good to hear all the family are well, sorry to hear DD2’s immune system isn’t quite keeping on top of the bugs she’s encountering. 

KK

edinburgher

Another pointless catch up with my boss, good as said I'd return now if issues were addressed/changes put in place to avoid a repeat. Their response "we'll discuss it next week with HR".

A work colleague pointed out a sobering truth that I kinda already understood. Nothing will change and my boss doesn't have the status to be an iconoclast in an organisation that sucks quite a lot at looking after it's staff.

It's why I want to leave, just got to find somewhere else to go