Money Moral Dilemma: Should I return to work early from sick leave, given I'd be paid less?

bikaga

Agree with everyone - you're signed off for a good reason. If you really feel guilty about it, how about finding some work-relevant stuff to read up on?

Nicochick20

HR here. If you feel like you can return to work after 2 weeks but not full time, speak to your employer and they should agree to implement a phased return. Most will apply this for up to a maximum of 4 weeks to ease you back into work gradually increasing your hours each week whilst full pay throughout.

In regard to not allowing staff back to work whilst having a fit note, yes insurance may come into play but as an employer you have to be careful as it could be that by preventing the employee from doing can be seen as discriminating (if the period of sickness is considered a disability). Like another poster said there are other ways of assessing fitness do work, risk assessments and occupational health being two of them.

Arctos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81972559#Comment_81972559

The above is spot on. The advice about work relationships is not to be underestimated. Your line management may be more secure in the knowledge that you accept advice and direction [in this case, the fit note]; your colleagues may well have more respect for you in what you describe as a medical issue of some standing, and both should be more amenable to making any reasonable adjustments should it flare up again in future than if you returned early.

Having said that, my hope is that the medial issue does not recur.

highlander58

Reading between the lines: what”s making you even think of going back to work early? You’d be worse off financially, so clearly it’s not the money!

if you’re concerned about job security, then a couple of weeks’ p/t won’t change that. All it’ll do is create precedent & expectation.
if you think the place will fall apart without you - think again!
if you hate being idle - find an outside activity to occupy you & help you prepare for your return.

From what you say: this is a chronic medical condition - bad enough for a GP to sign you off for 4 weeks. Trying to improve your health is more important than anything else.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81973883#Comment_81973883

the phased return on full pay may well depend on the organisation.

in my last job on a phased return for long term sickness we had to use our annual leave.
Phased return was not an option if the fit was only for a month,

teresa54

Just because you were ok after two weeks cannot be a guarantee for another instance. If you're signed off work by a medic then I'd say what medical training do you have which contradicts that?

That is the only [moral] reason to proceed. Monetary gain should not be a reason to adhere to the doctor's opinion and advice; so follow the advice based on health grounds. Going back early and then needing to take more time of isn't a good scenario - plus, healing takes longer second time around.

Bahhumbug

I agree with other comments, you cannot possibly know how well you will be 2 weeks/4 weeks into the future. Bear in mind, that as you age, your ability to recover (from any ailment or injury) slows massively, even a few years in age can make a big difference. As will co-morbidities - you may have other conditions developing you don't know about yet that may affect your overall ability to recover.

So, as others have said, you should be following your medical professional's advice. They know all this and that the healing process continues long after you 'feel better' again. If they advise 4 weeks, they mean 4 weeks.

JainEm

Not a dilemma, moral or otherwise. The health professional has signed you off for 4 weeks, presumably based on examining you, combined with medical history. Any reputable company would not let you come back to work sooner anyway, as if anything happened they would be liable.

Dizzycap

As other have said, it's really no so much a dilema as an eagerness to get back to work. If you've been signed off for 4 weeks, then obviously a healthcare professional has deemed this the minimum amount of recuperation time that is required. Follow their advice and take the 4 weeks sick leave and don't let your head tell you otherwise 🤗.

middlewife

I made the mistake of going back recently 4 weeks after a hip replacement, partly because a colleague had done that last year and there was an expectation that I'd do the same.. what I didn't realise was that she worked from home, whereas my job requires me to be present in the office. It was further complicated because I had major surgery last year as well, so only had 2 weeks half sick pay left. Because I only work 6 hours a week on minimum wage, I'm not entitled to SSP. So I took 2 weeks holiday and used up the 2 weeks half pay. It was tiring and uncomfortable as I worked two half days and my husband had to drive me both days, but psychologically it was good to get back to some normality. I also work in a GP surgery, so would have been looked after had anything gone wrong.

If you have a choice, take the 6 weeks and get really fit and well.