hey everyone

right im in a bit of state, i have been having some probs at work which resulted in me being served with a letter saying i was to face a disciplinary hearing (i cant see how they can justify their reasons) i started getting v ill, throwing up, tense muscles and shoulders, headaches, panic attacks, shaking, anxiety and tearfulness. I saw my gp who promptly signed me off sick for 2 weeks, i have been reviewed today and she has signed me off for another 3 weeks and i have been given a counselling referral with 1st session being on 9th sept, basically she reckons i may have some kind of breakdown if I have to go back. I looked at my contract, they are breaching when they have given me this letter as my contract states "except for the gross misconduct procedure the disciplinary process will not apply to you during the probationary period" but now that seems by the by ...
I have been using my time off to apply for new jobs, i have an interview on 2nd sept for a better job, obviously i am enthusiastic and hopeful about this!

im just wondering if anyone knows if it is better to resign and the sick leave will be used as my notice (?????) and if a future employer asks why i was out of work i could say i was taking a "career break" (they are popular these days right???) or if i should stay being signed off sick ?

i am worried how it will look to future employers if i have an extended period of sick leave.

i dont want this to affect the rest of my life and i feel rather shit and my stomach is churning writing this as i am cacking myself over this and feel i am heading for something rather nasty mentally ( which my doc knows about!)

thanks everyone

a rather mentally and physically broken foxyhan x
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FoxyHan - Proof that it's not all grim up north

Oooh dear sweetie - this doesnt sound good!

I really cant comment on what you should do about it, but i'm sending you some big hugs! And remember, its never always as bad as you might think.

I know that helps like not at all... but i wouldnt like to comment!

H x x x

Aw really sorry to hear that things have got so bad for you now Foxy, big hugs to you.
My advice would be to seek the help of your Union Rep, but as you've not been in your job too long, maybe you haven't got one, if you hadn't yet joined, but do have one, it's still worth seeking them out as they may be prepared to advise you still

As for your future employment, it's hard to say how people are viewed about 'working gaps'.If I were employing somebody I would be more suspicious of a career break, than a break, that only seemed to happen in one job with a reason specific to that employment. However, I don't always have the same thoughts as most people, so I hope you get some good advice following this thread.

CAB might be good for advice also.

i dont have a union rep, i didnt know there was a union, when i approached union rep i was told they couldnt help and if i joined i would have to wait 13 weeks after joining before they would help - this is the normal time.
I went to CAB he said a few things which at the time were helpful but now are not, the CAB office is now not open still after the bank hol

i feel like my life is falling apart i have an interview next week but I am worried about what they will say about the time I have had off sick and i know that current employer will give me a shit reference even though i have worked bloody hard for them, just so scared its now going top affect my employment opportunities for rather a long time ...
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FoxyHan - Proof that it's not all grim up north

Not a very helpful union, glad mine were more so when I needed them.

Most employers won't give bad references even when they should, and don't forget you can request to see the reference and can take legal action if it is defamatory.

As for career breaks I think they really only apply when you've been doing something for a long time, so I'd avoid that if I were you.
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People take time off to recover from physical and mental health problems all the time. It's not something you should advertise, but don't think you should obsess over its impact on future employment either. Obviously this depends on your line of work (in my profession time off for anything is held against you, it doesn't really matter what it is).

I'm not sure I quite followed what's happening at your current job, but as long as the paychecks are still coming (is it paid sick leave?) I wouldn't resign just yet, at least not until you have something else lined up. Surely in this country it is illegal to fire someone for being out sick?

You're doing the right thing by looking into other jobs while you're off, but remember that the medical purpose of your leave is to try to RELAX, which isn't happening while you're distressed about jobs. It's difficult, but try to spend some time doing things you enjoy without thinking about your old job or finding a new one. Get out of the house, go on a trip, watch a movie (that isn't Office Space, because that will only convince you to burn down your current office) -- get away from it all! That way, when you do go to a job interview, you will be confident and relaxed instead of strung out.

im a receptionist for the nhs ... i just dont want the time off to affect getting a new job ... only seen my doctor again this morning but i feel like i am falling apart the people i need to talk to are either not being entirely helpful or are not there at the moment ... i dont want to go back to where i am employed,the gn so the amount of time sick doesnt look too bad thought of going back scares the hell out of me ... i know the time off is meant for relaxing but i just appear to have been lumbered with doing everything in the house for my dad anyway and he wont listen just tells me this will look shit and i wont get anything else after it and i should just resign so the amount of time sick doesnt get any bigger.
i think its paid sick pay i meet all requirements for ssp and employer hasnt said that i wont be getting this as i know they are meant to say so that you can apply for something else. im scared of going out in case someone from work sees me or one or the people i work for and then they report back im also scared i will get the sack for being off sick and then that will look worse when asked why i left my last job rather than being sick ... which looks shit anyway as then they think you are hideously unreliable and cant work under pressure

my head is going to go bang!

thanks everyone so far x
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FoxyHan - Proof that it's not all grim up north

Some of these things seem worse to you right now than they really are, because you're so strung out.

Fathers are notorious for being unsupportive and telling you to suck it up and deal, and if you behave one way or another you're dooming yourself to lifelong misery on the dole. My father does the same thing; he has been for as long as I can remember, and I still haven't spent much time living on the streets. Don't let him get you down.

Also, I doubt that even if your co-workers DO see you out and about they're not going to assume you're faking, nor are they going to rat you out. That's your anxiety talking. Your prescription is to relax and pull yourself together, and if a few pints is a good start toward that, then go for it. If you're really that worried about it, get out of town and visit a friend for a few days.


If

Don't resign.

You are getting paid so you want that to keep coming in. The period between this job and any new job will be the same whether you quit it or not. You just might be able to skim over the sickness period this way because you can say I was employed with the NHS right up to getting the new job.

If they ask you about your period off sick then you can say that yes you have been unwell, but this is not a common thing (is it?) and that it is tied in with not feeling fulfilled by your current position and that you are much better suited for this new job as it ties in with your interest in....(add interest here).

Don't listen to your dad and tell him (be it politely or not) to shut up, stop getting you to do things and show some compassion.

Your job should not be able to give you that type of letter just because you have gone off sick, but the CAB are the best to talk to in relation to that - when they pull their finger out and open.

they gave me the letter 2 days before i went off ... basically it tipped me over the edge
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FoxyHan - Proof that it's not all grim up north

What did CAB say?

I know it won't be easy, but try to relax until Thursday, then you can thrash it all out with the CAB. They should be able to add some light to all this for you.

Don't let the stupid NHS bully you. From what I've seen they are a pretty awful employer and you will be much better off once you are out of there.

Have some hugs

Hi foxy,
I sympathise with what you're going through and have been in a very similar situation myself.I presume from the symptoms you've given that your GP has prescribed anti-depressants, if so then don't be afraid of taking them (they'll take a couple of weeks to fully work and sometimes the initial side effects aren't always nice) but they work!!
Go back to your GP and ask if you should be stuck in the house all day or out getting fresh air and relaxing. Your GP WILL tell you to relax. Then if you are seen out you will be covered in the event of any disciplinary action over this.
DON'T quit. It will look bad to future employers.
And finally, chin up and try to keep smiling........