Work have pulled a fast one here.....

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Jane, you must be psychic.....

Went to see my GP this afternoon and have been signed off for another month. In fact, this GP looked quite horrified when he heard about some of my working conditions....

My boss will go nuts, as the certificate says "work stress/anxiety" again, so I'm expecting some kind of backlash; either a meeting (which I will decline) or, asking for the laptop to be returned.....

I'll email him the news tomorrow.....

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Thank you Jane.....

An associate of mine is a clinical psychologist. I met him yesterday because I am an internal moderator for some of the courses he runs and in his opinion, I am showing symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder Type 1 & 2 He has told me that I have to tell the GP that he has seen me and that he is willing to write to him if I need him to. He also said that under no circumstances must I return to where I work now until my employer has put some controls in place.

Blimey.....

He said that I'd done the right thing by removing myself from the situation and going sick..... and that my employer is failing in his duty of care.

He is not connected to my workplace at all, by the way.

[tastyjane]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Right first things first Mrs - the very fact you are getting anxious about seeing the doctor and worrying about whether he will give you a sick note makes me even more sure you are not in a good place to work! Its the workplace and work making you feel like this so the only conclusion in my opinion is to have another sick note until the time you are able to solve the problem (by giving in your notice!). Your current employer and manager do not appear to have done anything to ease your stress and anxiety. I am sure if you talk to the doctor and explain the situation with regards to the new role but that just the thought of going back to work makes you anxious he/she will sign you off for another 4 weeks.

With regards to notice and pay - if you are signed off sick they have to pay you.... if they don't they are breaking the law - unlawful right to withhold pay. As long as you contract clearly lays out your sick pay entitlement and you have not exhausted it they have no bloody choice. Now if you want to start work before your notice is served, if it was me I would just write to them at the time you have a start date (couple of days before) stating that due to the stress and anxiety caused by your current position and their inability to work with you to assist with the situation you are giving notice with immediate effect. OK they may pursue you for failure to give appropriate notice but if they do then the fact you suffered stress under their watch would come out and I doubt very much they would like to have to answer questions about that!

Please, please trust your GP - you are obviously being affected by this situation and it is making you poorly - I would tell them for the first couple of weeks after the last note you were able to relax but as time has gone on and the month got nearer to being over your anxiety has returned.

Jane x

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Thank you both..... I will keep you posted x

[Pixie]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

I don't know the legalities of it P1 but you have to do what's right for you. Your health is what's important. Good luck at the GP's on Monday x

[IF]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

You have to do what is right for you P1, you can't carry on like you have, hope more can advise further and sending you a hug

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

I read a great quote the other day which went:

"When you find yourself taking one step forward and two steps back, you are doing the Tango not failing"

Haha.... yes.... that's a good one PlanB!

The union have just replied to say that he "should" pay me if I give notice even if signed off sick throughout it BUT..... I've noticed that I haven't had the measly 1% pay rise that I was meant to have in September this year. Presumably, this is because we were all asked to sign new contracts two years ago, when my workplace split from the main academy.

That's what I mean by being sneaky..... although the contract signing was organised by different powers that be at the time.

I might just not give my notice and just b*gger off when the time's right then. Doubt they would push a breach of contract issue with all the ammo I've got, to be honest.

What do you lot think?

[PlanB]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

It feels like I'm taking baby steps and feeling my way with this whole situation to protect my own interests but until I have a start date, there's nothing more I can do.

I read a great quote the other day which went:

"When you find yourself taking one step forward and two steps back, you are doing the Tango not failing"

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Hi P1, any updates? When are you back to the GP? More importantly, how are you feeling?

Hiya Cym..... I am feeling more positive about my decision not to go back to where I work...... but still anxious about asking for another sick note next week. I will make an appointment with my GP on Monday and fingers crossed that he sees for himself that going back is not an option.

The new job is progressing but they still can't give me a start date due to red tape their end, which will not be an issue providing I can get signed off again. It feels like I'm taking baby steps and feeling my way with this whole situation to protect my own interests but until I have a start date, there's nothing more I can do.

I emailed my union this morning with a hypothetical question though..... If I continue to be on long-term sick leave but hand in my notice at the end of October to leave at the end of term (Dec), could my employer just tell me to go on the basis that I haven't been there anyway, so I lose out on November/December's money? Logic tells me "no"..... but he's a slippery mo-fo, so I need to know if there's any possibility he could try and do that.

[cymruambyth]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Hi P1, any updates? When are you back to the GP? More importantly, how are you feeling?

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

I know I can't go back there......but I've never had this much time off work.

I will make a diary..... I didn't think of that. I just hope the GP can see where I'm coming from, as I don't see the same one; it's a different face each time.

My boss will be fuming if another sick note goes in...... ..... but there's nothing he can do about it. In fact, I'm getting a twisted kind of satisfaction knowing that it's costing him to get supply staff in.....

Amid the anxiety, that is.....

[tastyjane]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

You are not a fraud - if 10 days before your note runs out you are feeling this anxious - make a diary and take it to the GP with you - are you close enough to them to explain you have another role in the offing? I would tell the GP and I would hope that they would just give you another month to give the new job a chance to come through.....

Jane x

[Pixie]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

I understand how you feel P1.

I've been brought up to have a strong work ethic but I haven't worked for more than a year because I haven't been well enough. Sometimes I feel like a fraud because I look well but I know I wouldn't have been able to dash off at a moment's notice and teach a class I didn't know. Even though I've had another DBS check done and re-registered with the agencies I'm not sure I'll return to teaching. The thought of it was making me ill...just like the thought of returning to this job is making you ill.

You're not a fraud, the job IS making you ill. I'm not sure if the GP can refuse but I think even being out of work is better than being so stressed at work that you're ill. Besides, you don't know what the GP will say until you ask.

[PriorityOne]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Thank you Pixie & If....

I want to get signed off again but feel a fraud..... I'm normally such a strong person.

What if the GP refuses? Or suggests a phased return again like last year? It's worrying me already thinking of what to say.....

[IF]

Re: Work have pulled a fast one here.....

Sending another hug P1, I agree with Pixie, don't go back.......