To take time off work with no notice?

I'm glad that you have been to the GP and have a sick note to give you a breather, but recovering from the trauma will take a lot longer than 2 weeks and doing it alone will not be easy. Please contact one of the help centres in your area for ongoing support.
I also understand why the thought of reporting it is too much for you now, but you may change your mind down the line, so could you record a video or write a report before you forget the salient details? There may come a time when something seemingly insignificant now, means a lot in the future.
You said you are not responsible for his actions, and of course that's true. Nothing you said or did gave him the right to rape you. However... if he's done this to you there may be other women he's done it to, before you, and if they had reported it, you might have been spared. If you can find the strength to report you may save future victims. I truly hope that you get the time you need to heal the emotional scars x

I’m so sorry to hear this happened to you, OP, and glad you’ve been signed off work by your GP. You shouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt about with! Forget about it for a while. You’ve experienced a traumatic event and need to prioritise your wellbeing.

Wishing you all the best OP. Please look after yourself as absolute number one priority!!

I am going to add that people take time off work at short notice for all kinds of reasons.

This happened to my best friend when she was 18 - the first person she ever told was me, and it was 20 years later - and then only because she had a totally inexplicanble breakdown whilst we were on holiday. She is now 54 and still has PTSD as a result. But, and I am going to be very blunt about this, largely because she told nobody for decades, so the PTSD "embedded" and she was constantly fire-fighting the symptoms and tamping them down so nobody would notice. She has got a good bit better - largely because once she told me, she was eventually able to start talking and also get help.

So I am going to suggest that if there is a senior member of staff - even if not your boss - that you can trust, you should tell them. If you can't face a conversation, send them an email - sometimes putting things in writing is easier and you can think better about what to say, plus it's the start of a journey in being able to speak about it, even if in a limited way.

The other thing I would suggest is that, if there is one near you, you visit a SARC (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/) - these are partnership services that can help, advise and refer you to appropriate support. They also have specialist police officers who you can talk to if you want, with no pressure to report, but who can explain what the process is if you change your mind.

Take care of yourself and don't feel pressured about work - they will survive without you.

No they won't report it without your consent.

Firstly, I'm so sorry this happened to you. How you're feeling has nothing to do with you being 'robust' or not, most people if not all would be struggling with this. Can you speak to your bosses about what's happened, are they supportive and keep confidentiality? I expect they'd understand your need to take time off with no notice, I can't imagine there being an issue with that. I think you should consider getting signed off work and look at counselling and support from a charity, another poster has put a link to NHS services and that's a good place to start. You must prioritise yourself and you're well being, certainly not work.
Lastly, I'm not going to tell you to report this to the police, that is a big step and one you should only do when you're ready and if you think you can. But it's worth considering, if only to access more support. xx

I am so sorry you have experienced this, I am a manager and I would be devastated to think that if a staff member of
mine was going through this that they would think they’d have to stay in work or it would look bad etc. absolutely not, say you’ve been involved in a serious incident/ assault and need time off and don’t need to share detail . I’m sure they Gp would write something appropriate or even write assault or something if needed .

do you have continued contact with the person who did this ? If through work etc then even more reason to be off. Regardless though give yourself time and space. Xx

When I was assaulted two years ago I found a sexual health clinic that had nurses on site specialising in dealing with people who have been raped/sexually assaulted.

The specialist nurse went through everything with me: did all the tests for STIs, told me that they could support me if I wanted to report this to the police and signposted me to trauma counselling. I ended up having 6 EMDR therapy sessions to deal with PTSD through my local NHS trusts within a few weeks of visiting the clinic.

Nobody can force you to report anything.

Focus on yourself and forget about work for now. You can self-certify for 7 days and then go to the GP to extend your sick leave.

I'm sorry this hapened to you OP. Anyone would be struggling. Please take the time you need to come to terms with this and start to heal. Nearly all sick leave by its nature is with no notice (planned operations aside) and happens when it happens. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Your mind is giving warning signs it needs support and time.

As an alternative scenario, if you try and carry on, from what you've said, I think you might come to the stage where you completely fall apart and you will not be able to carry on work anyway. That will take longer to recover from and will be harder for you. And if it helps ease your (understandable but unnecessary) guilt re work, that will mean you need more time off than possibly you do by taking the time now. You need to look after yourself, work can wait.

I hope your trip to the GP goes well and you can get some support through them and organisations such as rape crisis.

You do not need to disclose the exact reason for your sickness to your employer.

I am sure that your GP can sign you off with some generic wording on your fit note.

Please take time to recover & be kind to yourself

They can't legally fire you for being signed off. If you told someone at work I think they'd be horrified and worried, not angry because you didn't say anything.

OP, I am send you all the love. What a hideous ordeal for you have gone through and try to keep to yourself. Take the time. You are too precious to run yourself into the ground. You don't owe anyone the truth, but you may find if you can confide in someone at work the seriousness of what's happened (without giving any detail), they will allay any worries you had about being judged.

Please take care of yourself. Treat yourself as you would someone you loved.

I’m so sorry this happened and you’re suffering.

I know what it’s like to feel you can’t take time off, that things will fall apart without you, and that people will hold it against you.

I promise you, people will forget you even had time off. And more importantly, no one will remember that you didn’t - you’ll get no thanks or reward for putting your own health last.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/

Some useful links and info here.

With time and support the nightmares/ flashbacks / panic you are experiencing will subside. Right now you are in the most difficult part, the initial self preservation shock is wearing off and your brain is beginning to process and make sense of this traumatic event.

No-one will report anything if you seek out help and support. Please do go and see your GP. They are a safe space. Tell them what's happened, take your husband with you if you like, and ask to be signed off to seek the support you need.

Your employer might also have access to an Employee Assistance Programme where you can access confidential support too - please look into this also.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

Both rape crisis and the GP will treat what you tell them in confidence. You don't have to name your rapist, your don't have to tell them details of what happened.

Medical professionals will only report what has happened to the police if you ask them to, or in exceptionally rare cases if they believe that someone else (for example a child) might be at risk of harm.

I completely understand - you have to do what's best for you ❤

I'm so sorry you feel this way. I don't think they are allowed to report it without your consent. I hope you get the help you need.

However, please consider reporting it, for justice for yourself, but also he may do this to other women

Sod work, you are more important and you have to prioritise yourself at this time. I wouldn’t have thought that you need to declare when this happened to work or need to justify any reason for a delay, you are processing this in your own way - I would be surprised if you were challenged on this.

I’m so sorry xxx

Get signed off then get your husband to take you to the police station and please report this!