Feeling so guilty about being off work

Are you able to work from home?

The last week of July (on a Wednesday) I had a nasty fall and broke my arm. Needed a plate and 6 screws in it and spent 3 days in hospital (there were other injuries too). I was luckily able to work from home, and was back in front of my screen Monday morning. I had the whole of August working from home, and then luckily I felt able to drive.

However, I wasn't in full plaster. I was in a bandage and a sling, so a different scenario.

5 weeks is taking the piss. Consultant nowadays will sign people up for the maximum they think could be needed.

If you can take the bus but need to leave earlier, can you just ask to do that? Take a week off, see how you are next week, but 5 weeks for a broken arm with no complications feels excessive .

You have been given medical advice to stay off work. Why on earth would you not follow it?

At the moment your consultant has said to rest and you're in pain. So I'd definitely take the time off until next week when you have the x-ray to see how it's doing. That'll give you an idea of whether it's on the mend or not, whether you still need to rest to help it heal, and whether the pain is beginning to ease. You can then make a decision whether you need more time off or not. Even though your role is in-person there might be some work you can do from home as you improve. You might also be able to work reduced hours. If your work place has an occupational health doctor it might be worth talking to them, but I think that's a thing for after the x-ray next week.

Definitely take the recommended time off if you can. You’re in pain. You shouldn’t be thinking of working. Will you be paid? When I broke my shoulder, I had four weeks off and a year of physiotherapy.

I think as you're able to type, I'd probably ask to work from home once it's less painful.

But it's up to you, you don't need to justify taking 5 weeks off if that's what you want to do.

You need to rest and heal. Forget about work, if you don’t heal properly you could have problems the rest of your life with your arm. You don’t need to feel guilt, these things happen. Rest and recuperate.

Just take the time off to recover.

When redundancies come round, they will have no qualms about letting you go.

(Not saying your injury will count against you. Simply that you are just a number and they have no loyalty to you).

If you're not fit to work, you're not fit to work in my opinion.

If you feel you can work from home, contact your HR department to discuss it.

Personally, I would take some time to recover and see how you feel in 2-3 weeks.

💐

Give yourself time, when you have the next xray you’ll know more.
I broke 3 ribs last year. I was floored by the injury for months. I thought I’d be brand new after 6 weeks. I walk very carefully now.

Don’t feel guilty.

Your consultant wouldn’t have signed you off for no reason.

You’re in pain and likely not able to focus on work even if you could get there

I fractured my head of humerus last year and there was no way I would have been fit to work even after 5 weeks. It is an incredibly painful and sometimes complicated fracture. I ended up having surgery on it 6 months later because I didn't rest it properly and the bones healed wrongly. Honestly, don't feel guilty but make sure you rest it as much as you can.

That may not be possible. Many jobs don't just let you leave 30 minutes early. Someone needs to be there, physically. So OP can either be off sick and work finds cover OR she goes in and performs the role fully.

Not everyone is just an office worker with a laptop to log in anywhere.

If I was your colleague I’d be fuming. If you’re a desk job you should be in to be honest

I think the PP was suggesting she asks for a reasonable adjustment.

Not that they may definitely be able to grant it.

I would wait and see how you feel in a week or two but definitely don't feel guilty about being off - you need to rest your arm for it to heal properly.

Why though? If you would be worried about shortfall/excessive work, this is a concern for management, not the poorly colleague. It is on the managers to ensure service continuity.

Im in hospital now for an op on my wrist.

Accident was a week ago on Sunday, i carried on working from home while I waited for an assessment but when my head of dept found out, he was angry at my manager for not folliwing the policy. He said he admired my work ethic but it wasn't my decision to make.

Our process is to refer to occ health for an assessment to see if reduced work can be allowed.

Hoping to be out tomorrow, self certed this week but will probably need signed off for 2 weeks at least, I can still work if occ health agrees but no driving until the Dr approves.

Check what your work policy is for alternate duties/working if you really feel ok to go back.

Because frankly there is no need to be off work.

I had this same situation when I broke my arm, except I'd worked in my company for longer. I also felt really guilty. The issue was more with getting to/from work, than actually doing the job itself. Public transport where I live (big city) is absolutely rammed and chaotic during rush hour.

It was a very small company and I had a good relationship with my boss, in the end I ended up doing some work from home for them while I was off, but not full hours or my full job.

If you could comfortably wfh then offer to do that rather than being off for five weeks.

If they’re stupid enough to turn you down, you stay off.

Yeah cos consultants don’t know what they’re talking about.

Op, just follow the medical advice. Get back to work fighting fit and with no backward steps.

If your signed off your not technically insured to be on the premises so if you were to go back you would need a note saying your fit to work.

Got a friend in a similar situation. She's begged to wfh but they won't let her. I said to her not to feel guilty-she's missing out on all the rest of her life (hobbies, holidays etc) and if they won't let her wfh that's on them, she's done all she can. If you're in pain and it's a genuine, medically recognised situation, you shouldn't feel guilt.

Do you realise OP will potentially have a full cast on, it’s an upper arm injury. Everyday tasks will be a struggle.