Working self employed while off sick from employed job.

[Kikiw123]

Ok, so as the title says...

I work for a large UK company and over the last 14 weeks I've been off with depression. It's not just my job making me feel this way, it's everything and I can't put my finger on it or know when I will feel better, and back to my old self. I feel like I've lost my confidence and didnt want to get into to trouble at work for making errors.
In August I felt I needed a day to "sort myself out" and called in saying one of the kids was ill. My manager went crazy and demanded I get to work asap. I didnt get to sort myself out and have been off sick since.
The issues I've had have been, parent related (my mum), relationship issues, work stress, children stress and had the worlds worries on my shoulders.
Alongside this job I also do a bit of beauty therapy self employed in my spare time. I enjoy this and find the chat with my clients relaxing.

This is a busy time of year and I really need the extra cash for Christmas. I know that as I'm signed off by the doc I maybe shouldn't be doing the beauty therapy but I've cut back a bit on my clients.

I'm due to take a career break in jan for 18 months as I'm going to make a go of working for myself.

Since I've been off sick I've created a Facebook page and added photos of past work etc and have shared this on my personal Facebook page to get things started for jan.

Today I received a call from my manager demanding a meeting with me this week. Apparently she has had to call HR and wants me in ASAP to discuss.
I think I she's found out about the beauty page and isn't happy.

I'm worried that when i go in for the meeting on Thursday I get the sack. Can they do this with no proof other than a few Facebook shares that I've been working? I'm really scared and feel sick, the way she has spoke to me has out me back to square one.

Ps I've got a union rep helping me on Thursday.

Send her a message instead of calling and explain how you are feeling.
Mental illness is complicated.

I wonder if your beauty treatment activity couldn't be considered as therapeutic, but I would be very careful of doing it for payment.

Can you not speak to her manager, if you don't feel able to speak to her? Because (and not meant harshly) it's really not going to help your cause if you're not keeping in touch, can't go to the formal meeting, not go to the other meeting because of kids' parties etc. Add that to the beauty work scenario and it's not going to look good.

I understand you've done little wrong and that you are ill, truly I do. But you also have to, a certain extent, play the game and comply with company requests. Are you receiving sick pay etc? I do think the company is within their rights to request meetings with company doctors etc, though I think your manager requesting a weekly update by telephone is excessive. If you're signed off you're signed off (you ^are signed off by GP aren't you?) they should not be contacting you as much as they appear to be doing. And your manager seems quite demanding. I imagine a company doctor would be far more sympathetic and would make every effort to attend at least that one. As a previous poster said, it may make your manager realise.

So look at it from the outside.
You are continuing to work at another job while claiming to be sick.
You are refusing to meet with your manager.
You are refusing to see the Doctor appointed by the company.

Doesn't look good, does it?

And yes. You are ill; but communicate with your employer.

ignore any less than helpful posts on here
run everything past your union first
ask the rep whether this counts as harassment as well
dont resign

Hello,
I found this chat, as I was wondering if I can work for myself, when signed off.
I am not sure about the legality of doing this and how it affects my Statutory sick pay.
However, I used to work as a GP, and often signed a sick note with:
''Fit to work with amended duties'' and then listed what could and could not be done.
Then set up a review and encouraged people to work with their occupational health team.
It's well known that working helps mental health.
Good luck

Some links that I have found:
www.davidsonmorris.com/working-whilst-signed-off-sick/
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/

Hope they are useful in someway

I'd hope after 8 years that the OP has sorted this issue...

ZOMBIE!!!