Civil Service HR advice. Looking for new job whilst on sick leave?

[combatbarbie]

Evening, hoping someone can advise and perhaps link to a reference. Long story short, B has diagnosed anxiety and is currently on 4 weeks work related sick leave. Just prior to the sick leave B decided to look elsewhere for better prospects so sent her CV off to various potential employers. Now on sick leave she was invited to interview and was successful and as per normal procedures have preliminary offered her a job pending references.... B doesn't want to list current workplace as one of the references as she thinks work will frown upon her looking for work whilst being off with stress.

Way I see it, work have created the stress, she is free to seek employment elsewhere if she wants. I can't find anything contractually stating she can't do this, she just needs to tell work she us seeking alternative employment and references may be requested?

Huge back story but not really applicable to the question of can B seek employment elsewhere and accept a job offer whilst on work stress sick leave?

I doubt her current employer would be impressed that she is on four weeks sick leave yet well enough to attend interviews and I don't see how she can not provide current employer info, was it not on her CV?

If they are asked for a reference the current co. can provide a basic reference but there are ways of passing on information that they probably wouldn't put in the reference.

Is B currently on sick leave from the Civil Service or is the new job with the Civil Service?

If new job is with the Civil Service then absolutely no worries as there will be no overlap between B still being on sick leave and needing to hand notice in as the stage of 'provisional' offer while references and even the most basic background check takes between 8-12 weeks at the moment, so B will have returned to work iyswim in time to hand notice in and employers need not know the job hunting went on while off sick?

But she is off work because of her current employment causing her stress and anxiety, trying not to give too much info but B has already initiated 2 grievances....one is bullying in the workplace.

Sorry, she's currently in CS, new job is completely independent company

Most civil service departments only confirm the length of employment as part of the reference process, they don’t provide any further information at all including any sick leave.

Dont know if she has any nice colleagues that she can ask to give HR a quick call and confirm.