What to put on self-certified sick note?

[MyrtlethePurpleTurtle]

I am at the end of my tether at work - persistent overwork now for many years (which only accelerated during pandemic).

I desperately need a breathing space before I ‘pop’ / have mental health issues and therefore think I’m going to have to sign myself off sick for a week pending ‘seeing’ a GP and thinking about where I go from here.

Anyone any ideas for what to put on a sick note ?

I really really don’t want to put ‘work stress’ or other mental health related stuff but equally don’t want to make up something fanciful like Covid or which can easily be disproved.

Anyone?

Exhaustion

Stress. Covers a multitude!

Stress definitely and I think you need more than a week.

Stress related illness?

Headfuck? (Sorry - I did the same thing but I can’t remember what reason I gave. Anxiety possibly.)

If you're signing yourself off I.e. self cert / no sick note from the docs (yet) can you just say dizziness, ear infection or something of that ilk to totally avoid the stress / anxiety type words if that's what you're aiming for?

I've done it before. Taken a week to get some breathing space before seeing a doctor as sometimes you just can't get your head round things.

Stress and anxiety.

Thanks, all

@GingerFigshas it spot on in tbat I want to avoid the ‘stress’ reason and have something bland that doesn’t shriek mental health / can’t take any more of it at work

@NotanothernamechangeforMN

Stress definitely and I think you need more than a week.

Thank you. The week is to get some headspace while I ‘see’ my GP and ask to be signed off for a longer period

Do you not only complete a self-cert when you return to work? Can't you get a doctor's note to cover the time you've already been off or am I being dumb?

If youre planning on asking your GP to sign you off they're going to put stress or similar on your line so surely it'll make more sense to put that from the start. It's going to look odd if you self certify with something else. Just be honest.

Not fit to work?
I'd have accepted that as a manager from all but one of my team in times gone by.

If youre planning on asking your GP to sign you off they're going to put stress or similar on your line so surely it'll make more sense to put that from the start. It's going to look odd if you self certify with something else.

This.

I have had people signed off with stress, and I’ve been signed off with it myself. It’s not as bad as you think when you first think about it. It’s much better to get signed off now then wait until you’ve had a breakdown.

Is there something physical that stress triggers off - for instance a migraine or diarrhoea?

Why don't you want to put stress? Whenever I have truthfully put that as my reason for days off, my managers have really picked up on it as something that needs to be addressed - if the overload of work is making you ill, then they need to make some adjustments, working your staff into the ground is not sustainable! When was the last time you took some leave?

If the GP signs you off, they're not going to lie on the form for you. So makes sense to be honest from the start, or it's going to look very weird.

There are many stress related symptoms - they can range from dizziness (the sort you'd get with an ear infection), being short of breath, exhausted with brain fog (like with a virus) to cramps, pain, stomach upsets... If you have physical symptoms and have not yet seen a GP for diagnosis, it would be perfectly legitimate to state the symptoms. If the GP then makes a diagnosis that these are stress related, you have that to go back to management with, it does sound like a discussion is needed

@WeAreTheHeroes

Do you not only complete a self-cert when you return to work? Can't you get a doctor's note to cover the time you've already been off or am I being dumb?

I don’t know - but I guess I have to give a reason at the outset rather than just say ‘unwell’

@midlifecrash

There are many stress related symptoms - they can range from dizziness (the sort you'd get with an ear infection), being short of breath, exhausted with brain fog (like with a virus) to cramps, pain, stomach upsets... If you have physical symptoms and have not yet seen a GP for diagnosis, it would be perfectly legitimate to state the symptoms. If the GP then makes a diagnosis that these are stress related, you have that to go back to management with, it does sound like a discussion is needed

This is so true - and I wouldn’t be lying if I said ‘nausea’

Insomnia is quite a 'good' stress symptom without saying stress. And the added benefit of a night time related reason means that if you are seen Out and About, God forbid even Smiling, no one can bitch and say you seemed fine...

@TheSmallAssassin

Why don't you want to put stress? Whenever I have truthfully put that as my reason for days off, my managers have really picked up on it as something that needs to be addressed - if the overload of work is making you ill, then they need to make some adjustments, working your staff into the ground is not sustainable! When was the last time you took some leave?

Because putting ‘stress’’ down likely means I will be managed out (and not on my own terms). My employer has something close to zero tolerance of work-related stress. And requests for support to manage an intolerable workload get kicked into the long grass

PS I actually had 10 days’ leave in May. That was lovely - other than the low level sense of dread and queasiness about returning to work

Gastrointestinal illness. Could be stress. Could be norovirus. Could be IBS etc.