HR peeps - references following being off sick during notice period

[JambalayaC]

Have reached the end of my tether within my fairly senior position at work. Stress from workload, lack of support and toxic atmosphere had taken its toll and is causing anxiety, depression and has led to a complete lack of confidence in any of my skills. It's also contributing to a flare up of a serious auto-immune condition.

I'm not planning on handing in my notice until I've secured another role, but I have no interest in working my 3 months notice, at the expense of both my fragile mental and physical health, and would possibly look to get signed off sick for at least some of the duration.

So in this day and age, how much could that go against me in a new role?

I'm pretty sure my company only give dates / positions as references, but how common is it for HR bods to be pushed for enhanced details these days? TIA

When you secure a new role, it would be better to ask them to curtail some of your notice period. Don't go off sick and drop colleagues in it/have them pick up the slack....

It's less common to be asked for absence records in a reference request but not rare, and many employers will give number of days in past 12 months if asked (it's factual so not risky in the slightest, so long as they don't give the medical reason). Whether that information then puts off a new employer depends is a separate issue - it may prompt them to refer you to OH/ask you for more details before confirming the offer.

I agree with pp, when resigning just ask for 3 month notice to be reduced to as little as possible that still permits some sort of handover then try stick it out. Also, put in a leave request to use up any balance left, before handing in resignation. That will bring date forward a bit.

Having said that, if you do get signed off sick in notice period, then try suggesting an earlier termination date at that point. Many employers will say yes as it's cheaper than having you on payroll and off sick.