Is there anyone on here on works in HR - question about resigning

[nahhhh]

I wondered if anyone working in HR or familiar with HR practices could give me some advice please. I'll try and summarise the situation briefly.

Junior staff member working a graduate job in social media has been working here for less than a year. They have passed their probation and received good feedback on the quality of work from their line manager, and have been told they are exceeding expectations. Two months ago they were signed off work by their doctor for anxiety, initially for 2 weeks although this has since been extended by their GP several times. Staff member describes feeling anxious, crying, struggling to concentrate, worrying about making mistakes, worrying about meetings with clients. Staff member handed in their notice citing their mental health. Line manager wants them to stay and wants to discuss making changes to their role to support them in staying, as well as access to counselling. Staff member has agreed to a meeting with HR and line manager.

For transparency, I'm the staff member in this situation. I just wanted to describe it in the most objective way I could. What can I expect to happen during this meeting and what kinds of things will likely be discussed?

Thank you

They sound like they care about you and value your work. They may suggest reducing your hours, assigning you a mentor, having someone else with experience in client meetings with you, offer counselling and wellbeing support. Do you think you may have pushed yourself a bit too far, if you are exceeding expectations could you cut yourself a bit of slack and slow down a bit.

It's worth having the conversation. They sound supportive and they may want to offer you being referred to Occupational Health or making other adjustments such as reducing your hours or more flexible working. If you're really unhappy or not coping then of course you're free to resign but I'd see what support they can offer you before you make the decision.

What is affecting your mental health? If it’s work related then could they make improvements?

If personal are there other things that could help?

Or are you just ‘over it’?

They sound like a good employer so I’d consider staying if they are willing to help.

I think it was a mixture of work ramping up and personal things too. To be honest after doing a lot of reflection I have a lot of personal issues I probably need counselling for that have made my job 1000% times harder than it should be, for example being a people pleaser and a perfectionist. That's not work's responsibility though and I feel a lot of guilt that I'm not giving them my best, if that makes sense. I'm a really private person and I feel really uncomfortable that I've had to tell my manager I have mental health issues, I'm more the kind of person who smiles and says everything is fine even when it's really not. I'm really nervous about the meeting as I don't really know what to say.

Just bumping in case anyone has any more advice before the meeting

You sound like you have a great employer who is doing absolutely everything to help you. At the start of the meeting tell them you feel anxious about the meeting although its nothing they've done wrong and thank them for the support they have given you so far. Be as open and honest as you can, you've got nothing to lose because you were leaving anyway.

Before you go into the meeting, have a good think about everything they can do to make the job more manageable. Also think about what you can do to help yourself and tell them e.g. counselling sessions. Maybe one of the things is to ask for time off for counselling sessions. And for what its worth - have them at the end of a day so you don't need to go back into work after a counselling session with your head whirling with thoughts.

Wish all employers were like yours. Best of luck x

In addition to what others have mentioned, you could be offered the option of a period of unpaid leave to enable you to deal with personal issues. If you take it up, remember to keep paying your NI contributions.

Op I think you’ve posted several threads on this now, which is a sign of your extreme anxiety.

let them take the lead, email your manager and ask if he can summarise what will be the objective of the meeting and what will be discussed, so you can prepare.

I suspect though you are better off out of it, but there maybe a better opening for you elsewhere with the same company that involves less interaction with others

in reality I think you should focus on getting treatment and moving to recovery.