When is it too soon to be signed off for stress?

[chatenoire]

I've had a terrible time ever since I've started this job. I've been here for almost 2 months now, and I know I have to find something else soon. However I need to take my time so I don't end up in "whatever I can get territory". Unfortunately , for the first time I've realised I have physical signs of stress, developing hives and dry patches everywhere in my body, including my bottom. I have sent a message to the GP, but apart from changing jobs, I don't see what else can get me to get out of this horrible cycle. I thought that maybe a week of pure job seeking would get me ahead of it so to speak. Either that or just doing the bare minimum.

Is it two months in the company or just in the role, but more than two years in the company?

Can you take some annual leave to find another job?

Two months in role and company. We can't really take time off during our probation period (first six months).

Assuming you are in England, it means you really don’t have any protection in the first two years if you take time off with stress and the employer decides to terminate your contract. Given you already have notable signs of stress, I’d be doing all you can at the weekends to find somewhere else.

Yes two months and on probation if you go off with stress they can just get rid of you for whatever reason. You’ve only been there two months, if you don’t like it use weekends to search for a new job and then leave.

You say you've had a terrible time, can you pinpoint the source of your stress? Is there anything you can do about it?

Your health is important but from what you've said it sounds like if you're off sick at moment you will lose the job. So I suppose you need to decide how much impact that will have on you going forward in terms of making your stress better or worse

I can relate, I've had a couple of jobs that caused me unnecessary stress and fight or fight kicked in. Unfortunately prior to my current job I did the whatever I could get thing, didn't even last two months it was that awful although seemed to be a pattern as I've noticed it advertised again twice.
Just try and keep plodding on and spend your evenings and weekends hunting...and lunch hour. Remember it's not you and also no job is worth it, life is too short to be stressed or unhappy. I myself am in a challenging enough role at the minute and do contemplate daily if I should go work in retail again! Good luck

Yes, I know I should prioritise my time to look for something else. I have applied for a couple and updated my CV. This weekend I mostly spent crying out of pain (my sore derrier) and tried to "relax". I find it overwhelming at times, but I know it's for the best to get moving. I do hope I get something soon.

If you’re crying from pain then you should probably get to a walk in or A&E, hives and dry patches shouldn’t hurt so much that they make you cry most of the weekend so there is probably something else going on that urgently needs to be looked at.

They were bleeding and definitely cried a couple of times. They seem to be OK today. I know I made them worse as I get "satisfaction" out of scratching them. Sorry if TMI!

I would just quiet quit whilst you find a new job

Always put your health first OP.

It happened to someone who was hired in my team recently. She was about 2 months in the job and then had to go on long term sick leave. She was away for 2 months at least before they decided to terminate her contract.

This is a really chaotic, stressful workplace and it has an appalling staff turnover because of various issues, so I was not surprised at all that this happened.

Bottom line is you need to put yourself first.

If this is affected your health to that extent then take some sick leave and job-hunt. You know you can't/don't want to stay in that job anyway.

Yes I'm perfectly clear that the writing is in the wall and my days are counted because I either leave first, or I'm made redundant.

It's been so chaotic and demoralising from day 1. I know nobody means for it to be that way, but it has been a real struggle.

Some people think I should grin and bear it as I'm still getting paid fairly OK, but clearly my body doesn't agree that it's only about having a salary.

Even during this weekend, I tried to recluse myself as a way of self-help.

I've been referred to "teledermatology" and had to submit fairly sensitive photos. If I can get the itch to go away and live a fairly normal life, I'll be a happy camper.

It might not be stress related. The hives could be an allergy or something.

You won't be made redundant by the way, just dismissed.

You could put in a flexible working request and ask to reduce your hours, you have a statutory right to put in a request.

GP came back can't see me until the 4th of July to take some swabs. What's the point of waiting that long? I know it's not life threatening but I would have hoped they could have prescribed some stronger ointments/creams.