Pulling a sickie ?

[bigtalltrees]

For a variety of reasons, I am exhausted, which is affecting my sleep, and my physical health. I was told by the doctor a month ago to take at least a month off due to this. Physical symtoms aren't serious, just skin, digestion, feeling sick, and back and nerve pain, headaches intermittently. Mood is affected.

I haven't taken any time off, I don't necessarily want to. I have just had an increase in hours approved. I don't want to be honest and let them know I'm burnout, because of the increase in hours and because a lot of the exhaustion is my circumstances.

I thought a week off would help me catch my breath, but I don't known what? Is there a sickie excuse I could use? I've actually done something to my back today, feels like a crushing pain in back and torso but hopefully that'll feel better in the morning !

Migraine maybe? Why have you accepted this change of hours though? Will it not make things worse?

So you’ll have a week off, then what? The issues you had before will still be there. You need to fix what the issues are.

Those physical symptoms ARE serious!

Take a sickie.

Because I'm putting myself under some pressure. I own our home but it is our first time and we had to leave the place we'd always lived due to affordability (and a pinch of homelessness) but it is bought through a help to buy scheme (i am single with two kids, one disabled). The pressure is on to try and move back home. Migraine could be a good excuse, thank you

Thanks for your reply. They are just rumbling in the background, I've still managed to go into the office. Skin is actually one of the more difficult things because my rosacea is so flared

I know what you mean...I suppose just a week to get off the ride? Although yes you're right, I need to look at life and see where I can get my head above water

Tell them you’ve hurt your back and take a week off.

Use the time to rest and really think about whether the additional hours are going to damage your health further

You've hurt your back so use that. Take the week to rest up and thinking about the long term.

COVID seems to be the one where I work. No one asks for proof and you can get a week out of it without any issues. But as others say you are putting off this issues

I can work from home, so I can't use my back? Being honest won't help with it? Given the increased hours which are meant to start end of May

Of course you can, you don’t have supersonic back healing chairs at home OP. If your back hurts too much to work then that applies at home and at work!

You are ill and your doctor has told you to take a month off work. They wouldn't have said that lightly.

Do as you are told before you hit crisis point. Because it seems to me you're not far off.

When I hurt my back it radiated down my leg. I couldn’t sit. I could stand or lie but not sit. If I’d worked from home i could only stand for so long though before that started hurting. Sciatica is agony. It’s like toothache. And you can’t sleep as it hurts and wakes you up.

Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to for your child? Could you do a benefits check to find out?

Your GP told you to take a month off...so get signed off
Simple

Bad back sounds a bit of a cop out if your job is admin. If you had a bad back you could work from home at a reduced pace or with frequent breaks. Unless it's a very, very bad back but then you'd have to tell a proper lie that you've suffered an injury of some sort.

Bad back is not a cop out if you do admin I suffer from regular bouts of Sciatica which is related to my CP. it’s torturous to sit down.
can only lie down or stand and move gently
Take as long as you can
You’re not lying, and you need to rest
Look after yourself

Your doctor is willing to sign you off for a month and, kindly, it sounds like you need that month off. I hope things get easier for you.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I really do appreciate it.

I don't know if I'm in crisis? I feel exhausted and a strange feeling of shell shock. The doctor actually said she would sign me off for 3 months in the same conversation.

I feel guilty, it's not necessarily works problem. I work in HR in a fairly relaxed in some ways, but hyper critical in most ways team, critical more of the other HR team than of managers. I got some development time in the other HR team recently and i used a bit of a pawn, and i was too focused on the relationships. I don't feel ill be missed in any way and people may start to question my job, which is a little bit of a standalone role.

I don't want to be deceitful, but I think eyes will roll if I'm honest.

My back is feeling a bit better this morning.

Anyway, I'm just moaning on. I really appreciate the replies.

You're burnt out and can't see the wood for the trees...honestly start with a month off and go from there.

You wouldn't be being deceitful - your doctor has told you that you need time off. And who cares whether eyes will roll at work? They would be being unreasonable and unfair. You are genuinely ill and completely burnt out.

Take the doctor's advice. You need to go on sick leave.

I couldn't call in yesterday, I just went to work. I feel unable to do it, I'm too worried about eye rolls and people saying things. I'm not sure things are 'bad enough' ... I tried to explain to a friend last night and just thought i sounded moaning and naggy, because there hasn't been some huge catalyst, I just feel on the floor.

Well done going in. The concern is if they decide they can do without your job, then you'll have a bigger problem.

sounds like you need to look for a new job. That should help with your general mood and feeling down. Sometimes a physical health problem is a sign of a different issue, listen to your body.

You aren't going to pull a sickie - thats when you are well enough for work but can't be bothered. You have been medically advised to take some time off.

I hit burnout earlier this year. I rang up and said i wasn't going to be in. Was asked why, and my response was something along the lines of "I'm not sure, I just can't make it". It was fine.
Please put yourself first xxx

Thank you 😊

When you said "I'm not sure" is it because it felt difficult to put into words? In the way that when I told a friend, I felt whiny and nagging? Physically I'm not dying, i could keep going, and there's guilt with taking time off when that's the case, but you're body is screaming at you to stop!