To go on the sick?

[cherrypepsimax]

I have to admit I am stressed.

I pride myself on coping and being able to get the job done. However, I have spent about 2 weeks now still not being able to clear all my e-mails and do the most simple of tasks, because I just can not concentrate for more than 2 minutes. Having googled 'signs of stress' I have over half of them :-(

I run my own business, as well as working part time for an employer, plus general family life. I LOVE my business but I also wanted the security of a guaranteed income. DH is a great support in terms of workload at home, but he can not help with the business because he does not have the skills.

If I was not working 25 hours at week at a part time job I would not be stressed. I would be able to dedicated myself to the business and in all honesty do a better job at promoting it etc. We have decided that I will leave my part time job. I really like the team I work with, but I really am trying to do too much, most weeks I work 50-60 hours.

So AIBU to hand in my notice and then go off sick with stress? I know it could affect my future employment opportunities, I am obviously hoping I will not need to apply for another job because I have my own business.

I feel bad because colleagues have time booked off work over the summer, and if I am not there it will be affecting the workload of the colleagues that are there. I have no holiday to take, because I have taken so much time off to attend events with my business.

Should I just muddle through for another 4 weeks? Or should I stop worrying about my colleagues and put myself first?

Oh and so more drip feeding

Can you not explain to your employer that you're needing to leave as its too much and making you ill then just ask if you can leave without notice? The honesty might work in your favour later down the line.

sorry but yabu x 10. If you are stressed which i don't doubt then you have to put your business on hold until you have worked your notice or leave without pay. I can't believe you expect to be paid to have time off to dedicate to your own business.

looky post might have been a bit harsh but look at it this way - you establish your business then an employee decides to leave but signs off sick for the notice period. How will you find the money to fund that?

I didn't say time off to dedicate to my own business.

I said we had made a decision, I can't go on like this forever, it has to be one or the other, and it was the business. I'm not planning on world domination during my notice period, I was asking a question. I have had lots of responses that have made me realise how I need to handle things over the next few weeks. I need to get myself straightened out when I am under less pressure and I will then be able to concentrate on my business.

Thanks to the PP who have made helpful suggestions.

I was made to feel going to asda was 'wrong' when I was off sick for depression so I can't imagine them being best pleased if you were seen as too ill to work for them, but well enough to work for yourself/skirting your notice responsibilities.

I know how awful feeling crippled with stress is. On one side- it is 4 more weeks, you have a light at the end of the tunnel, but if you feel you cannot go back, then you cannot go back. Maybe hand it in, and try to stay for as long as possible- if you genuinely cant do it, and nothing else can give so you can carry on for the remainder of the notice then maybe you don't have a choice.

I do feel being too ill for your PT job but well enough for your own business is sort of defeating the point of being 'too ill to work' though...

Resign, explain to your boss that you cannot continue and want to leave with immediate effect.

Explain that you cannot work for another 4 weeks because you are stressed and the doctor has signed you off ( get sick note before you have this conversation with your employer).

Ask if they will let you go immediately rather than pay you 4 weeks sick pay.

I would've very surprised of they decide to pay you 4 weeks sick pay when you'll be leaving anyway.

would be

OP " I'm not planning on world domination during my notice period"

almost a shame because there are so many power vacuums right now, you could probably do it

and now I want a cherry pepsi....

good luck with it all, take care.

but I really am trying to do too much, most weeks I work 50-60 hours

Most professionals I know work those sorts of hours. It's normal. I don't think I want to pay taxes to support someone who deliberately goes on sick leave, when I work 50 hours per week pretty regularly, plus have a life.

It is possible: look at what you eat, your exercise, your work habits, your approach to things that could be stressful - a lot of it is about mental approach.

If establishing your business is what is causing you to stress, then really, it's highly unethical to take sick leave from your part-tie job.

Running your own business can be very rewarding, but the start up time is very stressful because it's precarious. If you want the security of a known, regular income, then you shouldn't be self-employed.

So really, YABU - you need to work out your priorities, and not expect other people to pay for them.

OP you do have stress from what you describe, I've been there and carried on for too long, I was also ill with physical medical issues, but I am they type of employee that covers everything, turns up early, stays late etc. I was making mistakes, and just felt like the balls I was juggling were about to come tumbling down permanently. Add to this crippling pain and the need to pee at least hourly and you have my life 4 years ago.

Finally I saw the light or is it the dark? and knew I couldn't go on, I was scheduled for an operation with a recommended 6-week recovery period, I knew that if I carried on I would barely be away from my job for the week I was and in-patient and then would be working from home. So I made the decision to resign, I had an end date in sight (8 weeks for me), I worked as I had been for 6 weeks and then gradually wound down for the final 2-weeks.

By the time I walked away I was already de-stressing even though I was facing a major op, and 12 weeks later I was feeling in control, all in I took 9 months off work in total and it was the best thing I could have done. Money was a concern but I decided that there was no point in having money in the bank and working myself to an early grave.

I didn't have my own small business to develop, so I chose to take a step down from my previous position when I went back to the workforce and a new company.

I'm back my previous level again now but with a completely different approach to my work life balance.

I feel bad because colleagues have time booked off work over the summer, and if I am not there it will be affecting the workload of the colleagues that are there. I have no holiday to take, because I have taken so much time off to attend events with my business

God I resent colleagues like this - they are stressed so I have to take on more work to cover them. Just as well people like me are mentally & physically healthy & strong - but you know, that's not a given or a permanent state. But most of the time, in my field, colleagues on sick leave have serious bona fide chronic illness (all officially recognised & documented), and I understand they can't help it.

In your case, you are stressed because of your choice to establish a self-employed business. It's not stress as a result of years of chronic pain or a serious mental illness. It's entirely because of your choices. Basically, you are contemplating exploiting your colleagues to make money for yourself in your own business. Really unethical. Don't know how anyone could even think of such a course of action. I'm pleased to read that you are thinking of handing in notice & going as soon as possible.