...to go on holiday while signed off sick?

[Owlzes]

Sorry if this is long. Trying to cover everything.

I have worked in current workplace 3 years. Ever since starting I've been open about the fact I have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, but it's mostly been under control. For the last 3 years I've had a pretty good winning streak of beating the condition and haven't needed any time off with it at all and generally have a pretty decent sick record, got glowing appraisals, exceeded targets etc. This has all come to a bit of a halt lately and I've been signed off sick with a pretty miserable depressive episode after a fairly inept suicide attempt.

No hospital time, thank god, but too mad to work. I'm currently off sick this week, and the doctor is suggesting that we look at a temporary shift to part time hours when I do feel better (hopefully next week) which he thinks we trial for 2-4 weeks and then build me back up to full time, depending on how things go. My work have been lovely and supportive about this and I really appreciate them.

The issue I have is that bang in the middle of this is a 5 day holiday I booked months ago. Currently it's signed off as annual leave, but my manager commented today that we'd need to sort out what we're doing with that as technically I'm not meant to be taking annual leave while I'm signed off work sick. Which is lovely of him (he meant that I should take it at another time or carry over to next AL year) but I'm now fretting a bit.

The holiday is a short flight to a location close by my family (who live abroad) in a nice posh villa with a swimming pool. I'd have support from family there, wouldn't have to cook or clean or do anything except swim and lie by the pool and it would probably cost us the flights, hire car, villa etc if we cancelled. I'd like to go (although my DP says it depends on how I am and whether he feels confident putting me out of reach of the crisis team) but I'm really worried that me being signed off sick and then buggering off on holiday is taking the piss. My work have been really lovely and supportive and I don't want to abuse their generosity.

What should I do? How would you feel if you were my manager?

You are too ill to go to work - you are not necessarily too ill to enjoy (and benefit from health wise) a holiday.

YANBU

I wouldn't even call it a holiday as such. You booked AL in order to spend time with your family and that is even more important during this difficult time. It doesn't really matter whether they live in the Maldives or in Scunthorpe. I wholly agree that you should be honest and upfront with your employer, and I'm sure that you are sensitive enough not to spam social media with millions of beach-lounger selfies. Go and don't feel even a tiny bit guilty about it.

Completely agree with all the above - you're spending time with family, who will support you through your recovery. Think about it this way - if they owned the posh villa, would you feel guilty about going to stay with them?

I'd just cancel your annual leave and have your trip covered under sick leave. It's just an admin thing, nothing more.

I fractured my ankle a couple of months ago and the doctor said I shouldn't walk on it for 4 weeks but total rest for the first 2 ... as my job in a supermarket requires a lot of standing/walking/being on my feet for long periods of time my doctor signed me off for those 4 weeks with an agreement that I'd go back to work after those 4 weeks provided I was only working on a checkout and on modified schedule.

In week 3 of being signed off I was due to go and visit family in Scotland for a week - my mum was putting me on the train at my home station, I had to make one change which is at a station where I know the change consisted of get off one train, walk 20 steps to the opposite side f the platform and get on the next train, and then was being collected at the other end by my aunt. There was no way that I was going to cancel that trip which involved minimal walking just because I couldn't walk around a supermarket for 12 hours a day!

Meeting with boss today. And I was strongly encouraged to go on holiday and told to have a break and relax and to send them a postcard and please not worry as they just wanted me well again.

Phew.

That's great OP, you must feel so relieved. What a sensible supportive boss! Thanks for updating, and enjoy your holiday - I hope it does you the world of good.

I did after a hysterectomy - GP signed me of and said the holiday would do me good - it did.

Aaaw, glad it's sorted. Have a lovely break.

Glad it's sorted for you. When my parents passed away I took a few months off sick and was encouraged to go on my pre booked holiday by both work and my doctor. It definitely helped because it'll give you time to just chill and not worry about the day to day stuff. Just enjoy yourself.

Oh I'm so glad your manager's supportive - go, and have a lovely time. And no guilt - Mumsnet has spoken, and you are definitely not taking the piss.

Glad work has been supportive OP. Like others have said, time with family sounds like a good way to help your MH right now. Enjoy your break now, no more worrying, just take care of yourself

Sounds like you have a very supportive boss and the admin v sick leave is just an admin thing. Cancelling the AL is just for their info not to stop you physically going away. Have a lovely time 😊

*Not admin, annual leave.

It sounds like the holiday would be really good for you, if you can, you should go.

I work in the NHS and we have staff off work on long term sick who very often can't attend their "keeping in touch meetings" because they are on holiday. No one bats an eyelid.

It's not like you're signed off with a bad back and can't move, or you've been off with D&V or something similarly physical.

I think the holiday will do you a world of good and your boss will know this too.

Go, and have a lovely time. I hope you are feeling better soon

Take the sick leave, go on holiday and use it as part of your recuperation.

Totally this.