To take sick leave to find a new job?

[user1466714206]

I'm currently being bullied by my manager. They have put me on a performance review without notice (we are meant to get training or to be told we are doing something wrong so we can rectify it before being put on a performance review) and they are making up things to purposefully make me look bad (but covering their tracks well so it is difficult to prove) so that they have evidence of me "not doing my job". I have a feeling that they are trying to push me out of the job. I am hard working, I'm good at my job and have never had any problems with my work or previous managers before, so think it's something personal. This manager has form for this, after bullying many people out purely cos they didn't like them.

I am at the end of my emotional tether. I am teary at work all the time, anxious, stressed and I just want to get out of there. I have been applying for as many jobs as I can in the evenings and at weekends but haven't heard anything back yet. Obviously I can't leave a job without having a new one to go to (I have a house and bills to pay for) but I am losing sleep over it, and just the thought of going in to work makes me cry. I have another month to go on the performance review and I don't know if I can cope that long. And I need to get a job soon in case the manager fires me at the end of the performance review - even though I'm doing everything that is asked of me.

Would it be unreasonable for me to be signed off with stress (which, I feel I am) but in that time use it to look for jobs and go for interviews?

And does anyone have any advice for anyone who has gone off sick with stress? Has it affected your chances of finding a new job?

Please help! Thank you

I'd also be a bit careful about how many details you give a prospective new employer about your reasons for leaving. I've interviewed people who've said similar and fairly often, you see red flags at that stage. No employer wants to take on someone they're going to have to performance manage.

I'm not disputing your side of things at all, by the way, just saying it might be best for your job hunting chances to be a bit circumspect. By all means, once you're in there, tell them why you left, but I'd be careful of sounding at all negative towards a previous employer at interview.

You 100% are NOT legally entitled to take 'anyone' i.e. Your mum into a meeting. It must be a colleague or a trade union rep.

Please don't post stuff that isn't true, if OP goes all guns blazing about bringing a randomer into meetings she's gonna look a fool.

Why are you looking to defend yourself against a manager who clearly doesn't like you? Take sick leave and use that time to apply for jobs, attend interviews etc.

Also, I have never in my time of being employed, had an issue with taking lots or little amounts of sick time. Where I work now is in the US and the only thing they will confirm is that you actually worked for the company. They will not confirm salary or number of sick days taken. I would be very surprised if number of sick days is given in the UK when supplying a reference.

Do not mention what your status is until you are offered the job and have accepted it. I know here in the US they are not allowed to rescind a job offer based on a disability or illness as this goes against equal opportunities laws. Again, I would be shocked if the same doesn't apply in the UK.

I have been in your boat. I let it fester up to a point where I walked out without a job to go to. I walked out, then went on the sick but the stress was so much that I resigned anyway and lived off dh for a few months until I got something else. I took on some agency work until I found my job I'm in now and it's a lot better.
If I were you I would just go on the sick with stress, screw them! Good luck, you will get out of it.