To ask what you'd rather from a prospective employee?

[PoesyCherish]

I have posted numerous times about being off sick / work refusing to put the recommended adjustments (by access to work and occu health) in place to help so I don't want to go into details here but I'll put links to my previous threads at the bottom of this one.

Realistically speaking, my job isn't working out for me because of my disability and I have two options - to hand in my notice now, or to go off on long term sick until I find a new job.

In terms of finding a new job, what would you rather if you were a prospective employers - somebody who's on long term sick or somebody who's unemployed?

I obviously wouldn't be looking for an identical role elsewhere but I still don't want a prospective employer thinking badly of me. I don't know what to do for the best.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3378276-to-not-want-to-go-back-to-work-after-being-off-sick

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3382706-to-go-on-long-term-sick

Unemployed

Unemployed.

Generally I would say unemployed as you would be able to elaborate on why you felt you had to leave, although many people just put career break or to go traveling but bear in mind for many roles you will still need to declare your sickness record from previous job.

Unemployed.

Unemployed, also need to check what help or adjustments future employers can guarantee and perhaps be referred to their occy health.

Depends on the size of a business. In the last company I worked for there were 6 of us - we simply could not have accommodated someone who was off sick a lot so would never have employed someone with a lengthy sickness record.

Larger companies have more wriggle room and may consider different factors.

Unemployed

Clicky links:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3378276-to-not-want-to-go-back-to-work-after-being-off-sick

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3382706-to-go-on-long-term-sick

Thanks @LucieMorningstar how did you do the clicky links?

For those who have said unemployed, well all of you actually, would you actually give someone an interview if they were unemployed though? Aren't we always told it's easier to get a job from a job?

Unemployed

@PoesyCherish yes it is but not if you have a long sickness record and are looking while signed off- that leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth

Unemployed, I’d give you a chance. Long-term sick - I’d be worried you’d do the same if I employed you, so I wouldn’t take that risk. It’s easier to get a job in a job, but not with a poor sickness record.

Copied them from the browser. You probably did the same but it doesn’t seem to work for everyone.

I don't think it matters because they will want references from your last two jobs. Or are you going to lie and pretend you never worked for this company but were unemployed the whole time you've been with them? Risky...

Sorry, I meant I don't think it matters what people would prefer because a new employer is going to know about your sickness.

I get what you're saying @TedAndLola

I guess what looks better given I've already had two weeks off (last week and the week before) - two weeks off and then recognising it was the job making me ill so I left, or having an even longer sick record?

Side note - could I not use my previous employer and my volunteering referee? I've only been in this current job a few months.

Unemployed. And yes, I've interviewed people who have been in that position. Just had a standard question about explaining gaps on work history.

@TedAndLola raises a good point. But if there was a risk they could find out... The problem with long term sick it's that it might raise the question - if they're not well enough to do their current job, why do they think they'll be well enough to do this one?

Thing it's, you can't discriminate against long term health issues. So some employers may be more likely to not interview, than risk having to justifying why they didn't give it you later.

@PoesyCherish depends on the job in some yes in others no you'd need your most recent

How much time off sick have you had in this role? How much in the last?
Did you declare your disability at interview/job offer stage? Just anticipating what future employers will ask. For example, if you can say "I declared xyz at job offer stage and was told that this could be accommodated, however it wasn't - despite repeat requests - and I didn't want to stay in a role which could result in high absenteeism and resentment. I can do this role exceptionally well if xyz is accommodated.

Is your sickness disability related? I’m not convinced they can even ask how much time you’ve had off sick till they offer you the job now and they can’t retract the offer due to time off for disability related sickness.

You do not need to declare anything at interview stage unless you want to. I don’t until I’m given a job offer.

Unemployed. I wouldn't think anything about a 1-3 months gap in employment. More than that, it depends on the reason.

How much time off sick have you had in this role? How much in the last?
Did you declare your disability at interview/job offer stage?

@DianaT1969 - I had 2 weeks off in this role. Not sure in my last role. I did declare at interview stage and was told they could accommodate it.

@Buggerbrexit yes it's disability related.

@ChaosMoon but haven't you just said people can not offer interviews if they think you may be disabled? Which I would obviously have to say when responding to the standard application question of "why did you leave your last job"?

Oh and basically it's because I have a joint condition. This current role is 100% computer based which I've never done before, I've only ever had part compute4 based which was much less of a problem. So whilst I told them at interview about my joint condition and said I'd need an ergonomic workstation, I had no idea just how much it would affect me by not having things in place, if that makes sense. I really wouldn't go for anything 100% computer based in the future.

Unemployed if I had to pick. But ideally you need to find a job whilst still employed. I used to interview people all the time in my previous job - people on long term sick were NEVER given the job. Usually always went to people who were still in work.