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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think if you are signed off of work, you cannot go to university?

85 replies

LetsLightItUp · 07/11/2018 06:56

Don't really want to be outing and write a full story. However, in general, if you are signed off of work, surely you can't be in university for the rest of the week?

OP posts:
Wheresthel1ght · 07/11/2018 06:57

Depends if the activity at uni is likely to exacerbate the illness

Ohheyyy · 07/11/2018 06:57

Depends on the reason foe being signed off work.

Almostthere15 · 07/11/2018 06:58

Surely it depends on the reason for being signed off?

mrbob · 07/11/2018 06:59

Depends. If you are off work because you are an electrician and you broke your arm then I think it is reasonable to be able to go to uni. If you are away from a desk job with a chest infection for example then no I don't think you are well enough to go to uni. But do you mean off work tomorrow and then uni later in the week? Because you might be better by then

ShatnersBassoon · 07/11/2018 07:00

There are too many variables to say either way.

LetsLightItUp · 07/11/2018 07:01

Someone has reoccurring gallstone issues and is waiting to have it removed. Not turning up to 2 shifts a week, but has 100% been going to uni...

OP posts:
RayRayBidet · 07/11/2018 07:01

Depends what you mean by "signed off". By whom? For what condition?
I went to university with someone who was left in ill health following a heart transplant.
He couldn't work but he did study.
Depending on what you study it might not be that many hours actually in lectures. My course was 8 hours a week and the rest was private study (the amount of reading was massive). So you could manage your own time if you wanted.
Why are you asking?

anniehm · 07/11/2018 07:02

Depends on reason - if it's because you cannot physically do your job but can use your brain then it would be ok. If it's because you are infectious, mental stress etc then no, should be at home recuperating

Glasgowbound · 07/11/2018 07:04

Well could he/she walk out of uni easily if the pain gets bad? And not do so at work?

Cleojinx · 07/11/2018 07:04

Maybe they're struggling to both work and attend university so have been signed off work. It doesn't mean the person isn't in pain or uncomfortable but to be fair, university is expensive, something you can fall behind in easily and maybe they're worried about failing what they have worked hard for and can't afford to retake if they do.

I can see why it would look suspicious to some and possibly irritate the workplace but if the person is signed off then they're signed off.

giftsonthebrain · 07/11/2018 07:07

Attending uni is not physical. Most “work” is.

ElainaElephant · 07/11/2018 07:12

You don't like this person do you.

If you did, you would be 100% behind them studying to get a good qualification.

Attending uni can involve no more than sitting, listening and taking notes. It's their work that straightforward?

A sick line isn't code for 'your life must stop until you are back to work', no matter how many people seem to think it is.

ElainaElephant · 07/11/2018 07:14

Just to forget make my point - it is entirely possible to have two jobs and to be signed off from one but not the other, if the jobs are very different and have different requirements.

Mangoo · 07/11/2018 07:16

Surely it depends on the job.

You could sit at a desk at uni but not be up for rushing round a busy ward on the night shift as a nurse.

BlueCurious · 07/11/2018 07:17

YABVVVU

Gallstone are horrendous. I have them. When I have an attack it's the worst pain, worse than child birth.

There's a difference between work and uni. You can get up and leave at any minute in uni, you can't in work. You won't get a disciplinary in uni for missing it (if they know the circumstances), you're likely to in work. Most of the time in uni, you're sat on your arse listening or discussing. Most work will have some physical element to it.

Butt out, it's not your concern.

Userplusnumbers · 07/11/2018 07:18

Why wouldn't it be possible? Study is a very different format to work, so what may prevent you from working won't prevent you from studying.

Physical ailments such as injury may impair your ability to work, but not to absorb information.

Mental health issues such as stress may affect your ability to work but not study.

OhFlipMama · 07/11/2018 07:22

I can't stand all of this 'oh they're off sick they should do this' nosing into other people's business. It seems very spiteful.

pictish · 07/11/2018 07:25

Well as someone who has been through a load of gallstone attacks and had my gallbladder removed, I can confirm that depending on the nature of the job, I would have attended uni over going to work. You can get up and leave uni if you need to with not repercussions or hassle or without needing permission, so you can go in and see how you fare...unlike work.
You are also likely to be sitting calmly therefore pain would be more manageable...unlike work where you may find yourself physically compromised by your role. Etc etc.

So you are probably bu.

wafflyversatile · 07/11/2018 07:26

Maybe your colleague and the doctor who wrote the sick note are in the best position to decide what they are, or are not able to do.

SleepySofa · 07/11/2018 07:28

I was signed off from University for depression, and had a three month break in my studies, but was able to work as a temp in that time.

bananasandwicheseveryday · 07/11/2018 07:28

I am in two minds. I tend to agree in principle that there may not be a conflict here - especially if there is a physical element to the employment. However, I know someone who has recently had this particular health issue and there is no way they would have been able to do either. Their life was extremely limited whilst awaiting their OP - not allowed to drive due to the strong painkillers, not allowed to carry anything over a certain weight, very restricted diet in order to reduce the chance of a recurrence of the severe pancreatitis caused by the gallstone issues. So, if your colleague is as bad as my family member was, I would say they are not reasonable.
Also, you say they are missing two shifts a week due to this - the same two shifts? Because that seems a bit 'regular ' to be honest.
But, at the end of the day, if they are signed off, they are signed off and I don't think there's anything you can do.

Giantbanger · 07/11/2018 07:31

It depends on the job surely?

LIZS · 07/11/2018 07:33

Not necessarily. If the job requires something which aggravates the condition , it may be manageable at uni.

bumblebee39 · 07/11/2018 07:39

I am at Uni because I can't do my job so need to retrain. I am actually signed off Uni at the moment too and doing it from home, though.

Thewhothewhatnow · 07/11/2018 07:46

I know someone who got a degree while signed off with stress. Out of work for a number of years and the degree commenced and completed in that time.

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