Becoming depressed at home

[evouk]

Hi,

For the past couple of months I’ve been gradually feeling more and more depressed. I knew that I’d find it hard through the Winter months

I’m currently on “flexible furlough”. I go in to work for a week and then have the following week off. Whilst I’m off my colleague is in and vice versa. We can’t work from home because of the nature of the job. I enjoy being at work as I have something to focus on. In the Summer I was doing lots outside whilst off but that’s just not possible now

On Sunday afternoon I sent my manager an email. I explained that it would really benefit my well-being if I could come back to work on a weekly basis and made a suggestion of how we could split the week up. This would also help with childcare

My manager hasn’t contacted me. Since covid began we’ve been sent emails about employee wellbeing on an almost weekly basis. When I tell my work that I’m struggling I hear nothing back. Unfortunately my manager is very well known for not responding to emails, holiday requests etc. Most of our holidays are taken without us having had them authorised

I’m back in work on Monday so will give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s waiting for me to come in but my question is, shall I just speak to Personnel as the next step?

One of my colleagues said last week that they want to come back to work full time and that they’ve started going to bed at 8:00pm because they are becoming bored at home and slipping into depression. I haven’t mentioned this

I’m beginning to feel a little annoyed as my manager could have at least acknowledged that they have received my email. Unfortunately this doesn’t surprise me and it was expected, I’m not sure whether he thinks he can just ignore things and they’ll go away. I didn’t contact Personnel first as it would have felt wrong to go straight to them and not my line manager but when I email him this is usually what happens, nothing

Employer's are meant to have a duty of care to their employees. I feel like they send emails out about your well-being because they need to be seen as to care but when you ask for something they don’t want to know

AIBU to have expected to have at least had acknowledgement, where would you go from here?

Sounds like the employer is flaky...
Can you look for another job? Flex furlough would do my head in..,

I am looking for another job and have been for a number of years

Flexible furlough isn't something that I particularly enjoy. I've been doing it for a long time now. I think the main problem is that I just get used to being back at work come say the Thursday but then I'm off for a week and I lose the momentum I'd picked up

I've looked into volunteering during my week off but places I've looked at so far aren't taking ppl on because of covid. I'd like to work at a country park maybe litter picking or just doing maintenance, cutting hedges etc

I did some work in my garden yesterday and I actually felt better for it even though it was trying to rain, windy and cold

My manager is absolutely awful. He's a manager on paper but he's by no means a manager in any other way. Throughout the company he's slagged off for being so useless but he's best friends with the director who got him the job

Still unsure of my next steps, whether to speak to HR etc. I don't think I can bring myself to speak to him when I'm in next week

You are to be looking for a new job. Your health is much more important than any job position or salary. I used to be afraid of loosing job and go through interviews again but I'd never get my dream job if I don't let my fears go.
domyhomework4me.onl

Can you offer to do some garden work for elderly people who are shielding perhaps?