What to do about work :(

[Queenie6655]

Hello all

Just wondering really what to do
Work in a very pressurised job
Usually love it
We are very short staffed and it has been tough going

Well - I got covid 10 weeks ago
Slowly gaining energy
Mornings I tend to feel ok (some of the time)

Work are really short staffed and I said I would try my best to be back on Monday
My brain fog is really quite bad (zero concentration , some blurred vision)
My energy by afternoon is really limited

I feel so bad to let them down
And I worry that I should just be over this by now
So Monday do I
Ring gp and explain all this
Or
Try to get myself back to work and see how it is for a few weeks???

Any advice would be so so much appreciated xxxx

@PurpleFlower1983
So sorry to hear this

Awful

And long covid is so bizarre
One day I think great I'm fine now
Then bed for days

@weightedblanketlove this is so so helpful

Thank you

I completely agree that you need to take as much sick leave as necessary to safeguard your current and future health. Could you also agree a contact schedule about when and how your boss will contact you? You could ask HR for guidance on this.

Do join a union. You may not be eligible for immediate support but if this lasts a while, they could be invaluable.

Good points

Many thanks

The contact and queries regarding work I CANT do while sick made me so so upset
Fck that shit

I can't help this
Bloody covid

Maybe also ask your doctor to advise on your note that you require a complete break from work? You're sick and stress doesn't help. Tell the GP your concerns, at any rate.

Thanks so much

Brain fog doesn't help witb all this
So all this great advice is so useful

If its a local authority then covid may not be counted as normal sick absence.
Do you have access to work systems at mo as there should be work covid guidance on there for Employees/managers. LAs are desperately short staffed these days but it's no excuse for your manager to hassle you. I'd ask your doctor for a 2-4 week sick note but email your manager to say you won't be back Monday and will get a sick note then. Discuss with your doctor about long covid and your concerns about going back to work too soon.
Hope you start to feel better soon.

Thanks so very true

Great advice guys

1. I couldn't think straight about it all and 2) the guilt was killing me

I'm not able to go back and won't until I feel totally back to normal

No dragging myself in !!!!!

No one will thank you for going in op, you’ll just feel worse if you have to go off again because you’ve overdone it. Your future health relies on you taking care of yourself, you know you’re not ready so don’t push it.

I’ve not had covid. However last October I started having horrendous stomach issues. Was off over Christmas and am still off, had a colonoscopy, loads of tests etc still not right. Been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and have started treatment. So hopefully I’ll be on the mend soon. However I’m struggling with fatigue, I feel dreadful. I’m speaking to my gp on Monday about what’s going to happen next with treatment and time off. I want to go back - I’m a nurse so really physical and full on, I need to be as ready and fit as I can be. I feel really guilty though, work haven’t bothered much or asked after me but not surprised tbh.
You have to look after you as no one else will.

I hope you’re feeling better soon, take care

Wow sorry to hear that

How are you now?

And my god the truth is that no one really cares
No one cares when I did extra and worked most weekends witb no pay
No more guilt
Bloody LA

If you can contact Occ Health yourself, I would do so. In my experience (public sector) they work as an intermediary between staff and manager, focusing on what's realistic.

Right now, I'd say realistically you are not yet fit to go back.
We used phased returns a lot - full pay but not full time hours. But only when the time was right.

I will try to do that this week

Thank you all this has helped hugely xxxx

Definitely DO NOT go back

You risk making yourself ill for life going back before you are properly better.

Their lack of staff is NOT your problem & they don't give a shit about you (sorry)

Do Znot go back, do NOT feel guilty. TELL them tomorrow you will be off until you are well enough to go back & that they are NOT to contact you.

Look after yourself, they sure as hell won't!

So very true and for others wondering the same
Please also read this thread

I have been tormenting myself with grief
Like a fool
Worrying about what will happen etc
When I should have focused on getting better

Maybe now I'm off they will see that i did many hours extra each week without getting paid and without a thank you
Fck that for a life and never feeling good enough 🤬🤬🤬🤬

How are you doing OP? Hope you're still away from work.

Hello

Thanks so much all

Still unwell
EXHAUSTED

So glad many did say it is wise to take my time
Work has been pestering me

But
I'm staying strong
And resting lots

Damn long covid
Awful
Just awful

You need to tell HR that you are being pestered and it's not ok. You don't know when you will be back and then causing you stress is hampering your recovery.

Your health is more important than anything other than people' opinions.
you only have to explain to two people only which is Your boss and your Gp.
Get yourself checked out and on track
Personally I would join a union, nothing nicer than someone to offer advice and bat for you when you should be resting up on Mn.
Rest!

Thank you all

Sending paperwork off for union today

I doubt they can help right away
Prob have to wait a while

Messages to my private phone yesterday

Ughhh I can't deal with this
I almost feel like going back to shut them up 😡😡😡😡😡😡

Have you spoken to HR? You really need to, you need to tell them that you feel harassed. That you will check emails once per week but beyond that you are off sick and this contact is unreasonable and causing you stress. That the stress is impacting on your recovery. In fact you could email your line manager and HR this at the same time.

How long are you signed off for? I would speak to the GP and explain the situation and ask to be signed off for a minimum of a month preferable longer and you will get a fit to work note as soon as you feel well enough to go back.

Thank you

I did work today to keep them off my back
Ffs
Why do this to me

I literally bust a gut for them for 7 years

Handing my notice in this year I have had enough

And the feeling of doing extra but never being good enough for them or their demands
No thanks

Ok, you shouldn't be doing any work. If you are signed off sick by your GP then you need to be resting.

Email a copy of your fitnote (if you haven't done so already) and state I am signed off sick and will not be doing any work whilst my GP agrees that I am not fit to.

Agree that you need to contact the HR dept and point out that it is not legal to contact employees who are off sick and it is certainly illegal to expect them to undertake work.

You are being your own worst enemy here - and you know it! If you do work to keep them off your back they will assume you can do more. And saying why do they do this to me? is silly. The answer is because you let them.

Stop!