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

True

Very true 😢😢😢😢

Why did you work? You aren't really helping yourself here.

Speak to HR. Stop with doing any work or replying to messages.

Because when I go back the manager will have a list ready for me of things she is unhappy with
I was taking one thing off her list

Won't be doing it again

But when I'm well enough I will tell them how unhappy I am
That I have done the same work elsewhere for a higher salary and more respect ✊

So I have decided to just block their numbers

If they need me they can email my work email which I will check maybe once a fortnight until I am well enough to return

They have no respect
Working my ass off and now they want more while I'm sick 😳😢

you need to communicate with them op

You need to get some proper advice OP - maybe call ACAS? CAB can be helpful and a lot of solicitors will offer a free 30 minute session.

Then speak to HR, your boss shouldn't be contacting you like this or asking you to do work when you're off sick.

I had an awful experience when I was off sick for a month when I was 22. I could barely walk - I was crawling to the toilet at one point.

Management were very open about how they thought I was faking it due to my age and had 'manipulated my GP and Consultant into thinking I was sick' - still not entirely sure how I faked my blood and ultrasound results - and they threatened me with the sack in my first week off sick.

CAB were really helpful. Unfortunately employment issues are very common when people are off sick so they had a lot of experience!

In case this escalates I would keep a good clear record of contact etc. and what you have been asked to do.

But you also need proper advice, you don't want to do something now which might affect you if things get worse, or if you ever needed to bring a claim against your employer.

Please email HR & your line manager and state you are unwell and you will check your email weekly and give them an update each week.

Your policy will likely state that there is responsibility on both sides to keep in touch whilst signed off sick.

Copy HR into every email. Your weekly email only needs to say that you are still unwell and don't know when you will be returning and your next GP review is on x date.

Please keep lines of communication open, OP. I speak as a former manager : someone off sick used to leave voicemails for me at 6am (it was a 9-5 job), and never responded to my calls asking for a conversation to see how she was. It was hard not to get suspicious!
Email HR and cite 'workplace stress' due to requests for you to work. Mention this also to your GP. If possible, get that added to your fit note. HR will take notice of that.

They need to lay off you; be civil to them, but be a broken record: 'I am signed off, I will check work email once a week, I will be available for a weekly phone call on X day afternoon...' or similar, copied to HR.

They shouldn’t be harassing you like this whilst you are signed off unwell. I agree with what others have said, agree to give them a weekly, or fortnightly update on your health, but do not be tempted to engage in actual work matters.

All you need to focus on now is nourishing your body, resting, and gradually building up your stamina for daily life back again.

And when you DO go back, definitely insist on a phased return. I think your GP can help with that as part of a ‘fit’ note

Hi OP

I'm sorry I dont think you have a choice. You cant work, you're not up to it. If you are flagging by the afternoon from just being at home, its going to be 10x worse when you're working in a high pressure work role. You will last a couple of days, completely exhaust yourself, and put back your recovery. This is not the best thing for the company or for you. It will make everything worse in the long run including your sick record if you go back and then go off again. I think you know in your heart you can't do it at the moment. Speak to your doctor and ask them to put long covid on your sick note

Only go back when you can manage to stay alert and feel ok after a day at home and have built up to a trip out and going a walk etc. Giogle CFS and pacing, that may help you

Thank you all

Funny to see these posts today was trying to push myself back in
But still not able for it
Def emailing them on a regular basis but no phone calls I can't face that

OP
Please don't push yourself to go back. I had 2 relapses trying to do this.
I've just had my 1 year Long Covid anniversary. It's no joke.
Please take it steady!

Your GP can also use a "may be fit to work" option. This gives you more flexibility than a phased return and can be reviewed as needed. (Not recommending this for the stage you're at now but you could discuss with Dr so you're clear on all the options.) Hope your work back off..

I had covid, had a week of - because of my work pattern, that was around ten days in bed.
Felt OK, but aware I was getting fatigued easily; figured a totally non-physical job, so that didn't matter as WFH. I had totally underestimated the brain-fog and lack of mental acuity - things took tons longer than they should have, and I was having to double check all my work.
I ended taking a further week off, and feel OK now - but I remain convinced that going back to early resulted in covid dragging on way longer than if I'd not gone back to work so soon.

Your health is your priority, not a shitty employer who has no respect for your wellbeing.

@wildthingsinthenight

OP Please don't push yourself to go back. I had 2 relapses trying to do this. I've just had my 1 year Long Covid anniversary. It's no joke. Please take it steady!

I'm so sorry to hear this

Poor you 😢😢😢

Sorry OP I didn't mean to sound so dramatic and doom and gloom! Just think pushing yourself is not a good idea

Yes so so true and thank you all

I was pushing myself back in weeks ago

Still unwell
Still can't work

Guys all so useful thank you

A may be fit to work note
Is this common?
Never heard of them

Yes a fit to work note is just ticking different boxes on the sick note.

So you could be singed off for 3 months and then when you are better ask your GP is give you a "fit to work" note to cancel out the sick note.

Or they can say "fit to work" with the following restrictions/recommendations.

I think you need a discussion with your GP that you are being harassed by work adding to your stress. Ask to be signed off for a few/several months and you will ask for a fit note when you are feeling better. It's very likely you will need a phased return too.

Thanks so much !!

Very helpful

@Queenie6655

Guys all so useful thank you

A may be fit to work note
Is this common?
Never heard of them

A may be fit to work is another option. It means that you can do some work but at any point if you're struggling you can stop. So you could do an hour's work and then need a rest but feel up to doing more later. It's flexible. Talk to your GP about that option. Your bosses may not have heard of it so get all the facts from the GP!

My line manager has just gone off on sick for the second time with long Covid. It shouldn't be under-estimated. Which obviously you are not doing but your work are. It's not beneficial for anyone for you to go back now, look after yourself OP

I still think using the phrase "workplace stress" will make your manager & HR sit up and take notice. In my workplace, that was like putting a rocket under our bums (speaking as a former manager).
Basically, if you say you are stressed, you are stressed. There is no objective test, they can't ask you to prove it. But if I'd been doing what your manager is doing, I would be in big trouble. Please believe me!

You guys are great

Many thanks all

I'm still unsure what to do

This has been so very useful to hear all this useful advice xxxxxx