Going on the sick

[itsabingthings]

I've been working for my employer on a part time basis for just under 2 years, it's quite a stressful, demanding job and with a lot of people leaving at the minute (mainly due to extremely poor management but that's a different thread), my work load in the days that I do work has nearly double. Some shifts I look at my work load and can't believe how much they expect done to a high standard. They often add more work during the shift too.

Along with a now more increasingly stressful job, I have a lot going on in my personal life, single mum to 3 DC, a very poorly family member who I do a lot of care for, money struggles, keeping on top of everything etc, I'm starting to find myself struggling daily.

Im not sleeping well due to panicking about work, I feel like im being stretched too far at the minute. My days off are spent being hounded by work to pick up more shifts and any free time I do get, between a nursery run, a primary school run and a secondary school run, im working the odd couple of hours here and there.

I haven't got anymore holidays to use and there are events (hopefully) at the end of the year that I've had to use them for so im thinking about taking 2 weeks off and going on the sick.

Now I've never ever had to do this, I really feel like I need just two weeks to do nothing. I'd turn my work phone off and really recharge. Im not good to anyone as burnt out as I am.

How do I go about this though? Im on a zero hour contract but my understanding is I get a sick/fit note from the doctor and send it to my manager. Do I just announce to them that im on the sick? Sorry if this is a stupid question but as I say, I've never needed to go on sick before and my contract really isn't very clear. Thank you

You can self certify for first 7 days including weekends without needing a doctors note. After that you need one. Not sure how much your doctor would need to determine how stressed out you would need to be to be to ill to work. You may have to be specific rather than trouble sleeping to can’t sleep at all plus other symptoms before they are enough to convince a doctor.
You are not usually paid for the first 4 days and then only SSP level. So you may have to weigh up if losing that much money would put weigh any benefits from being off.

Thank you. So to self-certify, do I just ring my manager or email her and announce that I'll be taking time off being on the sick? And if I'm no better after 7 days go to the doctor?

Don't tell her you'll be "being on the sick" that doesn't make any sense. Tell her you won't be coming in to work because you are unwell. BUT check your company's policy or your contract to find out what sick pay you are entitled to (or ask your HR department)

They can’t ask for a doctors note for the first 7 days so they should let you know what you need to fill it. Some companies can make a thing that even one day off you need a sick note which is impossible and puts people off but they can’t legally make you get one.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-carers-and-long-term-conditions/when-do-i-need-a-fit-note/

But yes you can ring up and say I’m to ill to come to work today and need few days off and take it from there.

Yes sorry, obviously I wouldn't use those words! I'm really not that unprofessional. Thank you!

Sounds like you be better off using those two weeks to look for a better job or else you will be straight back into it. Can’t fathom places where they expect you to get through double or triple the work. You need to do a normal level of work and leave the rest undone. Or ask for double pay!

If I were you I would definitely take a week off sick to just unwind from it all.
It sounds very stressful and busy. My work can take over and at one point it was on my mind a lot, they'd harass me on my time off too.
I got to a point where I had to separate work and my life, I now refuse to come in on my days off, I just say no, no excuses or reasons it's just no. I don't answer the phone or messages to them when I am off either.
I think we can be too kind and accommodating and then it's taken advantage of, you need to put boundaries in place when you go back or it will continue.

When I was ill with stress due to excessive workload and personal problems (which is what you describe) I initially phoned in saying I was ill with a migraine (a white lie as I was suffering terrible headaches) and then went to the doctor. He asked how I was and I explained in detail how I felt. He signed me off for two weeks starting that day and the relief that someone was being kind and understanding made me burst in to tears. He also told me to go back to him if I was still randomly crying and struggling to sleep after the two weeks.

You can stay off and self-certify for a week with any illness, including stress, but your workplace will probably have a procedure (such as contact from your line manager every couple of days to check in with them). I would recommend the doctor route because they can offer other support too. The waiting list for various therapies are incredibly long (I waited 6 months for a short CBT course and that was pre-covid) but you will be waiting literally forever if you don't even join the list!

FWIW, since my time off with stress I have put in place healthy boundaries around work. I have finally learned to say "no, I don't have time to do that" when asked to do an unreasonable amount of extra work, and don't check my work emails from home. I did move jobs a couple of years later and my current employer only contacts during the holidays in an emergency (has happened one in 4 years).

If you are on zero hours will you be entitled to ssp? Sometimes you need to weigh up the stress of reduced or no pay vs coping as you are.

Check your work policy on attendance / sickness. As you’ve not been there for two years you will have fewer employment rights so make sure you don’t end up in a tricky position. They may not pay you for the first few days or may refer you to occupational health if it’s stress based etc. Do nothing until you understand the policies. Then it’s just a matter of telling your manager you’re unwell and following protocol around for notes etc.