What reason for sick note from my GP

[whatisforteamum]

I've been struggling since lockdown with severe depression diagnosed by a professional trained in MH.I have moderate to severe anxiety too which can fluctuate and limits my life.
Due to some issues I've considered getting signed off for a short spell and my go has asked before many yrs ago if I wanted the real reason on the note which I did.
My current employers wouldn't understand though so what reasonable reason could they put that wouldn't be used against me.

I wouldn't lie on your sick note - that could backfire on you in the event of a dispute with your workplace.

Ask the GP to be as vague as possible.

It has to be something that’s true, so you will need to speak to your GP to see what they feel comfortable saying. They can give a vague diagnosis if they think it will damage your wellbeing or relationship with your employer so they could perhaps write something like “unwell” if that’s the case - but your employer might refer you on to occupational health to discuss further (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but just to be aware).
I hope you are feeling better soon and that your employers are more supportive than you anticipate

"Requires a period of convalescence to recover from illness"

Viral Illness would probably be suitable. Covers elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, tiredness, that sort of thing. Or he could use post viral fatigue?

No bad backs, though.

My GP put down 'stress at home' when I needed some time off. It wasn't the exact reason but I guess it vaguely covered the situation so I didn't feel like it was a lie. I didn't ask him to write that, that's just what he put when I explained the situation, so I imagine they use that term commonly to cover a range of things.

My dr recently put 'depressive disorder' down instead of 'depression, anxiety, and alcoholism and off to rehab for a month'!

I do like my dr.

Work didn't bat an eyelid.

We are not allowed illnesses and my manager said were not a charity in reference to another employee who had MH issues.😪

Bless you offtorehab.Good for you and good luck with it all.

Could they put something like 'currently unable to fulfill work duties due to acute exacerbation of chronic condition'?

I’m not sure if it’s the same where you are but I’ve a feeling workplaces aren’t entitled to know your exact illness (I’m in Ireland), just that a doctor is certifying you as unfit to work due to “illness”.

Whether or not you go into specifics is up to you, at least over here. If you have a clause in your contract regarding employer referring you to their occupational health doctor after x number of days off sick, then you may need to tell that doctor but again, can request that he/she doesn’t specify the nature of your illness to your employer.

If it’s not the case where you live then I’d go vague as can be.

That is interesting redlemon.I have no idea if the is the same in England.

I'm in Ireland too and my Dr writes freewheeling is unfit for work from such and such date to date

What RedLemon said is the same in England I think

For depression I’ve seen 'illness' and surgical miscarriage ‘recovering from operation'

Speak to your GP

@whatisforteamum

We are not allowed illnesses and my manager said were not a charity in reference to another employee who had MH issues.😪

They can say that but at the end of the day, employees get sick. Everyone gets sick and mental illness is just as valid as physical.

They sound like a shit company and I might use the time off to job hunt if you're up to it.

Hope you feel better and take some time to relax.

I think this might be illegal...

@whatisforteamum

We are not allowed illnesses and my manager said were not a charity in reference to another employee who had MH issues.😪

Print off loads of official government and ACAS rules and guidance for sick leave for mental health issues and leave them on his desk. Your manager needs to come into the 21st century if he wants to avoid a lot of serious tribunal claims.

Unfortunately it seems you have a rubbish employer. Drs are pretty vague but can't lie

Some of it is meno related so could it say womens issues.
No one wants to enquire further surely.

I'm currently off with stress. The GP asked me if I wanted to put "Stress at work" on the note. I said yes as that's what it was but I appreciate that not all employers are understanding.

The note has boxes for Patient Name and then says, I assessed your case on: box for the date. and then says "and, because of the following conditions" box for reason and the "I advise you that" choice of boxes, one says "you are not fit for work" and the other is that you may be fit for work taking the account of the following advice: Then a big box with space for comments plus boxes to tick saying you may benefit from "phased return" "altered hours" "amended duties" "workplace adaptions" and then spaces for the dates/signature etc

So, I'm not sure if you could leave the reason box blank?

I hope you start to feel better soon OP.

Doctors can be vague but they can’t lie. Also they won’t write a huge long sentence like some of the suggestions above. I would go for depressive disorder (wrongly this wording seems to be taken more seriously than “depression”) or “ stress at home” because then they won’t hound you to find out if your illness is work related.

@whatisforteamum

Some of it is meno related so could it say womens issues. No one wants to enquire further surely.

Gynecological issues then

I once told the Dr I had a chronic UTI and asked for a week off. I have a history of them and my urethra is shorter than it should be so I get them all the time, Dr doesn't even check my wee anymore, but I digress.

I didn't have a UTI I was just too stressed out at work and having a PTSD flashback problem.

So the GP didn't lie, I lied to the GP that's the only way round it I could think of.

GPs used to put nervous debility on sick notes a lot. Otherwise could GP but something like exhaustion or insomnia if those are your symptoms?

Don’t worry about what to put, you’ve got enough on your plate - the GP will know what to do. I hope you feel better soon

I spoke to an employment support charity who said put my real reason as my workplace are bullying me and it will support my case not go against me.
Thank you for the advise.