Teachers - Signed off sick (stress) pay.

[Anonbee]

I am stressed because of work and feeling very down and ill with it all. I am physically being sick with anxiety some days and not sleeping. I am considering getting signed off from work so that I can focus on repairing my mental health and finding a new job that isn't going to make me depressed, but I am worried about how we will cope financially. I feel trapped by the 3 month notice period as it's making me feel even more depressed and anxious, and stopping me from being able to apply for jobs and move on from this awful chapter.

Has anyone been signed off from teaching before? How does sickness pay (due to stress) work? Did getting signed off make finding a new job hard?

Hi - I did this - I handed my notice is before October half term without another job to go to.

As soon as I did this the weight lifted.

I was then able to interview and start sooner which was a bonus for the new role.

It really was the best thing I ever did career wise. Life is too short to feel like this - there are better things out there.

Look at agency - colleges other schools. Good luck

Yeah like pp, I'd resign and look for another job. This one isn't going to get better if you're this stressed. I dont think being signed off is helpful, it could be a concern to future employers.

I've been there too although I was coming up to retirement. You can be off sick with full pay for do many months then half pay. You need to get signed off by the GP and speak to the Union.

@RaelImperialAerosolKid Did you get signed off after handing notice in?

Yes - the doctor didn't put stress though - put it down as labyrinthitus - I think I went back for the last two weeks.

Got a new job by the last week of term - they were v happy they didntbhave to wait .

I was honest about what had happened - bad school management - horrendous HOD etc etc

When is your notice deadline ?

I got 6 months on full pay...college left me alone...then moved to half pay and they started to harrass me etc...then they offered early retirement and redundancy to everyone except me as wanted me to stay so i did another 6 months on the half pay and then they gave me a deal like the others...!...gp gave certs easily...stress was on them....job was awful tho...others may be able to comment on how it affects new jobs etc as didnt apply to me...just do the odd bit of tutoring now...go see gp and get at least a month or 2 to breathe and decide what you want to do ...good luck.

FFS

You are not indispensable to anyone but your family. Stop doing stereotypical teacher..it's not bloody worth it. Not fair on you, your family nor your pupils.

(Ex teacher)

Try part time or something else completely

Watch your teeth on that. Comes with a teaspoon baked in so you can dig out the prison camp

Sick pay is 6 months full and 6 months half but you’ll be sent to occupational health etc

Having a long sick absence could affect you getting a new job though, you’d be better off handing in your notice and applying for a new job / supply work, to start at the end of your notice period

I went off on long term stress 2 years ago and it was never shared with subsequent employers. I got 100 days on full pay. You need to do what is right for you

The notice period means you probably need to resign first, then job hunt (unless you find a place that will wait for you). I handed in my notice when I returned in September and found I’d spent all summer dreading going back. I’d job hunted over summer and lined a non-teaching job up to start once I’d worked my notice. However, it was so utterly unbearable that during my notice period my GP signed me off when I went to him in desperation to ask for sleeping tablets or anything else he would give me. I was paid full pay for only a couple of weeks then barely anything as it was an academy with crap sick pay. However, they released me early rather than continue to have me off sick without returning so I was then able to end my contract and start my new job early.

My sickness reason was never shared btw and my gp told me I had no obligation to go to work and see occupational health as he was the one deciding I was not fit to work, not them. So I declined.

If they can find another teacher to replace you, they may agree to a shorter notice period.

If you hand your notice in before Oct half term then you can leave at Xmas.
You could negotiate a shorter resignation period but it sounds as though you actually need the time to just mentally recuperate so in your shoes I would get signed off until then if possible.

I was in a similar situation 2 years ago and resigned as I was crying on my way to work every day. Awake until 2am most nights worrying about work the next day. Managed to cling on and work my notice. Left a permanent position with no job to go to.
I registered with a couple of supply agencies and haven't looked back - even during Covid when there was no work. Figured I'd rather be skint than ill and miserable. Supply really boosted my confidence as I felt appreciated and built up a good relationship with several schools.
I now work in a school that I absolutely love. They are not all the same, thank goodness!