Embarrassed to request annual leave after being on long-term sick leave

[Fghikb]

I was on sick leave due to poor mental health for 3 months this year. I’ve got 22 days of annual leave to try and take before 31 December, but I can’t bring myself to request it. I have to send an email to all my colleagues to request the dates and I’m embarrassed to, as I’ve only been back 2 months, and on reduced hours.

Sometimes I just think about letting it go. Other times I think I need a break, but then when I go onto the rota to look at requesting dates and I see how many sick days I’ve had this year my heart sinks and I can’t bring myself to do it

@Fghikb : like I think all the PPs I think you deserve your leave/taking it will benefit you

Are there specific reasons for your concern (is this a culture where people don’t take their leave/have you been there only a short time?

In my last company we were encouraged to take a full 2 week break to really switch off - is there a time that is quieter/many colleagues are off (Xmas & NY?)

Or could you use the days to do a 4 day week for rest of this year?

I’m getting on a bit so have been in the workplace for a long time. I’ve been fortunate to not have to take many sick days over the years but this year I’ve had a lot of sick leave, recovery time from 2 big operations and I’ll have another one next month. Everyone can go through a bad time at some point in their working life and need sick leave or companionate leave or some other time off, this year it’s you next year it may be a colleague. Nothing to feel guilty about, take your annual leave you deserve it just as much as your colleagues do, show compassion to yourself as I’m sure you would do to a colleague who found themselves in the same position.

See if you can bring those days into the next year with you.otherwise your colleagues might resent you for it
Just take a few days instead.

Start by finding out how much you can roll over into next year and then decide how much you want to take before December 31st. Many employers let you roll over two working weeks, for example.
Don’t stress about it taking it. 💐

It is understandable, you don't want your co-workers to resent you.

I mean this gently, f you are on reduced hours and need a break after 8 weeks back, after 3 months off, are you sure this role is for you?

If it is, then i agree with PP, maybe take a few days off here and there and roll some to next year.

I can't believe some people are telling you not to take it! That's the fastest way to burn out and going off sick again!

You say you are on reduced hours, can you take say 10h leave each week to make up your hours to normal, and also your salary up to normal?

No one who had been on maternity leave would be thinking this so why would you if you've been on sick leave.

Also those people on here saying it's 'understandable' need to also consider if they would say the same if it had been mat leave not sick leave. I'm guessing not.

Op take the AL!!

If you’re on reduced hours, maybe take the equivalent pro rata on annual leave - ie if you’re on half days, take half the annual leave.

It’s 22 days and your on a phased return? That’s a long time then, possibly nearer two months? …. I’d ask to roll some over and get paid for some.

Why do you have to email all your colleagues about leave, isn’t this a matter between you and your manager? As a manager I would recognise that you have leave to take and not think more of it. Still 22 days before the end of the year is a lot to accommodate regardless of the reason, so I would have a chat to see how much you can roll over and get paid out and then take the rest which would be maybe a couple of weeks rather than a month.

We’re all just a number to our employer, take your leave.

If they are decent employers they will be encouraging you to take it because you'll lose it otherwise

you’re perfectly entitled to take it. Yes staff might feel a bit annoyed about it but they’d take it too if they were in your shoes, trust me! Maybe book it around colleagues requirements as someone else suggested. Let them take priority for the half terms etc

Would you say that to someone who had been off for a surgery? Yes maybe OP does need a break still as she’s still recovering / going through the reason why she took the time off sick.

Good Lord I’m hoping I never work with you. What illness would have been acceptable? Guillane Barre Syndrome maybe or would Cancer be acceptable or would they still have been ‘managed out’? Don’t get ill - you could be next.

Like it or not, being off long term sick can cause resentment especially if it's an illness people can't relate to or they personally would soldier on with.

Comparing to maternity leave is not useful. ML has also been known to cause issues though.

Absolutely take your annual leave, I'm surprised your manager hasn't sat down with you and made a plan with you about it. I do with my team if they've been on long term sick and have accrued a lot.
You could ask about roll over, but Id be more tempted to use it now to ease your recovery rather than have tons to use next year.
I'd speak to your manager and see if they have a preference (assuming you don't!) about times and dates, and whether they'd prefer you take a block, or a bit each week.
Assuming you work full time you could use up 13 days working 4 day weeks. Perhaps work some 3 day weeks if they would be amenable. If you took off a Tuesday and Thursday(for example) you're only off for one day at a time so work impact should be reduced, but you also get regular breaks. (And team members will be less disgruntled about you having long weekends all the time).

If you take one week in early October, one week mid November and the week before Christmas and work 4 day weeks the rest of the time that would use up your days and spread it out as another alternative.

You're entitled to the leave OP but you're right to think it'll cause a lot of resentment. If it was me I'd let it go.

Your workplace sounds absolutely toxic. No wonder people are suffering with stress.

Make sure you take it.

Maybe a week each month, would spread it out nicely.

Or, if you're on reduced hours, could you up them and then use holiday hours to reduce them back down?

I wouldn't do that with all the days though. If you've been back 2 months now. Then you'll have been back for 6 months by the end of the year.

Anyone that would expect you to work 6 months without holiday isn't worth stressing about.

You are entitled to annual leave.

Why do you have to email all colleagues? That is extremely weird. Sounds unhealthy having to do that. Tak to your manager about when would be the best time and get your leave booked.

The organisation also needs to ensure you don't end up back off on sick leave - that is why we have holiday - it is necessary for health and wellbeing.

Personally I would feel uncomfortable about using the leave that had accrued whilst I was off sick. I agree with the PP who suggested that you effectively pro rata your leave entitlement for the year accordingly. Obbiously there is no legal requirement to do this, but back in the real world it seems like a sensible compromise to avoid pissing off your coworkers.

I can understand your reluctance to have more time off, so definitely ask if some can be rolled over to next year/paid

The shocking thing to me is that you have to ask your colleagues for time off by email.
I understand that coordination is helpful etc but really your managers are just washing their hands in a sort it pit yourself way by not managing the leave process.

If you’re feeling uncomfortable about emailing everyone (I’d hate that too by the way), could you speak to your manager and ask them to help on this occasion?

I know that my manager would be fine with this and he would quietly sort it.