Going On Holiday When Signed Off Sick

[Tickytocky]

AIBU to book a holiday when signed off sick from work ?

Huge backstory, but basically off sick with work related stress. Doctors note in place for 4 weeks. Desperately need a change of scene and some sunshine. Haven’t been off work for nearly 7 years. Haven’t had a holiday in 9 years not that that’s relevant (feels very relevant).

Would this be unreasonable of me ?

IMO it’s good for your mental health and would probs get you back into work faster. That being said, I wouldn’t be posting photos where colleagues can see/sharing that information far and wide.

I'm never sure, would you be open with your employer and colleagues knowing you're on holiday?

Absolutely fine and will help you.

As PP said though colleagues may be annoyed to see/hear about it

We had a colleague off with anxiety for months. She went on two holidays. People did talk.
It's probably ok, and not technically wrong, but you can see what it looks like.
It's not breaking any rules, but tread carefully.

I think it's fine if you are off for a stress. It's not like you're off for the flu. You don't need to disclose that you went away to your company anyway do you?

Technically you can but be conscious of how it will look if people find out at work. It might make them less sympathetic to anything you have going on in the future and while it shouldn’t, it might change the way they are with you when you return.

DH was off sick for 9 months (mental health issues). We went on holiday a couple of times, once he felt OK to leave the house.

My manager told me to do whatever makes me happy when I was off sick with my mental health. Being cooped up indoors doesn't make your mental health better. Having a change of scenery and enjoying yourself will do wonders. Go book it , and youl hopefully come back in a totally better place and ready to go back to work.

You just need some space to breathe
But I agree don't post online, it will wind your colleagues up .

Just double check your company's attendance policy.

Some places require consent from a manager to go abroad when off work and receiving company sick pay.

In my company, for example, it's gross misconduct if an employee goes abroad while off sick without their manager's permission.

Holiday is fine, going back and telling people about it isn't.
Go by all means, but I'd keep quiet about it.

Absolutely shouldn't be a problem at all as if anything it could help your recovery. Some people may have an issue with it but they're the type who should be ignored if possible.

My feeling is that if your job makes you so stressed you need to get signed off from it, then you should concentrate all your efforts on finding another job. Not all jobs are stressful.

It's tough if you've got an extra workload though and someone is signed off yet has gone to Lanzarote. It's human nature.

Should be absolutely fine and good for your recovery. May be worthwhile checking for any policy as in @yhk's post (I didn't know this could exist/ be upholdable, so many reasons an employee may need to go overseas- family abroad taking care of them, family emergency, as you say, change of scene to aid MH recovery).

Definitely don't post any photos or updates online whilst away. Same with nights out. Obv makes sense you need time out of the house but it may not be taken sympathetically and no point making life harder.

Sickness policy can require you to tell the if you’re leaving the country/going to be unavailable for contact. They can also make you use annual leave rather than sick leave.

Do it but do not tell anyone!

It'll be great for your mental health but don't post anything about it on social media.

If someone tries to contact her and gets a foreign ringtone they’ll know!

It's fine but yeah as others have said I wouldn't post about it on the Internet or if its like a retreat place you could I guess just not if it's a massive piss up

Not a good look; colleagues covering your sickness wouldn't be happy if you are lording it up on holiday. Appreciate holidays have been rare for you, but it's not the best move during sickness from work.

Depends on the holiday. If its boring and relaxing I don't see why it would be an issue

I work in HR. We don’t care if people go on holiday while signed off sick. The doctor has certified them as too sick to work. If you were signed off with a broken leg and went on a skiiing holiday we might raise an eyebrow but otherwise crack on, it’s recuperation.

@PineappleBanana No they can’t. An employer absolutely cannot make an employee take annual leave while they are off sick. If they have annual leave booked and a doctor issues a sick note covering all or part of the annual leave period then the annual leave is cancelled and taken as sick leave instead.

Take a read of this:

www.acas.org.uk/checking-sick-pay/sick-pay-and-holiday-pay#:~:text=It's%20up%20to%20an%20employee,while%20the%20employee%20takes%20holiday

Sounds like you need to contact your employer.

Definitely fine to go. It may help you get better quicker for one thing.

Not fine to plaster all over social media, in my opinion, as colleagues may, however wrongly, feel as though it’s unfair on them. People are only human after all.

I think it's allowed but colleagues will probably take a dim view of it in some workplaces.