AIBU to think I'm going to be sacked?

[invisibleboo]

I started with the company on a temporary contract from February 2024 - August 2024.

It was renewed at the end of August and another temporary contract was given until August 2025.

However, I've been on sick leave with a fit not since beginning of October for mixed anxiety and depression. I have also been referred for a dual autism and adhd assessment.

I was going to speak to the GP about signing me off for longer - perhaps until the end of Novemeber for now.

However, having spoken to work to provide an update, they mentioned if I don't return to work once my current fit not expires (Oct 31st) they would need to set up an absence review meeting.

Now, I'm convinced the company want rid of me and I don't think I have many rights as I've been employed for under two years and I'm only on a temporary.

I feel like even if I force myself back in, they'll not renew my contract at the end of August now anyway.

AIBU to think that an absence review meeting is the first stage in the process to dismiss me? Other people have had longer or similar lengths of absence but they've all been there longer than two years and have permanent contracts.

I'm petrified about losing my job and having no income - how will we survive? What do I do?

They'd be acting well within employment law to consider whether you are capable of performing the requirements of the role.

If you're a union member, you need to get in touch with them urgently.

Unfortunately you’re probably right in that they aren’t going to renew your contract. From their point of view they’re paying for someone not to be in.
it’s a really rubbish situation to be in but I’d start looking for another role if you can or look at what help you can get financially until you are well enough to find another role

In my workplace a 4 week absence would be classed as a long term absence and then the line manager is required to arrange a meeting. The purpose is to understand what's wrong, if they can refer you to occupational health etc. Basically what can they do to get you back into work.

If you are only on a temporary contract, then they almost certainly won't renew it, despite your sick leave being for legitimate reasons.

I'm sorry but I agree with others. Technically absence review meetings are good practice to see what the employer can do to support you, but in the circumstances that you describe, I doubt you have any future in this employment.

As an employer I would sack you. Budgets are tight, life is shit and I can’t afford to carry dead weight. I know that sounds really harsh but I’m just trying to be honest with you.

For want of a better phrase you need to decide what you want the most. Do you want to be able to pay your bills or do you want to struggle at home on benefits? If it’s the former you need to get yourself back to work now and carry on in auto pilot.

Again I’m not trying to be cruel to you. I’m just outlying the reality in black and white.

I wish you well

If you are good at your job they may well have you back - explain your situation and advise when you expect to return

However controversial alert - I think you should maybe go into sick benefits if you think you are not capable of going back to work as surely you should free the job up for someone else?

6 weeks is plenty time for antidepressants to take effect

I've been on ADs since 2020!

I get it. I'd sack me, too. Who wants to pay an employee who's not there?

But at the end of the day, I'm sick. I want to be normal. I want to go out and work and do all the other normal shit normal people do. The reality is I'm not sure I can.

I could apply for PIP, but I won't be entitled to anything else as DH earns too much, but not enough for us to be a single income household.

Pip is not means tested. Are they paying you while you are off? Do you know what has triggered your illness and did the company know you have long term depression?

Yeah, so I could apply for PIP but not anything else.

Yes, it's full pay.

Basically, it's working that has triggered it. (Not just there -- could have been any job, anywhere.)

No, they didn't know.

Did working not trigger it the year before? Or is it just since the contract renewal?

Has anything changed at work?

It's not so much whether they renew in August, it's whether they end your contract now because you're not at work. If you can get back to work and sustain your attendance at work so you have a clear pattern from now til next August they might consider this absence a blip, but I imagine if you're off for too much longer they'll dismiss you on capacity grounds and can do so given it's a temporary contract.

"I could apply for PIP, but I won't be entitled to anything else as DH earns too much, but not enough for us to be a single income household...."

"Basically, it's working that has triggered it. (Not just there -- could have been any job, anywhere.)"

Whilst I have a lot of sympathy with your situation, which is obviously very difficult, you need to (both) get a grip on this situation. If your DH earns too much for you to be eligible for benefits so you need to work, but at the same time any work you do is going to have the same result, then you need to cut your cloth, reduce your living costs, and focus on getting well (if possible) so that you can get a job that you can do and which will not end you back in this circle. Because even if you can get PIP (and assuming it even continues to be available which is regrettably looking doubtful) that won't answer your problems. I know that is is scary facing the prospect of having them let you go, and that is a very real possibility. But equally, doing this over and over will make you pretty much unemployable - lots of temporary or short-term jobs and lots of sick leave are not a good look for employers.

Moving on - if you get full pay, are you in the public sector? I know that's not the only place that has full pay for sickness, but for temporary employment it's more unusual in the private sector. If it is public sector (and even if it is not - it's worth a shot but public sectoe employers may be more sympathetic)
(a) Come clean. You have a disability if you have had axiety and depression for 4 years, even if the other diagnoses are negative. Tell your employer the whole truth. You have nothing to lose by doing so.
(b) Consider options - could you go back part-time or on a phased return? Are there adjustments to the job that might make it easier for you to cope?
(c) Ask for an occupational health referral - they may have fast tracks to counselling or other support.
(d) And this is the big one - unless you absolutely cannot get up in the morning, go back to work! Your anxiety and depression will not be solved by financial worries or sitting at home fretting. I KNOW that's a hard ask. But it will not get any easier. The longer you are off, the harder it is to go back. You will build lots of new barriers to returning. It's actually ok to not be ok and say so. Lots of people in work will be struggling with their own demons. But there are real positives too - social contact, a sense of achievement .... a pay packet if nothing else!

Unless you really can't get up and drag yourself to work, you really need to go back at the end of your fit note.

You need the money, unless you can cut expenses in such a way to live on DH money.

I wouldn't keep you on, and would end your employment as I need someone in that role and you are just a temp effectively. I rely on my staff, everyone get sick from time to time but you're saying it's work related, and not just this job but ANY job.

Either you can force yourself in to work and manage, or you can't manage to work in which case you need to quit and get well. You can't do both.

I think a lot of the responses on here don't understand how much autistic people can struggle with work. Saying "you need to just go back" is a bit like telling someone with a broken leg to "just get up and walk".

OP, it's okay if you can't go back, but maybe it would be a good idea to use your time off to look into something you can do part-time, maybe at home or on a self-employed basis?

I'm autistic and suffered real burnout at work five years ago. My mental health was in tatters and I ended up on multiple medications - like you, I ended up going off sick for six weeks before I eventually resigned. I've now run my own business for 4.5 years (part-time, I'll never be able to work full-time again) and things are so, so much better.

It's different when you're temporary as rightly or wrongly with a permanent employee they might be in it for the long haul and being supportive of long term absence etc is an 'investment'. If work triggers it are you realistically going to be able to work anywhere else? Would a perm job which makes it easier to apply for adjustments etc which could help be better?

Yes, OP, I do think this is the beginning of them starting the process of letting you go.

As you say, you don't have the same level of protection as permanent, long serving members of staff. In their eyes it will cheaper in the long run to let you go from your contract early and hire a new temp who can do the job.

I gave a similar history of anxiety/depression and waiting for an autism diagnosis. I had six months off with stress and burnout, returned on a part time basis and realised that actually that particular job just isn't possible for me so handed my notice in and am now much happier in a totally different role.

It's worth thinking about what roles you might be able to do, especially with adjustments, that would mean you could keep working if you wanted to (assuming you do). Part time working has made a big difference for me.

Forgot to say, the job I had six months sick leave from was one I had done for nearly ten years quite successfully. A lovely mix of becoming a carer for my child with SEN, perimenopause and autistic burnout plus extra stresses at work meant I couldn't continue.

Have they made reasonable adjustments to your work? You say you've been on ADs for 4 years, so you'd likely fall under the equality act diagnosis of disability. You might be able to work with adjustments.

The meeting might just be part of the attendance management procedure.

OP is potentially neurodivergent, and antidepressants often have no effect on people with ADHD.

The report from the psychiatrist who diagnosed me actually says ‘has a history of mental health diagnoses consistent with untreated ADHD’. Antidepressants did nothing for me but stimulant medication has changed my life.

If you can't work anywhere without becoming ill, it is not in anyone's interest, including yours, for you to be employed. Maybe self employment would suit you better, or you need to take some time out of the working world to improve your health.

If you really don’t think you can go back because work is your trigger, then it is fair to them to ask then to pay you for another months sick leave. You are already being treated far more generously than many of us would be by getting full pay when you’ve only been there a few months on a temporary contract.

Go to the meeting and be realistic and honest about your capabilities then go from there.

Honestly as a business owner I’ve spent weeks where I’ve stopped eating because I have so much anxiety. I’ve laid awake at night because of stuff going on at work and the stress has aged me about 20 years in the last five.

What I’m trying to say to you is it will be easier to get yourself up on a morning and go to work than deal with the stress of choosing between having the heating on and feeding the kids.

i really do get it. Somebody ripped me off four years ago. For 6 months I went to work every day, closed the office door behind me and did nothing. I didn’t eat,sleep and disengaged from everything. It was horrendous. It got to the point where it was a choice between losing everything or swallowing the anxiety and getting back to work. I chose to get back to work. It was horrible. I cried every day and I still have tough days but those are the days I bury my head in work and get on with it.