To think I could get sacked?

[Katybbb]

I work from home mainly and have been logging off randomly, turning up late. My marriage ended and all I have done is cry, my ex and I were together for 20 years and I am really struggling since the split. I have been to the doctor and he has given me some antidepressants but I had a meeting with work and they said they didn’t want to go down the disciplinary route. I can’t lose my job and know what I have done is wrong.

You need to check your employee handbook or online equivalent to find out their sick pay/sick leave policies. Depending on your company, you may have a very generous sick leave policy, or one that limits you to statutory sick pay (which is a pittance).

I think you need to get signed off or do your job. I can understand how difficult it is but if you cannot afford sick pay, you need work. You cannot not work during your hours and expect your salary without doing your job.

Have you checked your contract re sick pay? In some places it's statutory only but many companies have better policies where your pay is protected for a number of weeks.

is taking annual leave for a few weeks an option to get breathing space?

I don’t think you’re going to get the reassurance that you want from this post. You really need to be speaking to a workplace rep if you have one, HR, your bosses, your GP. Focus needs to be on getting your head straight rather than worrying about this. Maybe use some annual leave if you can’t afford sick pay?
You can’t continue as you are- it would be better for you to take time off work that to continue to receive full pay but not be able to do the job.

As pp have said, get yourself signed off for a couple of weeks, just to get your head together. Sorry for your break up x

This is the bottom line OP.

You either need to get signed off, or pull yourself together and start delivering. You can't carry on doing a half-arsed job or you WILL be sacked. Sorry if that's harsh. I hope things get better for you soon.

In short. Yes. They could fire you for misconduct or capability.
Best bet is to tell them you've been suffering from MH issues, ask for support and accountability and promise you're going to knuckle down.

Work means they understand and are reluctant to start disciplinary proceedings but you need to step up when you are at work. Or take time off sick for a week or two if you can't. Because work can't ignore this. You need to play by the book.

Speaking as an American, the last thing you would want is to become part of this ticking time bomb.

They don't need to, visibly not working your contracted hours would be enough to put you on a performance imrpovement plan and towards dismissal if they ultimately needed to.

What are you doing to improve your situation? Got a therapist? Considered asking to work fewer hours, or for amended duties for a while?

Look at your contract, look at your employee handbook and if needed ask HR what the situation is regarding pay and sick leave. I mean this with love, though it might come across as tough love; working out how to take 6 weeks leave on SSP is going to be a hell of a lot easier than working out how to pay the mortgage if you are sacked. If it's semi-planned you can ask for a month or two break from mortgage repayments, etc.

You'll have to take sick leave or annual leave. At the end of the day you'll be on less pay if you're sacked than on sick pay even if it is statutory.

Can you ask mortgage company to go interest only for a bit to take pressure off?

Eh?

Step 1 - find and read your workplace sickness policy. It will state exactly what you will or won't get paid for. Most places have a reasonably generous policy that would allow some time off fully paid.

GPs can back date work fit notes. So if for example you see that you will get full pay after checking your policy. And you go off work from this Wednesday but can't see your gp till Friday, you will still be fine. They will backdate.

So sorry you're feeling like this OP 🫂

You've had a lot of good information so far but as PP have said, you need to check your sickness policy. For example, my employer gives 13 weeks sick leave at full pay and 13 weeks at half pay so if you were to take time off with that kind of policy you would be fully paid for three months sick leave.

Take the time off that you need to get your head together ❤️

If you want to keep your job OP you need to get signed off for now and use that time to get your head together before going back. Whether you’ll be fully paid depends on your employer’s sickness package, but even if not you’re better off being without the money for a few weeks than indefinitely when you get sacked.

Most places would not sack you outright but would look at putting you on a performance plan. My advice would be to look up your sickness policy in the HR manual at work and if you can get full pay for time off, then get signed off. Take some time to heal

So my cousin was sacked for very similar reasons. Initially they seemed understanding but unbeknownst to him, they started monitoring all of his movements, time online, number of emails sent and how many were work related, etc. It was when he had his investigation meeting that he found that’s what they had been doing.

He was going through a mental breakdown at the same time but didn’t tell work the extent of which he was struggling (he ended up needing inpatient care) and they found he was in gross misconduct and he was dismissed.

Unlucky for them, I’m a lawyer and I managed to get a decently large payout from them for him because of the way they handled things.

They’re a large international company so they should have handled it better, but even a large international company with an experienced HR department handled the whole thing badly. So companies do get it wrong.

My advice, be transparent about what’s happening and what issues you’re facing. The more they know, the less they can claim it’s a performance issue and actually it’s a sickness issue that they need to support you with.

Well this record would be strong grounds against constructive dismissal if they did try to ease you out.

Can you take a fortnight off sick, signed off by doctor, due to starting the ADs and your personal crisis. Spend the first week doing nothing excpet taking care of yourself, and the second week starting to gently build some structure into your new life without your ex. Get someone to help with any practical stuff like transferring bills into your name, chasing him for outstanding payment of incoming bills etc. Maybe ask to phase back in 3 days a week and really focus on those days, and use the free time around them to rest, take gentle exercise and sort out the changes in life.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope you don't lose your job and that you come out the other side of the break up happier and stronger than ever.

You need to check your employee handbook/contract/workplace policies to find that out.

Book an appointment with occupational health too if you're able to self refer, or ask your line manager if you need a referral. They'll help with ways to make things manageable for you.

Sorry you're having a shit time

I really cannot afford to be signed off. Will I be paid fully? I have the mortgage/bills to pay

Totally depends on where you work. Like others have said you need to check your terms and conditions

I totally understand why people are advising you to go off sick. However, your employer is being very reasonable with you and that might not be so if you now go off sick and it might therefore back-fire.
I personally beleive that 'work' is good for getting people through really difficult times and improves their mental health.
You will find your way through this, just takes time. Good luck.

You'll get paid a lot less if you don't sort this out and they sack you.

Go and speak to them properly and speak to a GP to get signed off if needs be. If you do it properly they won't have grounds to sack you

I think you need to take your well being by the horns.
Talk to your manager and be open.
See what your companies sick pay policy is. If you get paid, get signed off.
In the meantime get yourself out, go for a walk, meet friends etc. I dont want it to sound like a cliché but outdoor exercise will help a tiny bit rather than staying in crying.
Don't neglect yourself, eat well, take rest, drink water etc and take one day at a time.
Time will be a healer but you do need to be disciplined about your job.

You can ask the dr to sign you off for two weeks and you should get sick pay. This actually is important to do as you can use it as evidence if they do decide to do anything drastic. Be open with your employer and log everything all conversations with them.

YANBU to think you could get sacked
Go to the doctor, get an appointment with the community mental health nurse, get properly signed off sick
Get yourself better, then return to work

You need to check your sickness policy and get a doctors note to be signed off sick. Your other option is take annual leave (paid) or some unpaid leave, even if half days of either

However if you carry on logging off and starting late you will get sacked. Remote working is built on trust and unfortunately due to some who abuse that trust, it is always under scrutiny