Husband signed off with stress

[FunnyOrca]

My husband has been signed off with stress 3 times in the last 6 months, while working two different roles in the same company.

He moved role after being signed off the first time and has already been signed off twice since starting the new role.

I’m very worried about his situation and don’t really know how to help and certainly want to avoid stressing him more.

The whole house feels kind of under a cloud when this is going on. I can’t explain it but it really gets me down when he is down. I’m worried they won’t keep him on, but he assures me his job is secure when I ask this. It’s hard for me to understand because I know my job wouldn’t be as understanding.

Hi, is he getting any help via his GP or occupational health via his work?

Is he taking advantage of company policy or is he genuinely so stressed he cannot work?

Is it the workload or the people that is stressing him?

What’s his long term plan to deal with the stress? Is he looking into therapy/exercise/meditation etc?

My work is extremely forgiving about people taking long term sick - there is a woman in my team who has taken 3 to 6 months off every single year since 2020 which is when she first started in her initial role. She has since been promoted.

I don’t really care aside from the fact I find it a bit annoying when they talk about us having to do a bit more to cover her absence.

The way I see if they’re allowing her to do this consistently and even given her a promotion in that time it’s a them problem! They can bring in agency/temp staff or suck it up.

The whole house feels kind of under a cloud when this is going on. I can’t explain it but it really gets me down when he is down. I’m worried they won’t keep him on, but he assures me his job is secure when I ask this. It’s hard for me to understand because I know my job wouldn’t be as understanding.

He needs to be more open with you, why is he so sure his job is secure? Is he aware of other people who have taken that much sick leave and been ok ? What’s the general job culture there?

They may well be super understanding and he is right in what he says, but he needs to explain why he thinks this.

But either way he mustn’t become too comfortable, because we hear it all the time how workplaces can blindside people when they’re least expecting it.

If there’s sudden redundancies for example they may look at him first and if he has to find another job, it will be on his record about how much sick leave he has had which he’ll need to explain to the prospective employers.

They legally have to be understanding I suppose, because it’s his mh, so in that way he is safe really. As you say the house is under a cloud I’d that be of the depression or you feeling stressed worrying?

What is doing to address the root cause of his stress/depression?

He needs to speak to his GP about counselling and antidepressants.

If his job is causing the stress because he is overworked then this needs to be raised with his line manager.

Or he needs to find something less exhausting.

Basically him getting signed off over and over is not going to solve anything and you can't carry on living "under a cloud" in your home.

Is he getting support through occupational health and have they offered a referral for counselling?