Burn out and experiences/advice of being off sick

[Notsurewhatsgoingon]

Hi all,

Feel like all I post is doom and gloom but on here is the only place I can get advice.

I was off work sick for 2 weeks due to severe stress. I work in a notoriously stressful job. I had other things going on at home due to my own family issues and I hit a wall and became quite ill.

After the 2 weeks I then went on annual leave for 3 weeks which I had booked last year.

I let my manager know that I was going to be off sick for 2 weeks at the end of one of my working days (I am part time) and she just said OK in response and didn't ask why??

I have returned from my annual leave last week to a shit show. I only came back because I was scared to lose my job and I can't afford to go on sick pay right now. No one from work has been in touch during my time off or since. I just basically picked up where I left off 5 weeks ago and my work has been left to pile up and is all out of deadlines. I now have more work on top of that as more keeps coming. My supervisors only contacted me to pile more work on and give tasks upon tasks. I am supposed to have monthly meetings with my supervisor as part of my job but these have been non existant for months. I email to request and have even phoned her but to no avail.

I sit at my desk overwhelmed and close to tears. I am supposed to work 8.30-5 but have worked till 8 or 9 most nights and that's not just at home, that's in the community. I don't get paid overtime so have accrued a ridiculous amount of toil I will never be able to take back. Its not just me as my colleagues who I have reached out to are hitting breaking point too and are all working well over their hours (even full time staff).

No one from work has asked about the sickness or why I was off or what they can do to ease me back in.

Its actually worse since I came back as my workload is crazy, I'd need to work 23 hours a day to make a dent.
I manage my own diary but have to get the work done it's as simple as that, it often means I am out in the community late into the evening and no one (except my husband who knows I'm out but not where) knows where I am, if anything happens to me no one would know and it feels unsafe.

I don't know how to carry on like this or if work should have supported me with being off sick? Is that usually the case?

I can't leave this job because I am not qualified in anything else and would have to take a huge pay cut which we can't afford with childcare etc..

Please can someone advise how I make all this more managable when my supervisor and manger barely acknowledge me and just keep piling on more work?
How do I avoid a second round of burnout and what can I ask work to do to help?

Thanks

Does your employer have an occupational health department? Self refer to occupational health so that you can get support. They are there to help staff.

Are you a social worker, community nurse or HCP, OP?

You are heading for another burnout. Think of your health, your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Firstly, as suggested contact HR or Occu Health now.

Secondly, request your workload be halved or shared until you are back on your feet.

Thirdly, make sure you cc eveything with Occu Health and your manager. Request read receipts. Start a paper trail starting from tomorrow.

Contact /join a union.

Ask for a meeting with a rep or an advocate.

Start carving out a lunch break. Start eating. Start staying hydrated. Start respecting your boundaries and expect others to do likewise.

If all else fails complain as high up as possible. Look at your contract.
Ask for flexible working arrangements.
Ask for help, advice and guidance.
Build your own army and don't be afraid to use it.

If all else fails and you cannot fight on consider moving departments, having sick leave whilst you arrange your next move or quit.

Yes. I said quit. Because if no one cared that you were ill they don't deserve you in their team in the first bloody place!

Demand more!!
Good luck, OP.

Thank you your responses.
Your right @Strzzed42 don't want to out myself too much mind you.
I am going to look into all your suggestions ASAP.

Thanks again.

You are very welcome. I will admit that these times are super tough. I will admit that everything you might usually have to do in your everyday may be more laborious, take longer and may be more stressful than it has ever been. With little to no reward or thanks.

But you are worthy of help. You are worthy of self care and you are worthy of respect. I am not saying run for the hills and quit. I am saying that you need to speak louder and to those who can change things ASAP.

Your department might have been too busy to show that they missed you. But don't hold that against them too much. Clearly ask for help (documented, supported by a rep or advocate) and then judge if they are worthy or not. Sometimes we can be so polite and automatically priorotise everyone else's needs - that's not sustainable long term.
Please rest, please eat, please be kind to yourself but most importantly please shout for help. I would place a bet on the fact that they'd rather help you now than watch you quit a little further on down the line. That is a certainty.

Please look after yourself and seek support.