Off work due to work related stress and company have paid me

[Workanxiety23]

I have been signed off work for 1.5 months due to work related stress (anxiety). I have now been off for just over a month. My company’s sick policy is that 6 days are at full pay and then it’s statutory sick pay, so I was expecting to get less money this month. However, today I have received the full month’s salary.

Instead of thinking ‘oh that’s great’, it is making me feel very anxious. I am not sure if I will return to this job (although I am not ready to make a decision yet), and think that I will need longer than the original time off to get to a place to decide. I feel really guilty that they have paid me the full month’s salary and almost as if I will have to go back even if I don’t want to (at least for a while) or have to go back before I am ready as they have been generous to me.

It’s really making me feel anxious which confirms to me that I am not ready to go back yet or decide what to do, but I do not want to be thought of as taking the piss. Does anyone have any words of wisdom or been in a similar situation? Thanks.

So the policy is 6 months at full pay and you've been off for roughly 6 weeks? You've got plenty of time to get better and make a decision as long as you can get sick notes.

She said 6 DAYS at full pay not 6 months!

OP I'd get in touch (via email so there's a paper trail) and find out what's happened. Last thing you need is more worry later on!

I'd just check with them. Lots of places have a policy like '6 days' but will extend this at their discretion. If you are off with work-related stress they may have decided it is only fair they extend the full pay term to support you.

None of which means you are beholden to go back.

All you can do is be honest with them about not being sure when you might be ready to go back.

Move the extra money into savings for the time being so you don't accidentally spend it.

Contact your manager and explain what's happened, as pp said, preferably by email so you have a record - it's possible they haven't recorded your absence correctly on the system.

The worst they can do is take the money back - it's nothing to worry about.

Are you sure they’re being generous and haven’t just made a mistake?

My words of wisdom are that you should check with your manager first and then payroll to find out why you've been paid in full. They will be able to clarify - either they've made a mistake, in which case you'll simply return the money, or they've paid you in full at their discretion, in which case it's all fine and you can relax.

It could be something like you're paid in arrears... though it still seems like you've been overpaid if that's the case. Agree with pp....put the money aside in case you have to repay. Contact your manager by email if you can't face talking to them.

Oh - and do this by email so you have written confirmation

Thanks Iamclearlyamug, yes it’s 6 days. I can put the money aside in case they have paid me incorrectly, but the thing that is really making me feel anxious is that I now am feeling a sense of obligation to go back as they are being generous to me. My relationship to work is unhealthy and it is sending my anxiety levels through the roof (I have had CBT so will thought challenge when I have calmed down a little).

I know that I should ask why they have paid me so much, but if they say they have used discretion to pay me the full amount (as the reason I am off is work related stress), it will make me feel worse. I just want to cry.

While typing my last message I can see that other people have responded. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I would contact them and check it was not a mistake

They are not being generous - they are applying a pre-determined set of criteria to your case. If they have paid you for the full month it will be because your sickness absences ticks the 'pay in full' box (possibly to cover their backs). You are in no way obliged to go back - if the job is making you this ill then you owe them nothing.

the thing that is really making me feel anxious is that I now am feeling a sense of obligation to go back as they are being generous to me

Deal only in facts, put feelings aside when dealing with this issue with your employer.

Send an email saying 'I believe I have been paid in error, please can you review'. Keep the money aside.

You are not obligated. No one is ever obligated towards work. It is a contractual relationship. If they chose to pay you more (my guess is it is an error) it can not create any obligation, it would just be a gift.

Pick up the feelings with a counsellor or some other separate process.

Email HR and ask them if it's a deliberate discretionary payment

Oops😖

Thank you for your suggestions and for helping me to view this in a different way. I am going to send an email using wildfirewonder’s wording, not spend the money and this morning have challenged my unhelpful thoughts with CBT (which has had partial success).

6 days??? 😱 bloody hell, is that usual? We get 6 months off sick on full time pay (I haven’t been off on sick leave but it’s the policy).
Op just email HR and be upfront, you think you’ve been overpaid and would like someone to check it out. Get well soon 💐