returning to work after stress/illness

[Janus31]

I have been ill for 2.5 months, with stress and gastric/gallbladder issues

I had my gallbladder removed 4 weeks ago. I am about to return to work.

I get severe chest pains from stress still, and I am concerned how I am going to cope back at work

my gallbladder operation has been successful. I get the odd twinge of pain on right side, but nothing like before. I feel like I am still on mend from this, but is going in right direction

stress levels at work were high when I became ill. I fainted at work, had viral infection, had terrible GERD.

thing is I have not had any official communication from HR about returning. Only brief conversation with my line manager about what day I would return.

I feel low on energy at minute so forgive me if I have not given more detail, but I would like to hear from others who have been off sick, even if in part due to stress at work. How you were treated when you went back?

Did stress levels reduce? Did you end up staying with employer?

all advice welcome. I am not sure what I should say to my colleagues when I return this week. My line managers are out of the office this week. It is a large company I work for

Hi, I haven’t been in your situation but I work in hr. Based on the information you have put here, I would be advising the line manager to meet with you before you come back to work to see how you are, address concerns, discuss how you come back to work, would a phased return be better? If so what would that look like, we would put a plan in place for the first 4 weeks etc also in that meeting we would update on what’s been happening in the organisation, department etc to get you back in the loop.

This is only how I would handle it though to try and support you back to work, there’s no standard way to do this but maybe have a chat with your manager or hrand discuss your concerns?

I was off with stress. I went back and found a new job elsewhere in the organisation within a few weeks. The source of the stress was not going away so I choose to take control of the situation and move. Life’s too short.

When I came back my immediate team know why I’d been off (because they were subject to the same stress) and I don’t know what the wider group knew and I didn’t really care tbh.

I think you can use the gall bladder situation/op as a reason for being off if you don’t want to talk about the stress. Nobody asked me though, but I dont know if they had been told not to!

Best of luck.

gloopygloop

thanks, yes I think reduced hours is good way to go. Thing is my doctors note has run out today. I will go to work tomorrow. But I will go in around 9-30am, leave around 3-30pm. Trouble is my line manager is out until next week. Although last week I did verbally tell him I would return this week.

I have been signed off all along this sickness period. On at least one doctors note stress is on the note. I did discuss stress at work affecting my health before I literally keeled over at office.

As to other options they may offer to me, well not sure. I really cannot speculate. I get real tired quickly at minute and chest pains can build up from stress levels.

The source of the stress was not going away so I choose to take control of the situation and move. Life’s too short - this is so true Piffpaffpoff

Maybe when I get first day out of way, may feel better. My line manager (who I have known for long time) did say HR would want to have a meeting sometime

Unless your employer is very centralist, then I doubt HR would want to meet with you rather than / without your Line manager. Your GP can recommend that you have a phased return / reduced hours / amended duties on a fit note. If you have a good relationship with them and you can’t see your line manager I would suggest seeing your GP and asking for their support. In reality you may decide to move as if you’ve developed negative connotations with your current area of work those will be tough to break without support. good luck.

What is causing your stress

I did in a previous job.
I had therapy which taught me to manage the stress in a better way. I knew my work wouldn’t change, even though my boss said it would, so I needed to change if I stayed!

I work in HR we would have taken advice from Occupational Health to see how we should handle Your return and then meet with you and the line manager or given advice to the line manager as to what was recommended following the report from OH. If a phased return is recommended Your GP can put the details on a fit for work form.
I would expect that as you have made it clear that your are ill as a result of stress at work that the causes of this are explored on your return to work.

Can you try to change the way you see stress? Online mindfulness for 10 mins a day?

Yes I've done it and it was ok actually. A few challenges but my worry was part of the problem. I had to work hard on my thought process. It was just a job. My mental focus had to change onto home life.

Try do a phased return and have a discussion with your manager to see if you offload any work for a while that feels overwhelming. I suggest you put things in place at home to get you through the day. Things that help you realise it's just a job, if you can. Mindfulness, chats with friends that kind of thing. If you have access to Counselling take it. The support can be so good during those initial weeks.

Rest, rest, rest. Physical tiredness affects your ability to cope with a situation.
Try to work on your self esteem and confidence. You are worth looking after. You've been through alot physically and mentally. If you need to move jobs do it.

wow, thank you all so far for so much feedback,

I will write longer tomorrow, I am thinking I should telephone my GP tomorrow, or see him Monday say. He only works 3 days, he is semi-retired, so earliest I can see him is Monday morning. Discuss my work, recent operation, stress levels. If I go in tomorrow to office, can my GP issue a return to work note on Monday with suggested option of phased return. Or do I have this all back to front? Sorry, I not thinking straight at minute

It’s a shame you work for an organisation with poor support processes for sickness management and work place stress assessments. I would never let one of my team return without a clear support plan in place including phased return and occupational health or workplace wellbeing input. It sounds like you need to be proactive in sorting your own return to work plan so don’t be shy in saying what is going to work for you. But whatever you do, don’t return too early even if you have to see any GP tomorrow and get a back dated fit note.
One continuous sickness episode is better than two consecutive ones by going back to early and having to go off again.

dowsabel

many thanks for your advice. I feel you are right, I am going to have to be proactive and carve out my own plan for returning.

Getting to see my GP is a challenge in itself. Because of so many people on his books you have to use the walkin clinics. These require queuing , waiting for around 2 hours to get to see him.

I will go to office today, but will be reduced hours. I will reply/write more tonight