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Original poster

Work related stress

15 replies

OneWildBiscuit · 06/04/2024 21:29

Hi.

I'm in a tricky situation. I'm a mental health nurse of many years standing and I've worked in community settings for many years. About a year ago I was really struggling due to menopause symptoms and jumped into a WFH job as a result (PIP nurse assessor).

To say it's been a disaster would be an understatement. The job is horrendous... it's impossible to meet the entirely unrealistic daily workload (I need to start an hour early, work through lunch, and finish about 2 hours after my shift time nearly every day, with no time back or OT paid). Minimal support from management and constant threats of being dismissed if not keeping up. Also there is now added pressure to keep the number of claimants receiving awards low, and pressure to alter reports to allow this.

Morally and ethicality I can't do this any longer, but the jobs market has been absolutely rubbish recently and I've had no luck finding anything else so far. To complicate things, I'm on a top Band 6 salary and really can't afford to drop my earnings which limits my options somewhat. I'm financially not in a position to just quit either.

This has led to me being signed off with stress by my GP for the past 2 months. I've really fought against doing this (never had any time off for stress in my 30+ years career) but I'm utterly broken.

I've managed to secure an interview next week but I'm really worried about how being signed off might affect this. Does anyone know if this may ruin my chances of being offered the post, or if it might result in any job offer being withdrawn?

Can my present employer give me a bad reference for being off with stress?

Finally, in terms of the interview, would it be wise to mention being off with stress and the issues with my current job?

Sorry for the ramble.

OP posts:
FreeCheck · 06/04/2024 22:15

Don't mention anything at the interview.
If it's an NHS job then they usually ask for sickness absence record in the reference so number of days you've been off will show there.

If you get offered the job you'll probably get an Occ health questionnaire to fill in and you can put the reason you're off on there. Likely you'll then get an OH appointment and you can discuss the stress then, what treatment you're having and steps you're taking to manage it.
I'd just be honest that this is the first time in 30 years and it's very situational around a job that is a really bad fit for you. If you do get the job offer you may feel you can get back to work in the short term and then you can tell OH you've now returned to work and all is well (even if you've only been back 2 days!)

I'm sure it will be fine. Good luck

Original poster
OneWildBiscuit · 06/04/2024 23:06

Thank you! That's helpful and reassuring.

OP posts:
suki1964 · 06/04/2024 23:11

I have had friends who have taken on PIP assessments jobs and have stopped within the year due to stress and for them being totally unethical

One lass has gone back to the NHS and they were actually really understanding and accepted that her time off was work related and ignored it, still employed her. I dont think you are the only one whos found themselves in this boat

BigBoysDontCry · 06/04/2024 23:52

Also to add that nowadays references don't contain any personal opinions so they can't give you a "bad" reference as such. All they can complete is factual information such as start date/salary etc. It is likely to include sick leave but again all they can give is the factual information about the number of days. That allows you to provide the relevant details when they ask.

Good luck.

I'm in a completely different work area but I returned after 5 months off with workplace stress with some job adjustments and been back for 2 years now and it's going great. Occupational health said a high proportion of people off as long as me with similar never return to work properly but it absolutely can be done. To be honest I was still unwell when I returned but managed to get some additional counselling to help me stay in work and that helped a lot. I was really only properly better after a year tbh. Sounds like a change of environment would change the stress for you.

Original poster
OneWildBiscuit · 07/04/2024 10:36

suki1964 · 06/04/2024 23:11

I have had friends who have taken on PIP assessments jobs and have stopped within the year due to stress and for them being totally unethical

One lass has gone back to the NHS and they were actually really understanding and accepted that her time off was work related and ignored it, still employed her. I dont think you are the only one whos found themselves in this boat

Thank you. I've known a couple of people too much who've managed to escape this role despite being off with stress, due to the interviewers being aware of how horrendous the role is, so it gives me a bit of hope to hear this 🙂

OP posts:
Invisimamma · 07/04/2024 10:42

I was signed off sick for 3 months last year due to work related stress. Interviewed and accepted my new role whilst off sick. I didn't mention at the interview that I was off. They did a standard occupational health assessment as part of pre-employment checks and was honest then about my circumstances, there were no issues and it all cleared fine. Try not to worry.

On the OH assessment I was clear that the old job caused my stress and my removing myself from that situation I was confident that it wouldn't occur again, it has been a one off brought on my work situation and not an ongoing or chronic health issue.

Original poster
OneWildBiscuit · 07/04/2024 15:28

That's really good to hear and I'm so chuffed for you that it all worked out.

I'm not going to mention being off sick at interview. If they ask why I want to leave my current role I'll say that it doesn't align with my values and has turned out not to be a good fit for me as a result and leave it at that

I'm also not going to be pressured back to work by my employer before I'm ready and will ask my GP to continue my current sick line when it runs out

OP posts:
LadyLolaRuben · 07/04/2024 15:36

There's a national shortage of nurses. Just be open and honest. You'll be welcomed back with opened arms

Islandblue99 · 15/07/2024 05:54

@OneWildBiscuit Can I ask how this turned out?

I’m in a similar situation: went off with work related stress for a couple of months (first time in 15 years of employment I’ve ever done that), applied for and accepted a role which I’m just about to start then received an OH medical form which I’m really worried about.

Original poster
OneWildBiscuit · 18/07/2024 12:48

Islandblue99 · 15/07/2024 05:54

@OneWildBiscuit Can I ask how this turned out?

I’m in a similar situation: went off with work related stress for a couple of months (first time in 15 years of employment I’ve ever done that), applied for and accepted a role which I’m just about to start then received an OH medical form which I’m really worried about.

Fortunately all worked out fine in the end. No issues with Occupational Health/HR part of recruitment process for new job. I made sure I stressed on OH forms that time off was stress related specifically due to PIP job, and not an ongoing stress issue.

Much happier now in new role with supportive team.

OP posts:
TenarAtuan · 18/07/2024 14:22

You are protected by mental health legislation in that you can't be discriminated against for the stress. The NHS is crying out for nurses, at band 6 or any band. I think you'll be OK. I wouldn't mention any of it at interview but it's fine to say this decision to step away from the nhs has been a mistake for you personally and that your values are nhsvalues and not as aligned with that if your current employer and its been a lesson for you, or something like that. Then if you're successful and they ask for OH report you can speak honestly to it. I think you'll be fine.

Startingagainandagain · 18/07/2024 14:47

Can you whistleblow/go to the papers with your story about being asked to basically fraudulently reject claims?

This really needs to be made public...

Original poster
OneWildBiscuit · 18/07/2024 21:35

TenarAtuan · 18/07/2024 14:22

You are protected by mental health legislation in that you can't be discriminated against for the stress. The NHS is crying out for nurses, at band 6 or any band. I think you'll be OK. I wouldn't mention any of it at interview but it's fine to say this decision to step away from the nhs has been a mistake for you personally and that your values are nhsvalues and not as aligned with that if your current employer and its been a lesson for you, or something like that. Then if you're successful and they ask for OH report you can speak honestly to it. I think you'll be fine.

I'd agree. I didn't mention it at the interview; I told them that the role I was in wasn't a good for ethically for me, and they accepted this without question.

I then explained on the OH forms that the stress was related entirely to that particular role, and not a pre-existing or long-term issue. Fortunately, all proceeded smoothly from there and it wasn't brought up at all.

OP posts:
Firefightress1 · 19/07/2024 00:04

I'm sorry you are going through this. Look for a job in emergency assistance, that's what I do and they are always looking for nurses to review medical reports and speak to patients but theres no stress on you to make any decisions, its purely medical. Drop me a pm and if a can refer you i will.

TenarAtuan · 19/07/2024 17:13

Sorry I'd missed your last post, OP. Glad it worked out for you! Congrats on the new job!

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