Off sick

[MerryGinmas]

I've been signed off for two weeks due to a health problem. It got to a point where I would be unable to teach due to symptoms but equally unable to do anything to sort it out as I couldn't leave thr classroom . My mental health suffered and the doctor signed me off with exhaustion and the health problem.

I had an operation last week to try to resolve it which didn't work and am now having a major op next week which will fix it permanently but is going to be hard going. I've been advised I'll need six weeks off but I'm hoping to be back after 4.

I feel terrible for being off as I'm an NQT and a new member of staff . I'm signed off until my next op but I'm starting to improve after last one and hoping to go in at some point this week to help with planning ahead for my longer absence.

My teaching has suffered as a result of my issues, as has every other area of my life. Is there anything I can do to improve things for school while I'm off? Will I be allowed back earlier than my dr recommends? I'm desperate to prove myself and be the teachers I can be instead of a wreck.

My recent op should improve things for a few days once I've recovered from it and I'm hopeful I'll be well enough to go in at some point before op. School have been very understanding generally but I haven't actually managed to speak to my boss as he was off for his own reasons when my symptoms worsened. I hate being out of the loop.

The best thing you can do for school is to focus on yourself. No one in school is irreplaceable or will cause a disaster by being off sick. Our head was off for 6 months and the school survived just fine.

If a highly qualified and experienced surgeon says you need 6 weeks off then take 6 weeks off. The best thing you can do for school is to not go back until you are full recovered.

Major surgery is not easy and the healthier you go into it the quicker you will recover.

The best thing you can do? Take the six weeks off. Focus on testing and healing so you’re back to full strength when you return. If you don’t you could end up needing more time off.
Good luck.

@jackshouse @wolfiefan Thanks for your quick replies. I know I need to rest and heal, and if it was someone asking me I'd say the same. It's just difficult when you feel you're letting your class/ school down.

At least much of my recovery will be over Christmas so it's not actually 6 weeks out. Realistically I know I can't help being ill and that I just need to get better.

Trust me I get it. Secondary teacher for nearly 20 years. Never put my health first. Taught through a MC and vet poorly child too. It broke me. I doubt I will ever work again.
You need to get well. School won’t crumble without you.

I've been advised I'll need six weeks off but I'm hoping to be back after 4.

Why? I think the medical experts know more about this than you.

Take the time now to rest and recover. In the long run if you go in too soon you will put your recovery back further so do more harm than good.

It's landed at a good time. People understand. Take the time and go back well in January.

Fgs don’t go in this week, you have been signed off.

Also, not to be rude, but as an NQT you’d be better leaving planning for your longer absence to a more experienced teacher.

I get that you want to help and feel guilty, but that’s the lot of a teacher. You have to focus on your own health.

@clowdyweewee just because when I've researched the op a lot of people go back on light duties after 3 weeks or so. The secretary did say that they prefer to say longer and then if you're better sooner you can get back more quickly. I haven't had chance to properly speak to Dr about it as I was still coming round from anaesthetic when I spoke to her and I don't have all my op details yet but I have my pre op in a couple of days where I can ask more questions.

I know you're all right. It's just not in me to be off sick 😂 I'll veg and worry about going back when I'm better

I've been off for 6 weeks after being hospitalised with pneumonia. There's no point going back early, no one will thank you for it and you'll likely push yourself too far and then need more time off which will be harder to cover your classes than a planned absence. The guilt is normal, but you have to put your health first or you won't be a good teacher when you return.

Take the full time off.

Make sure your consultant knows you are a teacher and it's your NQT year so s/he can properly judge when you are fit for work. As well as the workload, remember that working in a school carries a higher risk of exposure to infection than most other workplaces.

In a year's time no-one will remember you were off for half a term if you are then fit and well. If you don't allow yourself time to recover, you may make yourself so ill that you can't continue teaching.

Hope the op goes well.

I'm also off sick due to an operation. Like you, I'm kind of between treatments at the moment. I'm pretty much recovered from the operation, but now awaiting some further follow up treatment. So, I kind of could go in, BUT I have a sick note and also however well you feel in yourself, after an operation, you need to be very, very careful. The wound isn't fully healed until 2 months afters the operation, and any sudden movements, heavy lifting, general hustle and bustle of a school - any of it could rip the scar open. It's not worth the risk.

You're seeing the job as being far more important than it really is. It's just a job, a way of earning money, don't kid yourself that it's anything else. You're also seeing this time in your life as far longer than it really is. It's six weeks! Out of 40 years of working, it's nothing, you'll almost forget you even had the time off in 20 years time.

Just take the whole time off and forget about work.

planning ahead for my longer absence - don't do this, you're not being paid enough to manage your own absence, your managers are being paid to do that, so let them manage the situation.

You are also not letting your class or school down - in fact, it's actually quite arrogant to think you are somehow irreplaceable or indispensable. Believe me, you're not. When my DD was in Y3, her teacher (an excellent teacher, my DD loved her), had nearly a term off. The school managed the situation just fine, my DD was taught just fine, her teacher came back fit and well and taught the rest of the year just fine.

@astuz I know I'm not irreplaceable, I've been pretty rubbish recently tbh 😂 I know. I'll plan to be off for 6 weeks and see how I go X

Take the full time off, don't be in and out, that's just disruptive. So take the full time out be polite, clear and communicative with SMT so that they know where they stand and when they can expect you back. Whilst you're off if you feel up to it, put a bit of work into researching your subject and how to teach it effectively. Then, when you're fully recovered go back in smiling and fit and wow them with your teaching.
As SMT this will impress them far more than dragging yourself in like a martyr whilst you're still unwell.

If YOU feel better (and just you, not based on feeling guilty) you can ask to go back to school on lighter duties.

For me, I did this when I had a surgery that meant in no way I could actually teach as I was on crutches but aside from my foot I was totally fine.
In the end I took 3 weeks off work and then I spend 6 weeks in my department doing all of the admin and prep and helping everyone else out.

However I was not asked to do this at all, I wanted to (as I was bored at home).

But schools cope, trust me they do, put yourself first, get better and then go back in when you feel ready to.

Take the full time off, talk to your NQT coordinator as well, your time off might have to be added in to your NQT year. Which is absolutely fine!

In lreland if you are signed off for 6 weeks you are not insured to go back before that time.
Also you may feel well at home but the energy you need for a class is so different from whats needed to potter around at home so take that into account.
The worst that that could happen is to go back and have to stay out again. That would be messy and awkward.