Sanity check

[DisposableUser]

Morning,

As you can see I am using a disposable name.

I am needing a sanity check as I suspect I am being overly sensitive (I do have autism and so often over read situations and let things play on my mind more than they should.)

I have been off school for the last half term with ill health. I was signed off 2 weeks at a time but kept everyone as informed as I could about my recovery. It is frustrating that I am well in myself but the problem is affecting my ability to be in front of a class. I could be in doing other work but not teaching. That wasn’t an option so I was fully signed off.

When I got my last sick note an email was sent around to the whole department saying I wouldn’t be back and that if the problem continues into the next term (which it will in part as upthread consultant has asked for a phased return) there will be timetable implications. Everything is politely written but I can help but feel there is an undercurrent of blame in the email, because I don’t have a classic illness.

It doesn’t help that the school doesn’t use outside cover (private school) so it is all done with existing teachers, so me being off has a massive impact on others. Which I have been made to feel and I feel so guilty for even though I can’t help being ill and it I could I would be straight back. I feel they think I am malingering when I am desperate to return!

Sorry for the essay but any advise would be appreciated.

I think because this is a grey area with no clear (black and white) rules this is why it may be presenting as a difficult to navigate scenario. If you are ill, you are ill, you should not worry and do not overthink it. Do you have an idea of what you want to do/an exit or re-integration strategy?

A phased return would be best but I don’t know how it would work in practise. Reduce the number of class I take would be better rather than reduce the number of days. I just won’t have the stamina to do a full teaching day - not without causing further problems and potentially more time off.

I suppose that I am also a bit hurt that my colleagues, some of whom I thought off as friends, now think I am malingering and believe that I am that sort of person, despite me working fully and pulling my weight (and then some) beforehand.

I think the way they phrased it was insensitive, but it is true. If I were management, I would have sent the first email informing people of your time off, and then only a second email saying that timetable would be impacted IF it happened. But I also work in a private school that uses its own staff for all cover, and it really does impact on other members of staff, so they do need to know.