Depression, new job and sick leave.

[daisydot86]

I have worked in a middle management role in my current school for 3 years. Before this I worked in a school since being an NQT. Then I got the job of my dreams - or so I thought. When I got the job I was on cloud 9. This didn’t last long. We had an inspection soon after I arrived that didn’t go very well. The whole regime has descended into chaos. The scattergun approach to management has severely impacted my workload. Short and unreasonable deadlines. No coordination of tasks given to middle leaders. Excessive meeting time. Unbearable.

I am I school 7-5 every day. I go home and put my daughter to bed and work every evening until 10/11 o’clock. I could work later but choose to stop. I eat ready meals because I don’t have time to cook. I don’t excessive any more or really see friends. I work most Sundays as my daughter plays by my feet asking when I will be done. Not to mention the holiday work.

I take full responsibility for the poor boundaries I have put in place but ultimately the way I have worked for a job I love has driven me into a deep depression. I cry every day. I come home and my ears are ringing. I feel fraught and snappy with my daughter. My husband begged me to leave and find something else and has supported me unwaveringly. So I did. I have a new job for September at a smaller school with no leadership responsibilities. I am happy to work hard but intend to have a fixed working day and leave it at school. After so many years I am confident I can get all of my teacher work done 7-5 in the school day on a regular week.

Heres my question: my physical and mental health is shattered. The management have not taken kindly to me leaving. I feel they have a ‘we’ll show you’ attitude to me leaving and I feel anxious and worried about the summer term. Would it affect my new role if I was to be signed off work until the first week of the summer holiday? For context I am taking anti depressants and m having counselling for work place anxiety.

Could it cause any problems ? I have signed a new contract at the new school. I would feel comfortable telling my new head and line manager the situation if i had to.

TIA

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear things have been and continue to be so hard. It sounds a lot like my previous school and it was absolutely hideous!

I know someone who went sick for a few weeks before they left at Christmas and started a new job in the January. Didn't cause any issues at all.

You could check with your union for peace of mind but being sick now should have no bearing on your new job, especially since contracts etc. Are all done.

Heads talk. Would it affect you if you got signed off for a term? In the end, a doctor would have to decide if they were willing to sign you off for 12 weeks. It's not really your decision. To be honest, it sounds as if you're happy to not go back after Easter and let things falls where they will in your school. Not sure how that will play to your new head.

If you are unwell, you are unwell. Don’t force yourself to keep going if it will be at your detriment. I did this before and it didn’t help me in the long run.

It shouldn’t impact your new job. Heads do speak, especially if they are in the same borough. But ultimately I don’t think they would go out of their way to sabotage you if the work relationship has broken down. They’ll likely want you to leave and losing you a job wouldn’t enable that.

I hope you’re on the mend soon.

Thanks for the thoughts.
The schools are in different towns and for context my new head is an ex colleague who was a deputy at my previous school. He knows me well and has always known me to have an excellent track record. I’ve never had an extended absence in 17 years. He is fully aware of why I am leaving my current role but perhaps not aware of the physical symptoms of stress I’ve been having.

Thank you for the kind comments I will have a think over Easter.

Hi OP. A collegue in my previous school took 6 months off. Came back for 3 days the went off again. She found a new job - ppa cover. She then found a new job closer to home. Neither school questioned her absence.