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Original poster

Urgent help please - freelance dh needs to contact clients to say he's sick, can't work for 2 weeks (at least)

19 replies

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 11:08

That's it really - I could really use help with wording. Dh signed off with depression. Not planning to be specific, but need to postpone meetings for next 2 weeks and he's really worried that clients will be majorly pissed/stop working with him...

Thanks so much

OP posts:

Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 11:09

To be specific, he's having to email them, too poorly to speak on the phone

OP posts:

CarpeJugulum · 14/10/2014 11:13

I find that "due to unforseen circumstances" is a good expression. Doesn't give them the specifics IYSWIM?

Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 11:20

Thanks carpe I wonder maybe I should have put this in chat. That's a good suggestion - can steer him away from saying he's ill as he's worried about what people with think about that...

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flowery · 14/10/2014 11:20

It largely depends on the nature of his relationship with his clients. I would have no problem at all telling my clients I wasn't well and they would all be very understanding.

Due to the nature of what I do, I would ensure that they knew they could still email for advice, and would be clear that I would make alternative arrangements if they needed someone on site

Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 11:23

flowery would you just say ill? couple of clients he has good relationships with, because he's suffering from depression and anxiety is paranoid about what they will think of him...

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Artandco · 14/10/2014 11:24

I would just say

' due to unforeseen family circumstances I will be unavailiable until x date. Sincere apologies, and I will be in touch as soon as I return'

Add in whether they can email/ other arrangements made etc as relavent

flowery · 14/10/2014 11:35

Well, I would, to my clients. I wouldn't tell them it was depression and anxiety if that was what it was, but I wouldn't have any compunction about telling them I was ill. I think they'd probably even worry more about "unforeseen family circumstances" than me being ill tbh.

Some people might be concerned about appearing as though they can't cope with having a family and working responsibilities, although that applies more to women than men, and actually doesn't to me anyway. But that can be a factor.

What does he actually do for his clients, can you say?

Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 11:39

its consultancy work in the it/digital field. Can't decide between which. They're faily new clients, not longstanding relationships - tho one is a deeper relationship so may be more open.

so it would be ill vs unforeseen...

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flowery · 14/10/2014 11:57

I don't think it probably matters hugely, so on that basis I would go for whichever option is going to worry him less.

InfinitySeven · 14/10/2014 12:00

What projects does he have that will need attention/to be completed in the next fortnight?

I work in the digital field, also freelance. I broke my wrist six weeks ago, and couldn't type for a week. I told my clients that I'd broken my wrist and would be unable to work for 7 days, but referred them to a fellow consultant who stepped in and helped. I didn't lose any clients, presumably because they weren't inconvenienced, and could still contact me.

Does your DP have anyone that he could refer this over too, if his clients need work? I don't think he'll lose them if he can ensure that they don't miss any deadlines/work isn't late/etc.

SolomanDaisy · 14/10/2014 12:05

I think he should say he is ill and his Dr has advised that he will not be fit to work for at least two weeks. Does he know anyone he can refer the clients to for support while he is ill? How confident is he that he will be able to return to work after two weeks? I'm freelance and had to renegotiate a deadline when I had flu. It was a new client and it was fine.

nobutreally · 14/10/2014 12:05

As a fellow freelancer - albeit in a totally different field - i would say illness rather than unforeseen circumstances - and tbh, I wouldn't tell clients about mh issues, as I think ppl can be prejudiced/ assume it may represent in a way they might not about undisclosed physical issues - I would keep it general. Be prepared for ppl to text back and ask more questions, though. I agree that - if possible - I'd either be signposting them to a colleague who could help with anything urgent in next two weeks, and/or state if he is happy to look at emails (positioned as ' I will be checking in on emails p, but less regularly than usual') but only if he feels he's up to it. Illness happens, and in general, clients are real people who understand this!

nobutreally · 14/10/2014 12:06

I like Solomondaisy's phrase re doctor!

juneau · 14/10/2014 12:21

I agree with this. With depression, surely it could be much longer than two weeks? I realise he has to try and give some kind of time frame, but it seems a bit arbitrary. Surely it depends how he responds to the medication?

Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 12:33

Thanks so much everyone. Mumsnetters are amazing.

We are racking our brains to think of alternative people, but its rather a narrow specialty. He's getting together with a former colleague next week and I'm hoping part of that can be to try and identify alternative ways forward if he's not able to work for longer (which tbh I think is likely ) including finding alternative people to hand over to.

I think he needs to have two weeks completely off, so that's one of the reasons I think we'll go down the unforeseen circumstances route. If after the two weeks its clear he's not going to be able to work for longer, then I think at that point he has the option to say he's ill, suggest they get in touch xxx. And plan an answer to client's enquiries about things. We really value these clients and dh has keep going through all of Sept into Oct, but has just got worse.

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Original poster

ColouringInQueen · 14/10/2014 12:35

We've been here before with the depression and he responds well to Sertraline. You're right, two weeks may not be enough, but we need the time to get a plan together and he's so poorly he can't think straight at the moment.

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flowery · 14/10/2014 12:43

I have to say, if you think it's likely it will be longer, I wouldn't blame something else now only to have to backtrack later. If there is a possibility he will have to explain about being ill, he should do so from the start, even if he doesn't actually specify what the condition is.

SolomanDaisy · 14/10/2014 12:46

I agree with flowery. That will make him look unreliable and dishonest.

TranmereRover · 14/10/2014 12:52

I use freelancers a lot and one let me down hideously last year when a simple email like that would have saved a lot of trouble & heartache. I will never use that person again because they did NOT send me advance notification like that.

If your husband has a freelance pal who he could send their way (& trust not to nick the business long term) that would make it even better - get some kind of reciprocal "holiday cover" arrangement with a non-compete provision so that they look out for each other in such circumstances.

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