Calling in with stress?

[Kirriemuir]

There was an issue in the office last week that caused me to make a formal complaint about a staff member. She lost control of herself and was threatening and abusive towards me. I have 2 witnesses.

This will obviously take time to be worked through. I was fine at work on Friday and yesterday but today my stomach is full of knots. I feel anxious and very teary. Bottom line is I am not sure I can face work tomorrow. If I call in sick what do I say? Is saying I am sick with stress the right term or should it be something else?

I'd be honest.

If you're in the U.K. You can self cert for a week.

Would you feel more relaxed Ina week? Would things have had time to be sorted and dealt with?

Personally I think you have to take things on 'head on' sometimes just to get it over with.

IMO, I wouldn't take time off for something like that. Better to go out in with your head held high. The problem won't go away by you staying at home and you'll feel proud of yourself for being brave about it.

I know it's upsetting, but you'd be respected more if you get on with your job. The other person will look bad because you're being the better person.

In the long term, is it not better to "get back on the horse"? If you pull a sickie tomorrow then Tuesday will be harder and Wednesday harder still. If you go in tomorrow, not only are you showing your strength of character, you may find that your colleague hasn't got the gumption to show up.

I've felt teary and anxious many a time before work, especially if I know I've got particularly unpleasant patients coming in. Sometimes you just have to put a brave face on and get in there.

Just my opinion, short term anxiety isn't the same as stress...

You would have been running on adrenaline last week and have now come down from that and worried about the situation being awkward and how it will develop.

I agree with others, it's best to go in and face it straight on or it will only get harder to go in. Maybe book a meeting with your boss as early as possible and explain how you are feeling.

Thank you. I know you guys are right. It's just hard.

FWIW I continued to go into work for months whilst my grievance was ongoing, it got progressively worse and I did get signed off eventually. Funnily enough after paying me for two months to sit on my arse at home they resolved my grievance and moved me elsewhere in the company

Bottom line is the situation was stressful but I knew when I'd had enough and couldn't face another day there. I'd say go in tomorrow and see how you feel on Tuesday, it's often worse after a weekend!

How did today go OP?