Going back to work after a settlement agreement

[poppaea]

Hello, I wondered if anyone here has been through a settlement agreement situation and how it has affected them when it comes to returning to/finding work?

I received a settlement agreement last year to stop me taking my employer to a tribunal - not a huge amount but enough that I haven't worked since last October. This was partially because I felt exhausted after a long legal and procedural slog that really took it out of me but also because I had developed anxiety and depression as a result, not to mention the huge knock to my confidence!

I need to start looking to go back to work as the pennies are running out but wondered what other SA people have done especially if, like me, they have had a break to get over things. I wondered how to cope with things at interview like questions about why you left your last job, gap in employment and references although I do have an agreed reference. Perhaps I am overthinking it but I do feel nervous about these things...

Thank you for sharing experiences and any advice x

what profession? you can usually spot an agreed reference a mile off.

Hi Butterchicken, I am/was a training manager. My agreed reference states my job duties and gives my dates

Personally, I was sort of honest and said there had been a change in mgmt / culture which didn't agree with me so we parted ways and I took some time out to decide what was next.

But the good news is that I've now decided I am 100% committed to xyz as my future path and am positive that I will be a really great addition to company abc

FusionChefGeoff - thanks so much for that! It makes me feel a bit better that it hasn't been an impediment for you. I haven't been totally idle. I have singlehandedly renovated my mum's cottage and been the labourer for all the jobs I couldn't undertake myself such as plumbing and electricals. I also landscaped the garden including repairing dry stone walls and laying a patio which were skills I didn't possess previously so I am hoping that the combo of these two will be acceptable answers about what I have been up to in interview.

poppaea sounds like you've been busy. Look, life's too short and it's absolutely no stigma on you that you took time out from the workplace to regain strength, clear your head and decide what you want to do next. Nowadays it seems that any break from work is a "bad" thing, actually it's a brilliant thing, we all spend too much time slogging away as it is, so you did the right thing by having a break to enjoy life.

You could say you took time off from work because you took your current role as far as you could and wanted time with your family and support your mum. You don't even need to criticise your current employer. I'd sidestep the whole thing and say how enthusiastic you are to whichever new prospective employer offers you an interview. If they offer you the job, give them the reference which presumably has dates of employment on and say you prefer they take the reference and not contact them without your prior permission. I bet if they want you they will take the ref on face value if it's on official letterhead.

daisychain01, thanks ever so much for your reply. It has reassured me, I guess I am just nervous in case they probe and think that I am deficient in some way or a 'troublemaker' that was gotten rid of. I was wondering if going temping for a bit might be a good way to get around it by earning new references?

I didn't leave my last role as a result of a settlement or anything like that but did take 8 months off before working again, just because I could and wanted to spend some time getting a puppy and chilling.

In my experience, most people just asked why there was a gap. When I told them I thought it was a good opportunity to take some time off after 20 years full on working, just to recharge my batteries and come back to work with passion and enthusiasm they were fine with it. They never pushed any further. TBF that seems like exactly why you did it to - the fact that you could afford to because of a settlement is neither here nor there. Your finances are your business.