Wanting to hand my notice in....best way to do it

[Gingeydoo]

So I've decided I need to leave my job for my own mental health basically. I got signed off for a week with sciatica (was either gonna be that or depression or both) And I've realised I really cannot face going back to work notice. I've also found a new job.

So I'll need some more time off anyway with my back so how do I let my manager know? Do I ring up and say I've got another sick note but I'm not coming back anyway? Or do I just go in hand my notice in and leave all awkward and weird.

Probably over thinking this situation but I'm so bad with my mental health it's really affecting me so any advice is great thanks.

I can't recommend you don't serve your notice, as this is an important aspect of employment that can come back to haunt you later on. If you don't meet your contractual obligation you won't get a good reference from your current employer. You may have a new job, but you are burning your bridges with your current employer and you may need their support for a reference in future.

Also do you really want to leave them and colleagues in the lurch by not at least trying to get back in before you leave...

Sorry you have back problems, it's miserable. Could you compromise by handing in your notice, taking a bit more time off to try and stabilise your sciatica but give them 2 weeks or so for a hand over rather than not going back at all? I'm assuming you're on 4 weeks notice btw. If it's longer then you have more time to recover but give them some time to hand over before leaving.

Your choice....

I will be writing a notice, that's not my issue. As for leaving them in the lurch I have been left understaffed constantly and having to do the work of 3 people hence my back injury so I don't feel any sympathy unfortunately.

I have been advised it could take up to 6 weeks for it to settle as working my current job makes it worse (13 hour shifts on my feet and missed breaks) so I don't know if I could even agree to that.

I'm not 100% sure of the notice period but I've worked there less than a year so I'd be guessing it would be 2 weeks but could be wrong.

Notice periods don't tend to change with months of service. It tends to be a short period during probation and then extended to somewhere between 1-3 months (or more if very specialist work). Your original offer letter and contract of employment will detail this,

If you are struggling with your back pain, then it is legitimate to hand in your notice and concurrently be signed off by your GP as being unfit for work, if that's their/your medical decision. I just wouldn't recommend it as a course of action if you can serve even a partial period, but I fully sympathise re sciatica, it's vile. Hope it gets better for you,

Take the sickness out of it for a moment.

Find out your notice period, hand in your notice, saying last working day will be X according to the notice period. You can ask if this can be shortened if you wish. Once that is agreed, tell new job you can start the day after X.
Then, see what happens with your back and mental health. If you continue to be signed off for the duration of your notice, that is what it is.
Good luck with the new role.