Morally wrong to take annual leave after long illness absence?

[workingfromhome49]

Bit of background. Started in the job in April, full time role, working in the office but fairly independently. Was signed off with depression for 2.5 months from end of October, returned to work 10 Jan. All going well. Employer and manager have been super supportive, phased return includes one day a week working from home, which I love. Got everything I asked for, so really grateful for having such an understanding employer. Depression not strictly work related. Relationships with manager and colleagues very good.

Before I went off sick I had 6.5 days of leave left to be used until the end of the year. Only 5 unused days can be carried over to next calendar year and have to be used by the end of March. Now my dilemma: I know that I am legally entitled to take this leave in 2019 and in reality they have to give me all 6.5 not just 5, which appears in the system at the moment. On the other hand, I was away for all this time and had 1 month full pay and 2 months half pay.

Is it morally right to forget about this leave and just use the 2019 holiday entitlement or can I book the 5 days off for Feb half term for example and should not feel bad about it?

For background - large to medium size employer, small university with 300ish employees. So not a small business, where every penny counts.

Any opinions appreciated.

Are you sure you're entitled to it? Not all companies allow you to roll over annual leave.

If you are entitled to it, keep it and use it. You never know, it could be the break you need to keep you from getting ill again.

I managed a guy last yr back to work after 12 months off sick, he had 45 days hols to take in his first year back in role. We made sure he took them to support his recovery.

If they're yours use them if you can, it'll support your recovery. Good luck, nice to hear about the support you're getting.

You are entitled to it, but check with your manager because if you are classed as "long-term sick" (and every employer will have different classifications) they may have a different rule about rolling over your holiday entitlement to the next year. In the NHS, for example, someone returning from long-term sick would be allowed to roll over a higher level of AL to the next year, rather than being forced to take it all in the same year.

You are entitled to it, but check with your manager because if you are classed as "long-term sick" (and every employer will have different classifications) they may have a different rule about rolling over your holiday entitlement to the next year.

^ This. Especially as you have been employed there for such a very short amount of time.

Thanks , I appreciate the advice. I will double check with HR, but fairly sure AL gets rolled over in this case. It is more the feeling that I am abusing my manager's good will and do not want to take a piss. It is true that it helps with my recovery and staying fit, but equally every added day of absence adds to her workload as there is nobody in the department that knows my line of work.

Speak to your boss about it. Ask if it could be rolled over (in my company it can as you couldn't physically take it if you weren't there..). Tell them you appreciate all the support and don't want to mess them about, but don't want to lose your leave. And don't confuse being off on sick pay with being off on leave. You were hardly having a holiday, were you!

It's true that I wasn't having a great time chilling out on the sofa and watching daytime television. I was doing that because it was the only thing I felt capable of doing. School-run left me exhausted! It is just that mental illness is not visible to the bystanders and that in itself makes you feel a bit like a fraud. But I know what you're saying.

I have in fact talked about this with my manager twice. Not officially asked, but mentioned in the passing. First time she was saying yes, you should use it. The second time she sounded less positive or encouraging and just said yes, you can take some Fridays off or something.
I'm sure I'm just overthinking about her reaction and her true feelings. This is part of the whole thinking that leads to depression - keeping everyone happy...
Thanks again for all the advice.

Definitely discuss with your boss - maybe consider taking 5 single days off - day Fridays over a few weeks?

Well legally you’re entitled to have all 6.5 days rolled over because you were unable to take it due to being signed off sick.
So you could just ask and see when they’ll allow you to take it.