Just handed in notice, desperate to go off sick

[Maxine3477]

So I've just handed in my notice in current NHS. Moving to a new job in 4 weeks time and all the reference checks have come back already.
I want to have some time off sick to recover from all the stress of recent months before starting the new job so then I can start the new job refreshed. WWYD?

I wouldn’t do it because it’s wrong. Take any annual leave you have left and then ask if you can be let go out of your notice period early.

Are you actually sick?

Are you stressed? If so, take sick leave for it.

Stress is the number one cause of sick leave now, passing back problems.

If you are stressed then get signed off and don't feel guilty.

No I wouldn't. Not unless you're actually ill and unable to work.

You should have negotiated a later start date for your new job if you wanted a break. If you have annual leave accrued see if you can take that off your notice period.

Are you sick? What does your GP say?

Are you actually sick or do you just not want to go to work at the moment?

Everybody’s had a stressful couple of months and most people would like some days off work but that’s not how life works.

Is the new job in the NHS too?

I had someone do something similar recently and with HR advice, I had to let the new trust know that my reference was incorrect and the sickness was incorrect and had increased.

If you are actually stressed, and feel unable to work, fine.

If you are just wanting a few weeks off to recover before you start a new job, then use your annual leave or have unpaid leave or negotiate a new later start date.

I don't think it's particularly reasonable for the tax payer to pay you to go off sick so you are refreshed for a new job that you have chosen to go to, when there are other options.

And it will probably depend on your GP. IME, GPs are being a bit stricter about signing people off with stress at the moment - most people are stressed (work, home schooling, job worries etc) and more GPs seem reluctant to sign people off at the moment, but maybe that's just the area I'm in.

Please don't. I say that as a current NHS employee working clinically and a former HR Manager. Your current workplace won't care but you'll start off your new one on a bad feeling. They will find out.
Four weeks is nothing. Presumably they are not even holding you to standard contractual 8 weeks minimum? Just go in, do the minimum, book and take all your accrued annual leave.

If you are really struggling, at least pre empt the situation with your manager. Tell them how you are feeling. Yeah, they might do the standard 'here's the number for online/telephone support'. But they might also be sympathetic to reduced hours on your last few days, or maybe parental leave, I don't know what your domestic situation is.

Key thing is, even if your relationship with this employer is strained, don't let it affect the start of a relationship with a new one. Quite reasonably, a recruiting employer might want to know (from you or others) your absence record. Being signed off sick now has the appearance of deceiving that new employer. Irrespective of how valid your reasons.

I had someone do something similar recently and with HR advice, I had to let the new trust know that my reference was incorrect and the sickness was incorrect and had increased

@Iliketeaagain did this affect their job offer at all?

Work your notice or take leave. I would look at ways at improving your resilience, if you need time off for stress before you start your new job.

@Blankblankblank

I had someone do something similar recently and with HR advice, I had to let the new trust know that my reference was incorrect and the sickness was incorrect and had increased

@Iliketeaagain did this affect their job offer at all?

It didn't affect their job offer per se, but it did affect their future sickness record if I remember correctly - i think they counted it towards future sickness (for triggers / sickness monitoring plus reduced the amount of sick pay they were entitled to in 12 months).

HR advised me to do it, because as they said, it's all NHS, and I would have wanted to be aware too, if someone is starting, having been off sick with stress, I would hypothetically be responsible for a return to work interview / potential phased return even though they didn't work for the same trust. TBH, HR is not really my area of expertise, but that's what I was advised by the HR person for my team.

Why can't you just negotiate a start date for 6-8 weeks time? Be honest and say you'd like some time off between jobs. I've done it before... new job wanted me to start ASAP so I said ASAP was in 4 weeks time. Everyone was fine with it.

What type of stress are you under? Are you actually sick?
If so, then yes. Speak to your go and take time off.
If it's just that you want time off cause you've had a difficult few months and fancy a break before your next job starts, then please don't!
As a self employed worker who doesn't get paid when not working, this isn't even on my radar. You don't take sick leave unless you are on deaths door!

It's fine to take time off for stress. Nobody here knows why you're suffering stress or how much and whether it's affecting your ability to work.

If you're continuing to work for the NHS in your new role, then it will be carried over as part of your sickness record.

Are you actually sick? If you just fancy some time off, ask for unpaid leave.

As a self employed worker who doesn't get paid when not working, this isn't even on my radar. You don't take sick leave unless you are on deaths door!

That's what you accept when you're self employed. Op isn't so that's not relevant at all. Working through extreme stress is going to make everything worse and can lead to more serious mental health problems. If you're self employed you also don't need to worry about bullying managers, workload way beyond your capability to handle, unrealistic expectations and bitchy colleagues because you're in charge of all that.

I'm in a similar position OP. Don't go sick. It will get back to your new employer. Just grit your teeth and ride out the next four weeks by constantly reminding yourself 'This is why I am leaving'.

You are either sick or not. If you are sick see your GP. If you just want a break between jobs request annual or unpaid leave.