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5 replies

GardenBirdie · 07/10/2021 04:41

Hi all, would really appreciate your thoughts.

I’ve recently returned to work after an enforced break of three montha due to a depressive illness - thankfully I’m very well on the road to recovery now.

In my absence, our small team of three has expanded to six. Two new roles have been created above mine, and I was told I would not be considered or interviewed for these posts due to my illness.

Both people have now started, and though they’re obviously finding their feet, it’s clear they have norhing like my experience or skills - I’m sure they’re great, but they’re many years younger than me, and so simply haven’t had chance to acquire them. Plus I know the organisation - which is largw and complicated - much better, having worked there for four years, whereas thwy’re both new to the place.

I don’t want this to sound like sour grapes, or the old dog having a go at thw newbies, God forbid. I just think it’s going to be hard to deal with earning £10k less while doing exactly the same job (and it is) as the very nice new folk, given that I was prevented from applying by being mentally ill.

I have to add that my employer has been great and I feel lucky to have a job. I just need some advice on how to keep stum and swallow the daily humiliation…

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 07/10/2021 23:52

I'm not sure if you have any rights here or not so can't help with that.

Quite a few years ago, I had several months off work for mental health reasons. When I came back to work, my dept head had left and one of my peers had been given the dept head role (despite me being more senior and having more experience).

I wasn't exactly happy but decided to focus on my recovery and not let it eat me up inside. The new dept head was actually a nice guy and within a few months, I was acting as his unofficial back-up.

He went on holiday for 2 weeks so asked for me to cover for him at the weekly management team meetings, which I did. For the global head and the rest of the management team, this was the first time they had seen me "in action" or had any real involvement with me other than a polite chat over drinks in the pub.

Global head asked for a call with me. I thought this meant that I might finally be getting a management role. I was. My dept head's!! He basically decided to switch our roles and I became dept head and the former dept head reported to me. Very awkward!!! Luckily we got on well and worked through it but understandably the former dept head was massively pissed off. When I resigned a few years later, he refused to take over my role and instead chose to leave himself. I don't blame him. My industry can be brutal.

But you never know what might happen in the future. Stay professional. Keep a cool head. Be ready. And good luck!

GardenBirdie · 08/10/2021 04:36

Thank you so much - this is great advice and really what I needed to hear. So glad it was a great outcome for you. xx

OP posts:
Coconuttts · 10/10/2021 22:36

To not be offered an interview based on a mental health illness is discrimination, and they are extremely out of order. If they didn't keep you updated to changes within the team during your (hopefully weekly) check-ins, then this is terrible. If they didn't tell you about the vacancies, because they didn't want you to apply due to depression, this is very wrong. You could take this further you know.

Needanewadventure2021 · 10/10/2021 22:58

I read your post and thought discrimination straight away and to be so bluntly told. That's so bad OP.

I hope your recovery is going well. Ultimately that is more important but what they have said is so so wrong.

MadamMoth · 10/10/2021 23:34

Sounds like discrimination but I wonder what things were like before you were on leave? You said it was enforced. How bad are we talking things were? None of this is to excuse potential discrimination, I've had a couple of nervous breakdowns myself while employed and have also had 3 lots of severe PND. Each impacted my job in different ways but for one of the breakdowns particularly if something had happened like what you're describing I would not have been able to argue the toss. Albeit just while in the worst part of the breakdown I wasn't capable of doing my day to day job properly. If a vacancy had opened just above me they wouldn't have considered me for it.

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