Sick note

[Whathefisgoingon]

Recently I was signed off by the GP for a month. I have decided I am going back in having taken a week off, but as I am able to self certify the one week I have not sent in my sick note.

The leave was due to work related stress, unfair treatment in a very toxic environment.

I want to give them the letter so they are legally obliged to look in to my concerns, but is there any point if I’m willingly going in before the leave has ended?

I will add that they were not willing to discuss my concerns informally prior to my leave so there is no chance they will be willing to do so upon my return under normal circumstances.

Am I just making problems for myself? I’ve been gaslit beyond belief and I really don’t know what the best course of action is.

Best course of action is to take the leave and when they need a meeting about your absence raise the issues that have caused it. If you go back now it will never be resolved

They are obligated to discuss your concerns in your return to work meeting but if they are toxic that probably won’t get you anywhere. Why go back early if it’s so toxic? Take the month and look for another job while your off, then quit.

In short, the money.

I’m not 100% sure I want to leave despite it being toxic and miserable. I don’t want to make any decisions yet but if I take the leave then life will be made even more difficult for me when I return.

It’s easier for me to go back now. They weren’t even happy about me leaving for the day when I did, they even tried to tell me I couldn’t.

Oh, they don’t pay sick pay btw.

Do you work in hospitality by any chance?

Hi, if your doctor has signed you off as unfit for work for a month, you can't return until the month is up unless you go back & obtain a fit note from your GP changing return date (certifying they now consider you fit to return).

@wannabebetter

Hi, if your doctor has signed you off as unfit for work for a month, you can't return until the month is up unless you go back & obtain a fit note from your GP changing return date (certifying they now consider you fit to return).

This is not true. At all. You can return when ever you feel fit to return.

Our insurance is effected if someone is in that has been signed off sick. We require all sick notes to be followed. It’s in the company handbook. If you were in my company I would tell you to go to the doctor and get the sick note amended before you returned.
Then yes, there would be a return to work meeting and we’d talk about your concerns.
After 3 days SSP should kick in.

This is not true. At all. You can return whenever you feel fit to return

It is kind of true. Ok there is no law that states a person cannot work if signed off, however the majority of employers are not going to allow somebody back into work whilst signed off. This is because they could find themselves in trouble down the line by having somebody work whilst sick, plus employer insurance may be invalidated.

So OP’s plan of returning to work but then wanting to talk about the one month sick note, is unlikely to work.