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Original poster

Holiday whilst off sick

36 replies

BG2015 · 21/02/2022 06:48

I'm a teacher and have been off sick since September having treatment for breast cancer.

I had breast surgery during the long summer holiday last year and spent my holiday recuperating.

I am nearly at the end of active treatment having finished chemo and radiotherapy will be completed in a week or so. My oncologist has said it will be 4-6 weeks before I begin to feel better, have more energy etc and has said I'm fine to have a holiday.

I'm planning on returning to school on a phased return around Easter. We would like to have a holiday somewhere warm and sunny before I go back to work, but I feel guilty about this.

I have had appointments and days in hospital during every school holiday since July.

I just feel so bad about going on holiday whilst still being off from work. Any other job you would have leave days you could add onto your sick time but in teaching it's not the same.

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 21/02/2022 06:51

Will you still be sick while you are on holiday? Yes. So you will just be being sick in a different place.

Go with a light heart, it will help your recovery, and have a wonderful time. And I wish you all the very best for your treatment and long term recovery.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 21/02/2022 06:52

Go on holiday!!
You are signed off sick. Your consultant says you are fit to go on holiday - go! Have some r&r time away from medics and treatments before going back to work.

CharlotteRose90 · 21/02/2022 06:54

I hope you are joking. After what you’re going through I think yes you deserve a holiday. You are technically sick until you are classed as better. Go take that holiday and don’t feel bad. We all need a little bit of sun. No one will say anything and if they did then refer to the fact you are recovering from treatment still.

ClariceQuiff · 21/02/2022 06:56

Go - it will do you good to be up and about somewhere nice and sunny. Recovery from major surgery is a long process, you're not expected to put your entire life on hold for months.

Twizbe · 21/02/2022 06:58

Go.

A holiday in a warm place will be recuperation for you.

I'm pleased you're near the end of active treatment and that you're getting better.

toobusytothink · 21/02/2022 06:59

Please go on holiday. And anyone who begrudges you isn’t worth worrying about. Hope you’re ok

PotteringAlong · 21/02/2022 06:59

Go!!

HTPri · 21/02/2022 07:03

As a primary school Head Teacher, I would actively encourage you to go on holiday in this scenario and I wish you best of luck with all your treatment.

Mistressiggi · 21/02/2022 07:03

I'm a teacher and if you were my colleague I would be delighted you were getting a bit of a break.

tootiredtospeak · 21/02/2022 07:11

Are you kidding no one would begrudge you a holiday under the circumstances you have described. Go relax have fun.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 21/02/2022 07:14

Off topic - your travel insurance will be through the roof !
But please don't feel guilty, go for it

girlmom21 · 21/02/2022 07:23

Go on holiday!

GeneLovesJezebel · 21/02/2022 07:25

You are fine to have a holiday. My DH was long term sick and we went on holiday, it did him good.

Tiddlywinkly · 21/02/2022 07:29

Go! (but take a big breath before getting insurance quotes. Sorry to be a downer).

SoRuff63 · 21/02/2022 07:38

Another HT here. I would encourage you to go and be happy that your health is improving. It will do you so much good to have a holiday. Being fit enough to go away is very different from being fit enough to return to school. Maybe phone your HT with an update and let them know that your consultant has advised a break - then you can go with no worries. Have a wonderful time and wishing you all the best - for your hols and your recovery.

gogohm · 21/02/2022 07:42

I would go but I would tell your bosses that your consultant has given you x date as return to work and you are going to x to recuperate to get as well as you can by that date. Be up front so there's no rumours

Oncewassmith · 21/02/2022 07:49

@Dontforgetyourbrolly

Off topic - your travel insurance will be through the roof ! But please don't feel guilty, go for it
Off subject but you can get specialist travel insurance that excludes your active diagnosis quite reasonably- so go and enjoy, you deserve and need it after what you've been through
SingingWaffleDoggy · 21/02/2022 07:52

I have a friend signed off with stress who has just had a lovely 10 days in a 5* resort in a tropical location.
If anything, in both situations, it’s beneficial to health so will prepare you better for return to work. I think it’d be wise not to go scaling Everest or water skiing across the Atlantic though Grin

ABCDEF1234 · 21/02/2022 07:52

Go and enjoy some sun! I think people would comment if you went on holiday whilst off sick with a minor ailment such as a cold but to go on holiday in your situation is 100% understandable

Footnote · 21/02/2022 07:54

Does it help if you think of it as convalescence? Probably you’ll be going somewhere relaxing and with some catering to save you some stress?

MaizeAmaze · 21/02/2022 07:56

Go!
The holiday leave thing doesn't work in people with flexible leave either - you can't be on sick leave and annual leave, so people signed off long term sick in other industries are also going on holiday whilst on sick leave.

itsgettingweird · 21/02/2022 07:58

Teaching is stressful.

Teaching during covid has been even more so.

Teaching, covid and cancer and missing the holiday - I can't even begin to imagine the stress levels!

Go - relax and have fun.

ImInStealthMode · 21/02/2022 07:59

You're signed off in order to recuperate, which a holiday will help you do. Go for it.

mdh2020 · 21/02/2022 08:34

I think you need to check with your school/ union. I really don’t think you can go away on holiday while signed off sick. I was on long term sick leave from school and near the end of it I taught a one day revision school for the OU (my DH took me there by car) and I nearly lost all my sick pay.

Kingstonmumof1 · 21/02/2022 08:40

I wouldn't, I know so many people who have caught covid in the Delta and Omicron waves while on holiday and it has been massively stressful for all concerned. Some are hugely out of pocket as travel insurance doesn't cover everything. Luckily none were really ill as the amount of organising effort it has taken up is insane. So not for the reason of thinking you would be taking the p, but because i think you have a high risk of it not actually being relaxing.

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