Can you get a new job after sickness absence? Have you managed to do it?

[workworryisuponme]

As the username suggests, I have work worries.

If signed off with work stress, will this completely mess up my chances of getting another job?

I feel I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, of either trying to carry on in a stressed state or messing up my work prospects by admitting defeat and being off.

Can anyone share if they had a period of absence then managed to get a new role? Overall my sick record is excellent, but things are not sustainable.

I got a new role after my husband died suddenly, I took 8 weeks off with grief and went back for a few weeks but it was part time and needed more hours, I applied for a full time role and got the third one I went for. I was honest about my situation and they have been very supportive.

I have done it. Got signed off for 3 month's with work stress and got a new job no problem at all.

Thank you @vickibee and sorry for your loss

I am glad you found something. My worry is will a new employer think I am a bad bet if I have had 'work stress' as a reason for previous absence?

I had two periods of work (both 6-8 weeks then phased return) plus an extended maternity leave. I got a new job without any issue at all; my sick record was never asked about and wasn't included in my reference or anything.

@ItsSnowJokes This is encouraging - I am glad you found something else.

I am afraid of where I am at the moment, I feel very trapped. I keep wishing they would just make me redundant!

@mynameiscalypso That is interesting your sick record was not asked about - I think I feel like it will count against me but maybe things have changed now?

I work in recruitment (for a charity) and if someone says they left a previous job due to ill health we don't ask them anything further 🤷‍♀️

I was surprised to be honest - I assumed that they'd want to know but my employer's reference was purely my name and confirmation that I was employed by them. My ex boss also wrote a reference but in a personal capacity and that didn't mention it at all. It never came up in any HR conversations or interviews. It may have been because I moved to a slightly chaotic non-profit though!

slightly chaotic non-profit will start searching for vacancies in this field

@ApocalypseNowt this is reassuring. Is it because it would be negative for those with disabilities if too many questions were asked?

They tend not to ask now and read carefully.