Signed off work with anxiety, can't stop worrying I'm going to get disciplined/fired for attendance

[anxiousallthetimeee]

I started a new job 9 months ago. At my work the trigger point for absences is 4 separate absences in a 12 month period.

I had to have one day off because I was self-isolating with a cough back when the COVID rules were stricter so I couldn't attend an in-person training day (I offered to work from home instead but was told not to by my manager)

Then I had two days off with a sickness bug in the winter, and then a few months later had two days off with a virus.

Then recently I had 2 days off for anxiety, I went to my GP and got medication and felt better for a day so went back to work for one day, then the next day I was struggling so I had to leave work early, I spoke to my GP and got signed off for 2 weeks. So this instance would count as two absences as I did go back for one day in between.

In my previous job I had 1 day off in a year, so this isn't a pattern. I have worked when I have been ill, for example I worked from home all throughout having COVID so it's not like I take days off for minor reasons.

I am really anxious about being disciplined or fired for my attendance, it's all I can think about.

I didn’t think the covid absence was allowed to count towards your absence figures because it was illegal not to stay off until PCR tested?

they have to be really careful re people with MH issues such as anxiety & depression too. Is there a supportive manager /HR at work you could speak to? I’m sure they would just really like to support you to be able to return, if they knew you were worrying like this, making your anxiety worse, they would probably be happy to have a chat to reassure you. I hope things improve for you soon.

www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/topic/leave-absence/sick-leave/mental-health/

I just can't stop worrying about it. I've checked our employee handbook and I'm definitely above the trigger point now. I'm worried I'm going to get fired or formally disciplined and it's going to make getting another job impossible as any reference I get will have it on there, as well as poor attendance. I'm wondering whether I should give my notice in (I was planning on leaving soon anyway, but was hoping to secure another job first), so I jump before I'm pushed?

Attendance rules are there to pick up issues with employees. It could be that the person has issues in their personal life affecting attendance, they could be being bullied at work so are taking time off they wouldn't normally have etc.

However it sounds like a run of bad luck in your case. They are unlikely to fire you, chances are it will just be an exploratory meeting to find out why so many absences in a certain period.

I’m sure the Covid day off won’t count, you weren’t allowed to attend and you offered to work from home.
When you’re well enough to I’d be asking for a chat with your manager, do you have a return to work interview ?
Don’t go back until you’re well, you don’t want to go back and then be off again.

Often, the trigger points are an opportunity for your manager to check in with you and discuss your absences and if there are any factors that they can support you with to avoid further time off (that's always how it's been where I've worked).
You seem to have had genuine reasons for being off. As PP have said, stay off until you are better and use the opportunity to chat to your employer about what you are struggling with and see how they can help you.

As somebody else has mentioned, I also thought covid days should not be counted in sickness records. But that aside, your pattern of short absences within nine months is very likely to have caught somebody’s eye.

But I would not expect this to lead to an immediate dismissal, your employer has invested time and money in you and most are unlikely to react like that. You may be spoken to about it though and if I were you, I would going forward make a good assessment as to whether you need time off or not to try and get your attendance record back to an acceptable level.

Does the employee handbook specify next steps when the trigger point has been reached? As pp have mentioned, they are usually used to identify issues that the workplace might be able to help you with. My work also likes to deter persistent offenders this way. No way is this a dismissal issue. That's your anxiety taking over.

In the meantime, let your anxiety settle before you consider returning to work. You can use this time to look for other work as well.

We have triggers but as a manager my aim is to support my team to help them attend as much as possible. Some people have a bad year but it’s not a normal pattern, others have long term conditions that cause higher sickness than normal. Disciplinary action is not really helpful so only used if you feel someone is taking the Micky or if occupational health has failed. Can you proactively ask for occupational health support for your anxiety?

I wouldn't worry to much, anxiety is covered under the disability discrimination act & is very difficult to terminate someone's contract because off it.
I would however recommend you don't go back until your fully recovered and confident you wont need anymore time off in the near future for the same thing. Its best to have a longer period of sick leave than small regular amounts.
Stop worrying & concentrate on getting better

It’s unlikely to affect your reference, most now say “x worked here from mm yy to mm yy”.
You’ll go through the trigger points and processes like anyone else, long process that is. I’d be wary of classing one episode as a mental health disability, what your employer wants to hear is that you will at some point recover enough to get back to work.
A long long way down the road … several months, years … if there is no prospect of you returning they don’t really have much option but to let you go.