What can I be signed off work with

[Rosebirdie]

I am a teacher and due back at work this week. I had my first child last year and had no intention of returning but did. I don't want to go back, the panic/fear has already set in. I've spent all week sitting down to do planning for this term and just being incredibly unproductive.

The problem is my boss is amazing, she has done so much to make me feel settled,.constant check ins etc. She knows I have been struggling. But it's just not right and hate it every second I am there. I am medicated for anxiety but feel that's not touching the sides.

My question is, what can I be signed off for? I don't feel it's necessarily WRS in the typical way, it's I hate my job, I want to be at home with my little one, I can't focus on wr tasks.

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I'm not on maternity leave. I returned in June.

But if your school has to pay you sick pay, even though you don't sound sick at all that means a whole class of children won't have a teacher, just so you can stay home paid with your baby. No wonder schools are always saying they need more money if teachers do this. If you had been sick for last year with stress why did you not go to GP sooner?

Genuinely thank you for taking the time to write all that, sound really good suggestions

I returned in June. And only received SMP (£600PM) so don't need to pay back anything

I think you've misunderstood. Yuck.

@Rosebirdie if you click on the row of three little lines at the bottom of someone’s post you can quote their post so we know who you are replying to. Or you can use the @ to tag their name.

A very good point, you're right. I'm not saying I don't have MH problems, I'm asking if WRS is the only MH you can be signed off for. Thank you ever so.

Hi OP,
My husband was off from teaching with stress and applied to go back 3 days instead of full time. We asked for this to help him "stay well" and balance his work and family obligations.

He has been 3 days for many years now and our lives are chalk and cheese to full time.

Full time teaching is very difficult to sustain especially with your own family.

If it's the relentless workload that is driving your fear of returning consider part time.

It is still very helpful to have term time work with your own children. Now my youngest is just starting school my husbands planning will be easier again as he will have the two days when youngest at school. Not that he needs 2 days. He does 3 long days in school say 7:30am - 6/6:30pm ish and then a few hours at home at some point. If he has an assessed lesson or reports a little more now and then. When he was full time it was all the time and we were lucky to have one clear weekend day it was awful.

Good luck whatever you decide.

The plan is to leave at Christmas, so being off is just for the interim.

Christmas 2022? So, have you already resigned?

Struggle sleeping but always tired, constant worry/knits in stomach, inability to focus, zero patience/rage to start with. Driving to work and hoping a have a car accident

I felt like this returning to work after my DS. I did not plan to return but the lockdowns changed everything. I am also in a teaching role.

I was signed off with stress and anxiety and returned on a phased return of 2hrs a day and building up to my full day.

I crashed again this term a year later and have reduced my hours from next week, work are being much more supportive so feel positive as well as anxious in returning.

Are you a teacher too?

I have no suggestions but want to give you a hug. I also detest my job and it is such a miserable situation to be in.

Can you go part time? Job share?
If not, I’d resign in your situation.
It’s the right thing to do if you honestly don’t plan to go back.

It would be different if you just needed a few weeks off to get treatment or a complete rest etc for anxiety, but that doesn’t seem to be the case and it’s very unfair on your employer and the children relying on you to condemn them to indefinite weeks or months of supply teachers when they could be looking to recruit a replacement.

Teaching is hateful at the moment. The stress and expectation levels are ridiculous.

Your first responsibility is to you, not your school. If you are ill then how can you teach properly? If you’re on AD’s and they’re not working, then you are clearly ill. Get signed off with anxiety.

Schools cope. His would they cope if you break your leg? They’ve just broken your mind instead.

Ridiculous

Have you looked at the ‘life after teaching: Exit the classroom and Thrive’ Facebook page? Watch the Pit Pony video.

you are saying you want to stay at home with baby, not work… so make that decision! Sick leave is just putting it off.
you could consider working part time - would that be a possibility?

I’m also a teacher btw and I’m resigning tomorrow! I’m leaving teaching altogether. It’s become far too stressful. But having had to pick up the slack for a colleague who went off sick for 4 months and then left for a new full time job, I just can’t do that to my colleagues or the kids.

That's such a huge part of it. If I don't reign tomorrow, I can't leave until Easter. Are other jobs like that?

By the way, l found reducing my working hours made no difference. It’s disgusting what’s happening in teaching atm.

We all did it because we wanted to work with children, and that’s about 2% of it.

Little Johnny’s dad murdered his mum last week and it’s your fault he’s not making progress. How has it come to this?

I understand the hoping to be in a car crash to avoid work - this tells you you need to leave -
I would speak to your GP you can sign yourself off for 7 days so you have time to discuss your options and you’ll feel better just knowing you have space to think and concentrate on yourself. And hopefully sleep better!

I wouldn’t worry about other picking up the slack because you won’t be any use in this frame of mind anyway.

I worked with a teacher who was going through so much it was easier when she wasn’t there - that might sound harsh, but she wasn’t focused or engaged and I had to bolster her up all the time - not her fault, and she absolutely needed time away to gather herself - so ignore those saying you are letting people down!

Then when you feel ready explore your options. I wouldn’t want to work in a special provision and applaud those who do!

Do what’s right for you and your family. It’s time to be selfish.

In some sectors once you get beyond entry level jobs it's 3 months

Op we have no idea who you are replying to each time. You can quote posts in your responses, that makes it easier to see who you are responding to otherwise your posts aren't making sense.

I'm not intending to milk it at all and I understand how the quotes of 'i hate my job...' allude to that.

I can't face going back. I returned to work in June and have since had my sertaline doubled. I am dreading going back to work but don't feel it is WRS. My post was to ask for guidance on that.