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Original poster

What can I be signed off work with

154 replies

Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 07:19

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.

I

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:00

What would you consider as being sick?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:01

I did. And they offered to sign me off. And I refused. But clearly that didn't work.

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 30/10/2022 10:02

Reducing hours works best when it is quite drastic IMO, not to 4 days or 3.5.

Try 2 days pw. It's better than a virtual assistant role, you will earn decent £ and still have you pension, plus have 5 full days pw with your DC. 2 days work is a great balance when they're small, you enjoy parenting more after 2 days at work too!

Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:02

TrianglePlayer · 30/10/2022 09:46

@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.

Thank you! This is my first real experience of this site and will be my last

OP posts:
madnesss · 30/10/2022 10:03

TrianglePlayer · 30/10/2022 09:46

@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.

OP, please do this. Your thread is making less sense the more you reply. It's impossible to follow.

madnesss · 30/10/2022 10:04

Crossposted. It doesn't have to be the last time you use the site. Tagging or quoting simply helps readers follow.

Poppitt58 · 30/10/2022 10:05

StrataZon · 30/10/2022 09:56

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

Show quote history

A teacher who hasn’t handed their notice in by the end of tomorrow, can’t leave until April 30th. 1st November - April 30th is 6 months. In the Summer, you have to hand in by May 30th to leave August 30th. That’s 3 months.

It makes it so hard to move on unless you’re in a position to just leave and hope for the best.

Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:05

Winter2020 · 30/10/2022 09:48

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.

Thank you so much, good advice!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:06

madnesss · 30/10/2022 10:03

OP, please do this. Your thread is making less sense the more you reply. It's impossible to follow.

Show quote history

😂sorry, like I said. First time (and last time) on here!

OP posts:
StrataZon · 30/10/2022 10:06

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

Many people don't want to be at work and would rather stay at home with their baby. They maybe even cry when they leave her in the morning but they DONT feel like this all the time.
I think this all indicates you are suffering from stress and depression @Rosebirdie

Just discuss these symptoms with your GP and tell her you can't cope with work at the moment. It's up to her to decide what to put on sick line.
I hope you feel better soon Flowers

OrangePumpkinLobelia · 30/10/2022 10:08

No, don't make it the last time. It can be a really helpful site filled with lots of wisdom and also laughs. I do flounce off it on occasion but generally MN has helped me in countless ways.

Anyway- I dropped a day of my much hated job. For my line of work where I have my own caseload it helped not a jot. But if it is something that you could manage then maybe try if you are not resigning? I am planning on handing in my notice by Christmas or earlier if i find something else, but we only have a 3 month notice period so your situation is more tricky.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 30/10/2022 10:09

You clearly sound depressed and anxious.

Get signed off with that.

Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:09

madnesss · 30/10/2022 10:04

Crossposted. It doesn't have to be the last time you use the site. Tagging or quoting simply helps readers follow.

As much as there has been some constructive criticism and really helpful points/support it's more the people than the technology.

Having worked in teaching since 2007 and had minimal sickdays to be told I am milking the system, a bad role model, not sick, making a joke of MH to name a few is perhaps not what I expected from a website for mums.

OP posts:
OrangePumpkinLobelia · 30/10/2022 10:10

Anyway- yes go to the GP and describe how you are feeling. I also have the hoping to have a car crash feeling. I was signed off for 2 weeks once and my anti depressants upped but it was only tinkering around the edges.

Very best of luck.

Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:10

StrataZon · 30/10/2022 10:06

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

Many people don't want to be at work and would rather stay at home with their baby. They maybe even cry when they leave her in the morning but they DONT feel like this all the time.
I think this all indicates you are suffering from stress and depression @Rosebirdie

Just discuss these symptoms with your GP and tell her you can't cope with work at the moment. It's up to her to decide what to put on sick line.
I hope you feel better soon Flowers

Thank you ♥️

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:10

OrangePumpkinLobelia · 30/10/2022 10:10

Anyway- yes go to the GP and describe how you are feeling. I also have the hoping to have a car crash feeling. I was signed off for 2 weeks once and my anti depressants upped but it was only tinkering around the edges.

Very best of luck.

Thank you. Take care ♥️

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 30/10/2022 10:14

@Rosebirdie

Mumsnet like to teacher bash. You may have been better putting your thread in Staffroom.

l know how toxic the system is. Take the sick leave you need, that’s why it’s there. Ignore the bashers.You can’t teach when you’re ill

Zonder · 30/10/2022 10:14

Talk to your head about resigning on short notice. Sometimes there is that flexibility. My friend did it on MH grounds - the head let her resign with almost immediate effect and got a long term supply to finish the term.

MajorCarolDanvers · 30/10/2022 10:15

Speak to your GP. Sounds like stress/depression and GP can help with that.

Then hand in your notice.

OrangePumpkinLobelia · 30/10/2022 10:18

Got to say it sounds classic WRS and depression to me as well. You poor thing. It's a sensible thing to be signed off for.

Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:20

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 30/10/2022 10:14

@Rosebirdie

Mumsnet like to teacher bash. You may have been better putting your thread in Staffroom.

l know how toxic the system is. Take the sick leave you need, that’s why it’s there. Ignore the bashers.You can’t teach when you’re ill

I feel like we get bashed everywhere! Was a little different during covid when parents had to teach their own child but now it seems worse than ever.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 10:20

Zonder · 30/10/2022 10:14

Talk to your head about resigning on short notice. Sometimes there is that flexibility. My friend did it on MH grounds - the head let her resign with almost immediate effect and got a long term supply to finish the term.

Will definitely have that conversation, thank you.

OP posts:
Lapland123 · 30/10/2022 10:21

It’s good to hear you have a plan to look at other roles, and could you consider less than full time for these so you have that balance with the baby?
Best of luck

Shinyandnew1 · 30/10/2022 10:24

Rosebirdie · 30/10/2022 09:54

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?

I thought you said you were going at Xmas?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 30/10/2022 10:26

If she resigns now, she can’t leave till Easter. You have to give at least a full terms notice.

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