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Original poster

Considering going off sick

12 replies

WoolleyKnickers · 13/10/2023 20:52

I’m so fed up with my job, if it’s not one thing it’s another. The work, the people, Manager, the stress.

Im seriously considering going off sick and then leaving (should I successfully find a new job). Has anyone done this? How did it go? References worry me but I’m so very low right now!

OP posts:
bungletru · 14/10/2023 06:57

I know it must be so difficult but if you can find a way to get through each day without going pff sick it would be better. Unless of course this is making you unwell in which case do what’s right for your wellbejng
the job market is v difficult atm! Loads of unemployed trying to get jobs - I have a friend who is quite senior and has been out of work 17 months not because they simply aren’t getting the roles, even with the vast experience and knowledge.

best of luck, seek some support.

LuckOfTheDrawer · 14/10/2023 08:26

Try to stay at work if you can, and work on your exit plan. Start looking at advertised jobs, and updating your CV. Are there any courses that it would help for you to do?

Bollockypiddle · 14/10/2023 08:34

Sorry OP as I know you're feeling rough, but if you're not well enough for work, you're not well enough for work. I'm not sure it's really a 'choice' about whether to go off sick or not. See your gp, if you're stressed/depressed but fit for work with support, then that might be a better outcome. If they think your health will suffer to stay in work, then they will talk about signing you off, with support. Let them assess and work with you to decide what's best.

Jethia · 14/10/2023 09:42

It sounds like you definitely need to get out of that job if it's making you ill, so in the long term you need a new job.
But if you're feeling very low right now the first thing to address is your mental health. Get an appointment with your GP to discuss how you're feeling and take any help recommended, this may include some time off work.

Job hunting/interview preparation is exhausting and time consuming. Once you're starting to feel a bit better you'll be in a far better place to successfully get a new job.
I hope you feel better soon Flowers

Jethia · 14/10/2023 09:50

Sorry I meant also meant to mention references. Some places ask for number of a days an employee has been off sick in last 2 years in the reference (nhs does this)

Generally if the applicant was the right one for the job but there was high sickness record then an appointment would be arranged with Occ health to fully go through the reasons for the sickness absence and you'd have a chance to explain fully about what treatment you'd had and how much better you're feeling.
I think it's just a case of cross that bridge as and when you come to it

SatsumaNightmare · 18/10/2023 12:13

I’m in this position. Off sick and applying for other jobs. They will have zero idea about my sick record until reference time and most places can’t refuse you on the grounds of you being off sick, particularly if it was stress related and specific to a particular place of work. They would simply put you through the occ health process.

Neriah · 18/10/2023 13:03

SatsumaNightmare · 18/10/2023 12:13

I’m in this position. Off sick and applying for other jobs. They will have zero idea about my sick record until reference time and most places can’t refuse you on the grounds of you being off sick, particularly if it was stress related and specific to a particular place of work. They would simply put you through the occ health process.

Who told you that? Of course employers can refuse to employ someone based on the amount of sick leave they have taken. They cannot refuse to employ somebody on the basis of their disability. But regardless of why sick leave has been taken, if they consider it too high a risk they can definitely refuse to employ you on that basis. Some employers might not, but please don't give people the impression that they can simply go off sick and expect potential employers to ignore it - that simply isn't true. And in some forms of employment significant sick leave for stress would actually be a significant reason for refusing employment - there are jobs that are stressful by the very nature, and it could be irresponsible to offer such a job to an employee with significant and current sickness for this reason.

SatsumaNightmare · 18/10/2023 14:05

Neriah · 18/10/2023 13:03

Who told you that? Of course employers can refuse to employ someone based on the amount of sick leave they have taken. They cannot refuse to employ somebody on the basis of their disability. But regardless of why sick leave has been taken, if they consider it too high a risk they can definitely refuse to employ you on that basis. Some employers might not, but please don't give people the impression that they can simply go off sick and expect potential employers to ignore it - that simply isn't true. And in some forms of employment significant sick leave for stress would actually be a significant reason for refusing employment - there are jobs that are stressful by the very nature, and it could be irresponsible to offer such a job to an employee with significant and current sickness for this reason.

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It would absolutely depend on your ability to do the job. Hence why I said occ health would be involved. In my situation, work caused the stress but it’s very specific to my current employer. A new employer would also be able to get rid of me immediately, because it would be a new job, if I was underperforming.

If an employer automatically rescinded an offer purely on the basis of someone having sick leave, without looking at why, they I wouldn’t want to be working for that employer.

LIZS · 18/10/2023 14:07

Are you sick though? Some employers will ask for your sickness record.

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 16:25

Employers usually want references including days off sick before they offer you a job.

Neriah · 18/10/2023 17:23

SatsumaNightmare · 18/10/2023 14:05

It would absolutely depend on your ability to do the job. Hence why I said occ health would be involved. In my situation, work caused the stress but it’s very specific to my current employer. A new employer would also be able to get rid of me immediately, because it would be a new job, if I was underperforming.

If an employer automatically rescinded an offer purely on the basis of someone having sick leave, without looking at why, they I wouldn’t want to be working for that employer.

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I agree. But that wasn't what you said. Employers are free to refuse to employ people based on sickness. Whether someone wants to work for such an employer depends on how desperate they are to get the job. And not all employers have OH services.

If there is a disability then they'd need to be cautious, but it's still possible to consider the risk of sickness based on the extant sickness record.

SatsumaNightmare · 18/10/2023 17:52

Neriah · 18/10/2023 17:23

I agree. But that wasn't what you said. Employers are free to refuse to employ people based on sickness. Whether someone wants to work for such an employer depends on how desperate they are to get the job. And not all employers have OH services.

If there is a disability then they'd need to be cautious, but it's still possible to consider the risk of sickness based on the extant sickness record.

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If the absence is disability-related they would be daft to report that in a reference. It would be discrimination.

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