Do people return from mental health absence?

[Crazylady2023]

Hi,

I'm currently a temp with an end date up until the company have their Christmas shut down (with extension into new year possible, I've grown use to the job now) and am wondering how likely someone is to return from an episode of being signed off for depression. (I'm unsure how much of the job contributed to their MH) just know they've hadn't been in the job long at all and from what I've come across in term of policies the company paid sick leave is nearly exhausted.

Could they remain off, be supported on fit notes giving them ssp alone or would formal steps over something like concern of absence then happen as they haven't achieved two years service.

I'm sorry if I sound heartless - I'm just stuck in the middle and I appreciate we're all playing it by ear. (unsure if I hold off job seeking whilst in this role and the situation could backfire on me knowing in the near future I'll be needing time off myself medically) and wonder if the majority of people get another job whilst signed off with MH and therefore just don't return.

Some do, some don't. Some return to the company to do a different role.

How near term will you need medical leave? Sounds like you might need to prioritise finding yourself a permanent role with another company or this company - I wouldn't rule them out.

Have you asked about your prospects? Different from asking when the person off sick is coming back (or whether they will at all).

I think it varies hugely. Some people would realise they were better off out of there and find a different job. Others might have to return.

Thank you. I will try and keep an open mind. I totally wouldn't like to be an employer. I'm semi-urgent for an investigation which I hoping meant January and first few months into 2024 as the 22nd December is when I'm supposed to be leaving. I'd just grown confused as been asked to the company Christmas event and HR said they wanted to keep me but I get they are not the end boss and could just be a positive throw away remark.

I can put myself in the off sick person's shoes as I've been the one off before (in another business, like this situation but off for physical needs, and again only months in as opposed to years) and after dropping to SSP that was indeed my motivator to return after a couple of months, at the time I remember there was talk of disciplinary over the absence, which now makes me wonder if they meant if I'd produced another fit-note it would have been the start of the end in taking it further. I don't want any more sickness on my employment record either being selfish so I sort of grown ok if the cards fall for unemployment in the new year.

That's an assumption that the workplace is responsible for causing the mental health issue. There are lots of other causes. Or no reason in particular. Many employers will go out of their way to support employees who are sick to return to work.

I am slightly more concerned that an employer has disclosed an employees sickness / reason for sickness absence with someone who has no business knowing this information.

OP, haven't you posted about this employment previously - it sounds very familiar?

Some do, some don't. What other people do/have done is irrelevant to what this person will do. Also your username is... interesting for this thread. 🧐

I was going to post the same, someone that I worked with did come back after about a year off but obviously that has no bearing on anyone else's state of mind

I am slightly more concerned that an employer has disclosed an employees sickness / reason for sickness absence with someone who has no business knowing this information.

Yes I am to. I'd really not want to know the details either, I just put it down to the fact I am the temp covering and had dissed/put aside the early rumours going around as something I did not want to be involved in, as time has gone on I've just found myself getting curious in a could this become very drawn out and in further reading yesterday it seems the policy indicates no entitlement to return to the same job. (again it didn't dawn on me that could be in a absence policy)

I'm just concerned I'll get stuck in a job where I'm not receiving anything towards a pension and could spend two years as extension, extension, extension to cover someone who didn't have the so-called '2 years protection' to start with although is it very heart-warming that it is not always out the door as I regularly see posted on mumsnet when the situation is reversed with people in jobs weeks or months.

I'm treating it that I will leave on the date given and will have an honest chat concerning my problems if I'm spoken to about extension. No further trouble needed.