Going back to work after long term sickness

[CluelessAboutBiology]

In my old workplace, if you were off sick you got a certain amount of time on full pay and a certain amount of time on half pay. On more than one occasion I heard staff in HR comment that such-and-such a person had come back to work ( after being off sick for a long period ) just as they were about to go down to half pay, and “what a coincidence.”

My DP has been off sick for a few months after having a breakdown. He is approaching the end of his full pay period and is terrified of going back to work. Amongst other things, DP is worried that people will think he’s been stringing out his illness in order to get as much paid time off as possible. (He hasn’t, he is genuinely and quite scarily ill)

Do you think people in general are more likely to think a sick employee is “genuine” if they come back to work just before the time they were due to go down to half pay, or just after they go down to full pay?

We could just about cope with a short period of him being on half pay, if it takes more time for him to recover. I’d rather be short of money or take on a second job than have DP go back to work before he’s ready, and have another breakdown.

He needs to go back when he’s ready. Don’t worry about the timing. If you can afford for him to be off on half pay and he needs it then do it.

I would never comment on anyone’s period of sickness either way, but I have heard lots of this in my workplace before when others have been off sick and then returned just as their period of full pay comes to an end so I can totally understand his worry about that. I do think it’s quite a common opinion, not right, but common.

I've been in the workplace long enough to know that some people swing the lead when it comes to full pay and sick leave. Equally there are some who push themselves to go back before they're ready and really shouldn't.

Everyone knows who falls into these categories because of their behaviour before they went off. If your husband is a decent colleague and employee he really shouldn't worry.

He is approaching the end of his full pay period and is terrified of going back to work.

Whatever the pay situation this statement alone would tell me he's not yet ready to return.
Most people know themselves when they are ready, they may be a bit anxious and apprehensive, but anyone who's had a breakdown and still feels terrified is still too unwell to cope at work.

@KrumPot his latest fit note expires in a couple of weeks and he couldn’t sleep last night because he was worrying about going back. He went back after 6 weeks on a phased return, but that was too early and he had a relapse.

In an ideal world, he would leave and look for another job, but his confidence is shot to pieces so he doesn’t feel that he would be able to get another job, even PT.

Honestly do some people milk the system they do and absolutely do cast doubt on the genuine cases but honestly it's all forgotten about again within 3 days of employee being back. Tell him not to worry about .

I was off sick for 8 months in total. I work in a school and went back when i was ready.

Sounds like your partner may need some support going forward. How old is he? Is he under occupational health? He shouldn't have returned to work, if he wasn't ready. Is there a different position within the organisation which he could do ( even if very basic) to build his confidence up?

I have never been off long term sick but if I was, unless dead, I think I would have to return when on half pay as couldn't pay my bills so I wouldn't judge on that basis.

Unprofessional I think of people in HR to comment, but no surprise that people will think that someone is off sick longer than absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately people do often return to work when their pay drops. Whereas in reality your pay shouldn’t determine e whether you are well enough to work or not.

Is his job the problem?

Don't worry about what other people think. He's genuine. End of. Yes some people maximise their time off when well and others kill themselves to come back when they're not ready due to finances.