Worried about Time Off

[Holaluluulu]

I’ve been in my job since May 2023 and I really enjoy it/ usually I’m good at it. But in February this year I had to take 4 weeks off after an ectopic pregnancy and now I’m off for a few weeks with PTSD after a traumatic event that happened at the start of the month. I haven’t taken any other sickness days. I am worried that my manager/ HR will be unhappy with amount of time off relative to the amount of time I’ve worked there. And also I’m worried that since what happened to me at the beginning of the month I’ve not been that productive. I was spiralling and not coping and only admitted that to myself last week. Now my work has been handed of to other colleagues they will be able to see that I haven’t progressed on tasks as much as I should have done. It’s not through lack of trying. My mind has just been stuck.

How would this generally be viewed in the workplace? I am usually a good and conscientious employee who works hard and hits targets.

If I were you and you were comfortable, I'd share details of what happened and the impact with management to get support from your immediate team.

Personally as a manager with those two absences, I wouldn't pursue anything regardless of policy. However some might - look at your policy but in any workplace I've worked in the worst that would happen would be a warning issued at this stage. Not comfortable to go through, but ultimately allows you to keep your job and as long as there's not further absences in quick succession.

I'm sorry OP 💐 Wishing you all the best in your recovery x

I can’t remember what the sickness policy is annoyingly. I do remember someone saying something about pregnancy related sickness doesn’t “count as days off”. I assume time off for ectopic pregnancy surgery and recovery would count as pregnancy related.

I am so anxious about it all. I don’t want any more things to be taken from me.

I did speak to my manager briefly before I gave her my sick note. I expect I will also have to speak to Occupational Health when I go back. It’s a difficult one because I really don’t want work too know too many details about my private life. (My sick note just details “stress” for this reason. But also I do want them to know that it’s the result of trauma and I am doing the right things now to try and treat it.

Honestly OP although I can understand you not wanting to share too much, I really think it would be helpful in this case for you to do exactly that.

They can’t understand what they don’t know and they also can’t help if they don’t know what you really need. Part of my role is to manage a team and if one of my people came to me with this information I absolutely wouldn’t even be thinking about pursuing anything, I’d be looking at how best I/we can support you. Some employer’s may feel differently but certainly thats how I would approach it.

My sick note just details “stress” for this reason.

That's going to cause concern at work, if anything does. Stress could well be related to your job, and doesn't suggest that you're coping, or that there's an end date to it.

It's uncomfortable and I am really private by nature and hate having to do it; but this is the type of circumstance where sharing some details will really help you. Do it however feels easiest for you, usually for me that's in writing, but others prefer a meeting so they can see the reaction and it's over and done with, there's no waiting around for a reply. Explain what's happened, briefly, and what you're doing to get back on track.

I promise that'll be much easier for work to overlook.

I hope things are easier soon, trauma really is horrific and I've had PTSD. There is light on the other side, but let people help you, you'll get there faster x

(Quickly on the ectopic bit - it should be classed as pregnancy-related leave and therefore not counted, as long as your sick note said that it was pregnancy-related)

Ok, if I have to renew my sick note I will ask that they add stress related to trauma which hopefully will help clear it up. Do you think it’s enough to say it relates to a traumatic incident that happened to me at the beginning of the month and I’ve been struggling with the fall out with that? I think I will leave it until my back to work interview.

I’m sorry for what you’re going through. I don’t think you should wait until your back to work interview - I think you need to communicate more and sooner with your workplace.

One thing you could do is ask for an occupational health referral and talk to them about the details. They can then share relevant information with your employer.