Is 2 weeks enough to recover from burnout?

[Fedupofmyjob]

That is what the dr gave me. They said they could extend it if needed. I am dreading to go back to work. Just want to hand up my resignation, but I have 3 months notice. On the other hand I need the income. Income vs mental health?

I want to start feeling well again so I can update my cv and start job hunting.

Take the time off as sick. You’ll make better decisions when you aren’t in flight mode.

I can only take 1 week as sick without dr notice. I should have waited until the end of this week to call the dr. 🥲 she gave me 2 weeks from today.

Wondering if I have to call every 2 weeks. I just want out but need the money.

I am exhausted, sleeping very little and feeling a bit tearful.

I needed 4 weeks. And then accesses talking therapies.
If you feel the sense of dread your not recovered yet. It takes time to find you again after burn out as you have been running on adrenaline for so long.
Contact your work occupational health if you can as well.

Take as long as you need to hopefully you recover soon

Thank you ❤️

I feel exhausted and like I don’t want to face this job anymore. I definitely want out but when I feel strong enough to even finish updating my CV.

I don’t think two weeks is enough, I guess your Doctor has given two weeks as a nominal period to be extended to whatever you feel you need.
I've recently had time off sick with a stress related illness (though not work stress, more life in general) I had 5 weeks off sick, I found with my GP practice it was easy to extend by requesting online, I could request the time period I wanted, and they emailed the sick note to me to forward to my employer. I then had four weeks working from home to ease myself back in - Is that something that could help you when you are ready to go back?
I second the other posters comment about getting work occupational health involved too, they can help with making adjustments/staged return to work etc that's all documented.

Rest up and good luck.

For me, it was six weeks before I even began to feel better, then another two weeks before I felt able to start thinking about updating my CV. I also had weekly counselling, which helped enormously. My GP signed me off for two weeks at a time and I didn't go back to my old job as my sick certs covered my notice. The situation at work had become so intolerable that I felt I couldn't go back.

If it helps, I managed to get another job quite quickly after that and a year later I am happy and completely recovered. I found the counselling so useful that I still go every few weeks.

Thanks. How does it work?

Do you just resign and ask for the sickness leave to be extended until your notice period finishes?

I had enough. It is not only the work load but the politics and the fact that I am being discriminated due to my age.

I have 3 months notice 🥲

The '3 months notice period' thing is ridiculous, you should be able to negotiate this down, or simply refuse and leave - they can't make you work it.

It is a big 4. Client facing role. I don’t think they want to make any adjustments or even if they do they won’t work. You have to keep utilisation up, push for the next level etc.

Will speak to them anyway, maybe they will support a transfer to a non client facing role; however someone told me my partner will stop anyone who wants to transfer.

Will check out reg counselling when I feel a bit stronger

Yes sorry, I missed the bit where you said you really didn't want to go back there.

Hopefully they can offer a transfer or something that will take the strain away while you look for another job.

Two weeks probably isn’t enough, but it’s not an unreasonable length for a first sick note. And the GP has already acknowledged it may need extending. Just call them just before it’s due to run out and explain you need longer (if you do, for some work weeks IS enough)

Do you just resign and ask for the sickness leave to be extended until your notice period finishes?

Yes, but fortunately for me I was only on one month's notice.

(Edited for typo)

I took 6 months on full pay. Had an absolute breakdown. Teacher. Wanted to resign immediately. GP told me not to. Gave me a sick note 4 weeks at a time. When occupational health deemed me fit to return around the 6 month mark I handed in my resignation with immediate effect. It was accepted. So if you can take the 3 month notice period as sick leave then do it. Explain to your GP and they should support. If you don’t get as much sick pay then take what you are entitled to.

How long have you been with them and what type of level are you at? Bigs do not want to lose good people and will generally prefer to put support (via private health options if needed) and time to retain rather than lose good staff. (I’m also “big”).

Two weeks is pretty standard for the initial period, its rarely enough. Do you have mental health support lines, good mental health cover through the company scheme etc?

Ideally you need time and help to understand what it is about the work/life which is the main stressor then see how that might be accommodated. Partners may not want to support transfer but if the alternative is losing someone they will generally be pushed to support a move. The industry is gruelling, burnout not uncommon - have you spoken to your HR rep yet or your internal career counsellor/advisor?

I am in the same situation as you, burn out from dealing with a chaotic and unsupportive workplace and expected to do the work of a team by myself.

My GP gave me a month off sick two weeks ago and an appointment to see her to reassess just before the fit note is due to end and I have also gone again on the counselling waiting list.

I had a complete physical and mental breakdown two years ago already in that job and was having suicidal ideation and ended it up being off for 2.5 month with time spent under the care of the mental health crisis team and had to take anti-depressants and get counselling from the NHS. So my GP is supportive because she knows how bad things can get for me.

So my point is don't go back before you are ready and ask to see your GP again.

I am focusing on looking for a new job and my hope is that my current workplace will offer a settlement so I can finally be rid of them...

I also have a 3 month notice period like you.

How good is your sickness scheme? Don't push yourself to go back unless you need the money.
I had four months off on full pay (excellent sick scheme) and a phased return to work over a month. I was able to function but my heart wasn't in it any more. Going back wasn't good but it gave me an income whilst looking for a new job. Took me another 6 months to find something else.

You can extend your sick notes to the end of your notice period. But you will need to speak to the GP again. They might agree to a longer period.

What is a big 4 out of interest?

@Fedupofmyjob take full advantage of whatever fully paid sickness period you have. I had 3 months fully paid sick leave before I took voluntary redundancy which included 3 months gardening leave to cover my notice period. That 6 months was very needed and shortly after this I did re-enter the world of work feeling much more myself.

DR’s will extend sick notes, they’re just not inclined to give large amounts in one go so don’t panic. They will extend it and they can back date them too so don’t worry if you can’t get it sorted on the exact day you need it.

Thank you all.

It is good to hear other people experiences.

We have 13 weeks full paid and another 13 weeks half paid.

I will get myself as much as needed to start feeling myself again; and physically and mentally fit enough to job hunt. Will call the dr again next week.

I didn’t know what burnout was until I got it.

Sorry to hear the experience you suffered 2.5 years ago. I definitely don’t want to get to that stage. My health and the health of my family is my priority.

If it's a big corporate, can't you access therapies through their occupational health dept? They broke you, they can fix you.

You really don't want to get worse and no, 2 weeks isn't enough. How long did it take to get to your current point?

😂you made me laugh. True they break you but they do provide support to fix you.

We do have support and private health insurance. I will reach out in the next two weeks when I have more energy.

It took me around 3 months to fully recover, mine was also a mixture or workload and politics, and I also felt that I had to leave.

my doctor gave me a mixture of 2 week or 4 week lines during that time, just have to keep going back to doctor. I did also access counselling through my employer. I did take around the first 2-3 weeks just to sleep and rest before I was able to think about any self help strategies etc.

I did go back to the same job and although the workload is still very high I’m much more equipped to handle it now. My boss also handed in her notice and she was one of the main reasons for my stress. I feel much better now, I’m currently back at work full time for 4 months since my sick leave. My toxic boss left around 3-4 weeks ago now.