Is it risky to get signed off work with stress or depression?

[Workquery1]

Previously diagnosed with ASD and depression. Declared ASD at work but I’ve not asked for ASD reasonable adjustments because not even sure what would be allowed. Never mentioned I have depression as worry about stigma

Recently depression has badly flared due to stressors at my job. I don’t have energy to shower daily or do basic self care. Bad IBS and insomnia too.

I cannot risk losing my job though especially with the current job market

Received good performance review but because of this manager continues to throw more workload including responsibility that is above my job ‘grade’. I’m regularly tearful because of the amount of pressure and workload is tough to keep up with. I tried so hard to politely decline the offer to take on extra responsibility due to workload and a knowledge gap but it was still forced on me. Now I’m soo stressed I will forget to eat three meals a day, no energy to do anything after work, fall asleep without brushing my teeth, and the constant dread of work the next morning. I’m scared I’ve forgotten to do something at work due to my brain being overwhelmed and I’ll get in trouble, be the ‘scapegoat’

There is also lots micromanaging, if you slightly overran on your lunch break or showed away for too long on teams, the manager will come for you.

This extra project I’ve taken on I’m pretty sure I’ve made plenty of mistakes and I’m just so scared what will happen. But I’m a junior grade and I never volunteered to be given this responsibility.

I’m really struggling to cope lately and having intrusive thoughts to be free from work (eg dreaming of walking on tube tracks before work or stepping into road).

Is it too risky if I get signed off work with depression? I’m public sector FS but not civil service if that makes a difference. I worry it may be seen as an ‘excuse’ or it may jeopardise my career (finding job market impossible so very grateful I at least have a job)

You can ask your GP to not write ‘depression’ on tbe fit note. They could write something less precise such as ‘mental health problem”. Explain your concerns to your GP. I’m sure they will understand your dilemma.

I’m not medically trained but what you’re describing sounds like work-related stress more than depression.

I think it may be bit of both, I have been diagnosed with both autism and moderate depression. According to Dr I saw depression is more common in people with ASD

I was thinking that if you don’t want to mention depression, work-related stress would also be relevant, you’re clearly being asked to do too much. 💐

I don't think you're pathetic.

The reason I commented on ChatGPT is because I was concerned about it making things worse for you - largely in terms of your mental wellbeing.

Don’t know when I looked into it actually seems the easiest thing rather than stress yourself doing the right thing. I’ve seen people not work notices to be able to confidently explain to the next employer why they are stressed.

I looked into people who had been unfortunate in having an operation beyond their control. (If you don’t have it you die, this is going to up to your lung to kill you). Not that for a moment the thick line manager of said call centre ever has to get it - and I’m glad for them.

Hi all, just to update I ended up getting signed off by GP for two weeks shortly after this thread as really couldn’t cope with most basic tasks (eating a meal for eg) and slowly felt much better for it. I also had some annual leave after too so finally felt I could switch off for a bit

I was prescribed fluoxetine, advised to try CBT again, and GP thought it was moderate - severe depression. I had actually been in a better place the past few months until now things have started to go back to bad again at work, workload is going back to unmanageable and I’m tearful, panicked about deliverables, not confident in what I’m doing etc.

I can’t get more sick leave because the root issue will likely keep returning (too much responsibility / pressure and not feeling enough support).

Please does anyone know if I will jeopardise my job if I speak to line manager to say how I’m autistic and struggling with responsibilities. My line manager isn’t actually in my team, seperate to the actual team lead / bullies but then I worry the first thing they’ll do is tell the bullies who will manipulate them.

When I was signed off my GP just put depression on note so no one know works was a big trigger for me. I’m so scared to jeopardise my job in this market though by telling them I’m struggling. Is this allowed in jobs? Will they then think I’m incapable

I’ve been working here over 2+ years, public sector employer and never had reasonable adjustments in current role

Redeployment might be an option for you. Contact your work. Sorry you're still having a shit time. Things have to get better❤️

A ridiculously heavy workload and micromanaging can cause undue stress to anyone. You are focusing on the ASD aspect, but you don’t need to disclose that to push back. If the workload is unmanageable it is unmanageable.

If you don’t want to just push back, I am going to instead suggest you start trying some of these techniques I have developed. I have ASD and have practiced them over the decades of my career. I haven’t formally disclosed, though if people don’t know I would be shocked.

If you are given another task and are now worried about deadlines: “these are my current deliverables, which should I de-prioritize for this new task”. You aren’t shirking work, you are making sure that business needs are met.

If you are having trouble with detailed instructions, “this is a lot to get down and I want my notes to be accurate, could you switch to an email instead”. If they say no and sometimes they do, “ok, I’m going to write this up and send it to you to go over and make sure I get the details correct”.

the invention of ai is great for ASD. If you have to send a message, instead of stressing over tone and your words for hours, draft it in your own ASD way, but quickly. Then tell your company approved ai the tone and clarity type you need to use. Have it make suggestions for edits. check those suggestions. Your work communication will be less ASD coded and you will save so much time.

Thank you! I’m not 100% sure if redeployment is an option offered here, I wonder if they would possibly allow me to carry but with less responsibility, or is that unlikely

it’s hard to give context without outing but I’m given a task which I believe is large responsibility (leading on a project) and I think seems above my junior job grade (public sector so job grades quite rigid).

This extra responsibility task wasn’t part of my formal objectives either (I’m only assessed against formal objectives at my grade for performance reviews).

Recently a new starter who has more experience joined at higher grade than me and said she’s suprised we are tasked with this as it was for people in more senior roles at her company. Despite her joining at a more senior grade than mine, I’m training her on this task despite feeling unsure and very low. Thankfully the new starter seems nice, and I’ve apologised to her that I’m not experienced at doing this

It takes time to develop the confidence to know when they are asking ridiculous things. I worked myself to the bone as a junior with ridiculous demands. I understand it is hard, especially like me having ASD.

I try very hard not to do this to my junior staff.

yet, we also don’t give specific instructions. It’s just not the nature of our work. Everything is open ended and very much a figure it out situation. As a senior person I understand that though. I know the person doesn’t have all the details. I expect them to think about details I haven’t thought of and point out gaps to me.

multitasking is also one of our main job requirements. This is hard for me. I push back and insist on block working at least. Half days on a task are more efficient than 10 minutes pinging back and forth.