Getting signed off sick with stress - advice please.

[cfc]

I need some advice from you lovely ladies for a friend please.

Just wondering in regards to work and getting signed off, do you think this will hinder your career if you get signed off for stress?

Will it go on your HR file? Will it make you less likely to get promotions and move internally?

Also can they tell your next potential employer when they ask for references and time off sick etc?

Thank you as always for your time and thoughts x

Is the stress work related or personal?
If its work related then this could cause a problem with internal promotions, however if its personal then perhaps the Doctor can write "stress due to..." on the sick certificate.
If your friend goes for an interview with another organisation, then they probably will request details of absence over the most recent 12 months. I think anything over 12 days within 12 months will be scrutinised but that depends on how much they want to employ your friend and some places may request a copy of your friend's medical records from her Doctor but will need your freinds permission before doing so. I think generally though if the stress is related to unusual personal circumstances, then most employers will be ok, obviously if the occurence was over 9 or 10 months ago then this is even better then a long period of sickness that only ended 2 or 3 months before she went for another job. Hope this advice is helpful.

Yes it might. It will go on her file and she may find it more difficult to get promotions and move internally.

In terms of references, they can and usually do tell details of numbers of days absent, but are not allowed to say the reason for the absences as that is sensitive personal data.

If she is offered a new job subject to references and a high absence rate comes back on the reference, the new employer will ask her about it and may want to send her to see a doctor or Occupational Health specialist to reassure them that the problem is solved or to see how support can be given going forward.

Thank you very much for your replies, I shall pass them onto her this morning.

C x

A friend of mine who is CEO for huuuge company said he would never touch anyone with a bargepole who had been off with stress.

Is your friend public sector? IME (and I work in public sector) it is more often the people in the public sector who get signed off with stress. I'm afraid I am quite cynical about this as I've seen several people signed off with work related stress who make a miraculous recovery and get back to work the day before they're due to go onto half pay. I also think the public sector tolerate this more than the private sector would.

That's probably not very helpful, sorry. I'm a manager and would also not want to employ someone with a high absence rate.