[TheOriginalMe]

Have a meeting to review my absence record as I've been off more than a month. It's kinda routine. I'm stressed cos what if they think I'm not ill, I don't look ill and I had a shower today and put on smart clothes so I look like I'm coping too. Arrgh anxiety sucks.

[ToeJam]

Just be yourself, it doesn't matter what they think... it matters how you feel.

I went through this panic when I returned back to work, but the panic was illfounded, there was no need for it.

[waterknob1234]

I understand the anxiety. Having a new company taking over our office, we are always being "reviewed" like they are trying to find us messing up. Go to work and be yourself. All you can do is your personal best and that is good enough. I became so obviously sick and upset at work yesterday that the office manager is making me take the rest of this week off. I constantly worry about losing my job. Know how you feel. Hang in there. Let us know how things go.

[Momentofclarity]

hang in there and keep us updated.

[Fuzzybear]

[TheOriginalMe]

Got through the meeting. I was told my attendance has to improve, I just hope my depression was listening and gets the importance of corporate targets. I gave them my new sicknote which is for a month and they said do you know when you'll be better? I'll ask my depression how long it plans on sticking around shall I? Why don't employers get that I'd rather be at work than depressed it isn't like I have a choice. They wouldn't be so dumb if I had a physical illness.

[Altered Moment]

Is there any protection of your job in the UK if you are off for legitimate medical reasons?

In the US there is the family leave act. It is unpaid but protects your job. i was never smart enough to use it. I have lost three jobs due to missing to much time due to depression over the years. Two were the most recent.

How ignorant to ask how long you will be off. I often made the mistake on saying I will be in Monday under the pressure of them asking when I will be in. Then Monday came and no way I could show. I don't know what difference it would have made. I told them I was disabled, I had doctors notes. It didn't matter. I missed to much time and they let me go. I can't really blame them. They were under a tremendous amount of pressure to meet deadlines and had to replace me.

[Momentofclarity]

Not knowing when it's going to strike and how long it's going to last is tough. But unfortunately I agree with zinco.. any company just wants to get along..

In school and at work I go with the strategy to say things like "Usually it lasts for a week but I can probably get back and work half efficient after 3 days, we'll see". Maybe it's worse than that for you (probably it is) but I just want you to get the point. Usually it is better to say that you will be away for 2 weeks and get back after those than to say no specific time and be away for only 1 week. The human psyche always seem to need a goal, or something to cling to... kinda. In worst case... you could promise to TRY to get back, or do something regarding your work in some time.

But then I don't know what you work with, what they already think about you, what you are like or how things work in your country. Hope you just don't overlook these tips..

Sorry they were less than sympathetic. But it's over now, you can relax

[Pierro]

I agree with secretwhisper. Relax, or try to at least. Concentrate on yourself and your recovery. Best Wishes

[seeleek]

i'm on the same boat. i'm a substitute teacher and every year around this time my depression gets the better of me and i just can't get myself to go into these classrooms and deal with students. this usually last about two weeks and i start to feel better but this year it has gone into the third week an am considering not going in at all for the rest of the year. Maybe it's time i looked into another less stressful job where i dont have to around a lot of people.

[TheOriginalMe]

Thanks everyone.
I know that I have some protection under the disability discrimination act but the corporate drive to save money and reduce absence just doesn't respect the difference between people who have an illness (physical or mental) and people who are "sick" and take 5 days when they're better in 3 days or who have a hangover or a domestic crisis.
Last year, before the depression, I had 5 days off for an operation and then 6 months later I had 5 days off with concussion. That got me a red light for exceeding the corporate average. Both times I went back to work sooner than the docs recommended but that wasn't good enough in this target driven world.
I wouldn't care, but I've worked for them for 11 years and most years I've not had a day off for ill health.
I can understand the need for the organisation to save money (I'm lucky enough to get full pay for 6 months sickness and then half pay for another 6 months) and I can understand their need to know whether I intend going back. But my job doesn't get covered while I'm away, so what doesn't get done will most likely be waiting for me when I get back and knowing that doesn't help much. I just feel like I'm a number or a failing target and not a person.

Wow, I didn't expect to vent quite as much as that, and I hope that having the mental capacity to rant is a sign of the depression shifting.

[maddnessreturns]

I can relate to the big corporate thing. People where I work don't even feel comfortable taking their vacation days most of the time because it's like you've committed some sort of blasphemy. And there are bonuses and for our dept it's who worked the most overtime least days off type thing. It sucks and it really needs to change. I feel employees would perform better if they could take care of themselves physically and mentally without the fear of job loss.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Momentofclarity]

Originally Posted by TheOriginalMe

Wow, I didn't expect to vent quite as much as that, and I hope that having the mental capacity to rant is a sign of the depression shifting.

It's a very good thing just the fact that you can realize it yourself. A lot of people (including me) need someone else to point out positive things, or signs of change in their mood. Whether you needed help or managed it alone form the beginning I can help but feel hopeful when I see you do it now. (probbaly because I really really sucked at it myself)

[moodycow]

Originally Posted by TheOriginalMe

Got through the meeting. I was told my attendance has to improve, I just hope my depression was listening and gets the importance of corporate targets. I gave them my new sicknote which is for a month and they said do you know when you'll be better? I'll ask my depression how long it plans on sticking around shall I? Why don't employers get that I'd rather be at work than depressed it isn't like I have a choice. They wouldn't be so dumb if I had a physical illness.

omg i swear you MUST work for the same company as me !!! didnt know wether to laugh or cry when i read his , i have been off about 8weeks and stopped contacting them after 3 because of these type of questions