help!

[nannon]

I'm 23 and have been diagnosed with M.E and depression. The doctors wanted to sign me off sick but my job is so stressful and busy I said I couldn't. Basically I am doing an admin job for three people by myself. I go in early and leave late, I take work home on weekends and week nights and basically get no overtime for it and worse, not even a thank you. Its now got to the point where everything is a mess my boss is shouting at me and I'm trying to explain that its too much work, which he has admitted, but nothing is being done, He doesn't even know how to use the system we use. He is very chummy with the MD and also the lady that I think I would go to if I wanted to raise and issue about him, Last week I was left feeling very victimised and bullied by my boss and the MD has a go at me and yet when they asked what I thought the problems were and I tried to explain they wouldn't listen to me. They said I was passing the buck but I really wasn't. I am fully aware of the situation in work but I can't fix it while it is just me trying to do it.
I am off work today as I am totally exhausted and spent the whole weekend worried about going to work and fainted three times, Doc's said again that they want to sign me off and even now after my boss has been so vile to me I feel too guilty to say yes. I feel like I have a certain amount of loyalty to them, Has anyone got any suggestions?? I need a new job but have no idea what I want to do or anything. I know I want to be a teacher but not for a couple of years yet. Also, would am get paid if I was off sick? Is it full pay or a certain amount? I can't lose any money as I have bills and rent to pay!

[tigersam258]

most comapnies have a sickness policy which they must abide by if it forms part of your contract or main terms of employment. if a doctor signs you off as not able to work then the employee will enforce their policy which should allow you to have so many days at full pay. afterwards this may be at SSP which isnt great. however I would say that money isnt everything, your health is more important.

If you are off sick then someone else will have to fill in for you and perhaps it will then get noted what you do and the stresses that you are under. You might so a change when you return to the office.

Alternatively, if the job is that bad then why not consider looking for another job that does recognise your efforts and staff its offices appropriately.

good luck

Sam xx

[growbag]

Hi, it sounds as though you are having a dreadful time. Do you belong to a Union? If so, they should be able to help you.
I don't doubt that all this is making you very ill. However, I would query your GPs diagnosis of ME. I've known a couple of people with ME and they haven't been able to hold down a job even part time, as it is completely debilitating. To me, it sounds instead as though you have understandably come near to breaking point because of your treatment by your managers. Take some time off work - allow the GP to sign you off as sick and give yourself a chance to review the situation, plan what you intend doing and then take some steps to put it into practice. If you don't belong to a Union then try to get some advice from Citizens Advice Bureau or similar, and if you are working in a big firm ask for a confidential session with someone from the HR department. Also, as suggested above, look at copies of your firm's sickness policy, and also their grievance policy as you may well have a case to pursue.
Good luck!

[Scarlett]

GO OFF SICK!!!!
Just look at your post! Look how dreadfully you have all this angst built up! Sod the boss, you are not well and you are not coping. You MUST do as the doc says and go off sick. take as long off as you can and meanwhile, look for ANOTHER job. This one is clearly doing you no good at all.

[leelapops]

Oh nannon, you really need to think of you. redhead is right, you should come first in your life!
Thought I hadn't seen your name for a bit, and it's no wonder, when you are under so much stress.
Already you have identified that your boss is unappreciative; I honestly think if you took time off it would make your management team see how much work you do. A job is a job hun, and they will have to find way to manage without you temporarily, otherwise they will be managing without you permanently.
It is so unreasonable to pile this on you, and you should NOT be doing work at home, under any circumstances. It really demolishes the work/life boundaries, and this is how stress and so on comes about.
You should get company sick pay followed by statutory sick pay if you are off for any length of time (I think that's the right way round!). Either way, you shouldn't be left struggling.
You need to write down all the concerns you have with your work, as it seems your management won't take it in verbally. Also, it helps me to organise things in my head by writing them down! You could write a formal letter, copied to the MD, and your supervisor, or just a communication to your boss.
Take time off, PLEASE! Take advantage of the sick note ASAP, you really need it hun. And when you do, have a few days of doing nothing and relaxing, and a few days thinking about what you love doing, and how this could translate to a job. Visit Connexions if you like, they could do a job search that takes into account all your skills, talents and passions I think.

Let us know how it goes.
xx

[Scarlett]

By the way, you could train to be a teacher and get paid for it- I think they give you about �9k to train. Your sick pay should be the whole amount- for a few months, and then it may get reduced to half pay. You can try and claim incapacity benefit and also housing benefit if you are renting, and unable to work- it's worth a try.
Meanwhile, why not write to your local school (whatever age group you want to teach) and ask if you could come in and work as a classroom assistant. It would be a good start and help you to work out if it is really what you want to do or not. Also you will have the benefit of watching lots of lessons which will give you an idea of styles of teaching, what works and what doesn't. I learnt everything about how to teach while doing lesson observations on my PGCE.
Find out about courses now, and take some time off to get away from that dreadful boss of yours!

[LoftyLottie]

Just go off sick immediately. Your health is the most important thing at the moment. I have been in a similar situation where I stayed working and ended up really ill. Now I realise just how stupid I was to try and hang on in the job.

Good Luck.

[Diz]

You need time off!!! Your job should NEVER come before your health. Sounds like its time to get out, you may have to "sign on" for a while whilst you get yourself a new job but you have probably been paying National Insurance since day one anyway and I would rarther my taxes and NI go to help you whilst you get yourself sorted rarther than some sponger who cannot be bothered to work. Its time to look after yourself and get your life sorted.

As for sick pay you should at least get SSP which is �75.40 per week - not a lot I know, you will also have to be off work for three days (no pay) before you are entitled to any SSP.

[Postdog]

Too many answers to read properly, so I don't know if the point has been made, but it strikes me that your job could be a big contributory factor in all this anyway. Taking a break could be the best thing you do, especially, as said, you look for something else.

[druiaghtagh]

I went through the same situation last year, i am a lot older than you and was able to take early retirement. Its awful being in a situation like that. Its only a job ! think of yourself, thats much more important, ****** the job, it will still be there if you leave. Go sick and take as much time as you need to get well again no job is worth what you are going through,, once again ITS ONLY A JOB Take care and keep us posted.