Advice on being signed off work for stress.

[Jonny ///M]

Not sure exactly what I'm asking but it's on behalf of my mum anyway.

She was being acting manager of a retail company since November 2010, got iterviewed for the Managers job at the start of this year and she was the only candidate.

She didn't get it for whatever reason and when the next interview took place she didn't get it again. A woman nigh on 60 got it. She has came in being the 'big bad wolf' (her words) not listening to my mum who was explaining how the shop runs. Essentially being a cow to all the staff and creating rotas that don't work for anybody and only having one rota up vs the usual 4/5.

Regardless of how good or bad a job she's doing my mum has been signed off with stress for two weeks, maybe extending that to 4. The company are sending letters saying she has to meet with the line manager, the big bad wolf, once a week to discuss it.

Seeing as the she is the cause of most of the stress my mum would rather not go in and meet her.

Where does she stand with this? Does she have to go in?

 

[MortonF]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

 

[Jonny ///M]

Regardless of what you think people do it.

I get pretty stressed at work but nothing a beer can't sort.

 

[LordSplodge]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

How's your pyschology degree working out?

 

[ash_scotland88]

As far as I know being signed off work with an illness means the company can't contact you requesting work related stuff and can't make you go in etc. I could be totally wrong.

They're only really allowed to send a get well soon and an invite to discuss the matters when you return to work. That's how I THINK the situation works.

 

[ChocolateStarfishRammer]

I should write a ****ing Autobiography with all the **** Ive had to go through... then see someone tell me there stressed!

 

[Johnnytoxic]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

You have no clue mate.

It's not one day you suddenly become stressed, it can build up over years to the point where you cannot focus as your mind is constantly racing and thus your work productivity is pretty much useless.

It's so easy not to understand mental illness as it's invisible.

 

[toshj]

I'd suggest she contact a senior member of staff (ie. in head office, not shop) indicating that this new person is the cause of her stress, and as such meeting with her weekly would likely prolong the symptoms.

I've been signed off before, my boos knew well enough to leave me alone - it definitely helps.

 

[Sime]

New department or job time?

 

[Xiler]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Sicknessabsence/DG_185054

Seems like employers have the right to maintain contact with you if you are off with a sick note. From the way its worded its upto the employer to keep contact not you go to them for contact though, so going to see them in store might be against it.

As others have said you should go above her head and arrange to meet with another member of the staff within the company as the person performing the meeting is thought to be the cause of the problem.

 

[Jonny ///M]

She is looking for a new job for now.

I think if left to do what she's doing the new manager won't last very long.

I know that staff have spoken to people from HO about her as one of the staff had to attend a meeting with a a director and an auditor. They asked about the manager and her reply was she was about as emotional as a concrete block. Both of them also didn't know the new managers work history....which she won't tell anyone.

 

[elmarko]

They can't ask you to come into work when you are signed off work (I'm almost 100% certain on this).

 

[Zero Pope]

Surely just contacting HR and explaining would sort the situation.

 

[sandyle]

I'd advise your mum just to phone in once a week - can't be too stressful when you're down the other end of a phone

 

[Energize]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

Stress is a euphemism for mental illness, rather than a diagnosis in itself, which will be depression or anxiety, a misnomer but legitimate none the less.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Yeah she's going to call HR today and speak to someone. The person sending the letter saying to have a weekly meeting is the one who interviewed her and gave the other woman the job so I doubt she likes my mum!

 

[Spook187]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

And what do you do for work

 

[WYNIR0]

i dont think anyone should be off work for "stress"


seems a right cop out mate

Go work in a IT support job in a merchant bank for a month and come back to me on that, ok?

 

[MeEsH BaKkA]

And what do you do for work

I don't think your job has anything to do with being signed off with stress, plenty of people have hugely stressful jobs I.e infantry, people running large company's etc... and do not suffer from stress, I think it's one of those unfortunate things that can just happen to anyone.

P.s I'm not a psychologist

 

[MortonF]

Stress is a euphemism for mental illness, rather than a diagnosis in itself, which will be depression or anxiety, a misnomer but legitimate none the less.

thats the prob with this country, everyone always lookign for excuses.

bet u dont see this rubbish in other places like asia or russia i bet they just stfu get on with it.

stress is wht you make of it.. no point worrying about working for It in a bank.. so what if it goes wrong? you still have eyes arms legs etc and your life... who cares about some digits on a screen get some perspective