Stress - what to tell employer

LegacyUser

I was signed off work for a few weeks with a stress related illness. I didn't take the time off as illness and I took annual leave instead. I feel my performance in work leading up to the time off suffered. Should I tell my employer that I was ill, or should I leave it?

If I tell her I was ill, what detail should I go in to? Should I tell her that I was under stress, or should I just say illness? Despite it being stress related (& being prescribed medication for anxiety), my GP wrote on the note that she gave me that I had a physical illness.

Would appreciate any input.

tenifan

Unless you think stress might affect you again, I don't see what's to be gained by bringing it up.

Correct use of annual leave is a good way to keep stress at bay anyway. However, did you know you're entitled to sick leave if you are sick while on annual leave? (Most people wouldn't have the neck to claim the time back, but some do).

Buona Fortuna

Is it likely that your stress was brought on by problems at work? If yes is a recurrence likely?

If it was something like family problems a sick relative say. Why not mention "Sorry if I haven't been myself the past couple of weeks but Aunty Edie was very poorly and it prayed on my mind as we are very close."

LegacyUser

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Is it likely that your stress was brought on by problems at work? If yes is a recurrence likely?

If it was something like family problems a sick relative say. Why not mention "Sorry if I haven't been myself the past couple of weeks but Aunty Edie was very poorly and it prayed on my mind as we are very close."

It's hard to tell what the root cause was. There is an awful, awful lot going on at the moment between ill family members, others being in trouble with the law, personal problems and my own health issues. I work in a stressful and competitive field so whether that had an impact I don't know.

Essentially, I haven't been firing on all cylinders with regards work. I was doing the basics poorly and lost interest in what I was doing. I did the bare minimum but as someone who prides themselves on their work ethic, it doesn't sit right with me that I essentially coasted for 2/3 months. I still worked, but I am not proud of the work that I produced.

Also, I didn't mention but I may need to take some time off for counselling / therapy. Not much, an hour a week or something. This is the likely outcome of a meeting with my psychiatrist. The stress induced a little bit of psychosis and I became a little bit suicidal.

Rubberchikken

Take sick leave and leave some holiday leave for a well deserved break.

Sounds like you have a lot going on.
If your boss is good and approachable, you've nothing to lose by organising the hour off each week needed for counselling.
But if you feel your boss wouldn't be understanding, then maybe it might be easier to organise counselling outside of work time.

Take care