Can I go on sickness benefit for a while?

LegacyUser

I've had a tough few years. I lost my job of 10 years after becoming pregnant. I went through the court case but dropped it at the last minute as I just could not cope with the character assassination it entailed.
I feel like dropping the case was the right thing to do for me, even though I know I stood a very good chance of winning it. It just wasn't worth the heartache.
Since then I have lost two babies and went through something extremely traumatic in which I almost died.
I ended up needing counselling and was put on antideppressants. I am in a much better place now and recently began a new job. I was so excited about the career opportunity and the feeling of getting my life back but I am not getting on well there at all. Bullying is rampant there and while I myself am okay, I cannot stand the atmosphere and the conflict between my colleagues and management everyday. There is some really nasty stuff going on and due to my past experience I saw the alarm bells pretty quickly this time.

The thing is I feel totally deflated now. I want to leave this job but I have a child to think of and a partner. I would like to be signed off for a few weeks just to have some time to reconnect with my counsellor and decide what exactly it is I need and want from a career. I am not sleeping at night, I have cuts in my mouth from grinding my teeth when I do finally sleep and I have a constant knot in my tummy with anxiety about going into the office.
I really need some down time to just reflect and recuperate and make a game plan to move forward.
If I resign can I ask my doctor to put me on sick leave for a few weeks so that I will have some financial support? Please do not pick me up wrong, I'd never suggest this if I didn't think I needed it but I've just had a whirlwind of experiences and I feel like I am not really myself at the moment. I want to nip it in the bud now before I get bad like before. I just need something to survive on until I get myself sorted.

Can anyone please advise me? Feeling a bit lost

LegacyUser

of course you can get illness benefit....if you have enough stamps...so I would go to the Citizens information first about this.

Also, just bear in mind that your employer may not pay you your full wage...its like maternity....they can top up your illness benefit but maybe suss that out also because if they dont, you will be down money.

You really need to take care of yourself. I am in a similar position at the minute and I took two weeks off. It was lovely but I had to come back and nothing has changed...

So maybe ask yourself if you can stay there? Running away for the minute might give you some head space but you still have to go back..............best of luck OP. mind yourself.

LegacyUser

A few years ago I was in a similar position to you. I was in a job with a high work load and had the boss from hell. Over a period of about 12 months I had several things that happend to me outside work. I realised like you that I needed a brake and to take some time off to have a rest and to make a few decisions on what to do next.

I went to my doctor and explained about my job, the stresss I was under and about some other things that were going on in my life then. I was signed off work due to stress and had certs to show this going into work. Even after a week off one of my friends said I can see the difference in you. Within a few weeks I was looking for another job. I had another job lined up before I handed my notice into this company.

I would not just leave your job and go on a sick cert for a few weeks. Your future employers will ask why did you leave you last job. You don't want to tell them it was a horrble job, my boss was horrible ect. A future employer may think this person will be trouble if they come here or they won't get on with the other workers.

I know someone who walked out of a job before they had another one lined up. They found it hard to get work after this. They told me an employer would ask them why did you leave your job? Also this person boss was giving them a poor reference.

I know you have been through a lot over the past few years. You need a brake for a while to have a rest and to decide what you want to do next. I know your job may not be the best but at least if you follow my advice you can have a brake and look for another job. You will still have a reference from your current job.

Once you feel better I would consider working part time. If you work say 2 or 3 full days a week you can sign on for the days your not working.

LegacyUser

I am in a similar situation to you OP; I am in a job that, in retrospect, I never should have taken. It's far more technical than I was led to believe at interview stage. As I suffer from MS, the stress of the job has led to a serious downturn in my overall health and I am currently jobhunting on the sly.

I know it's not much help, but just know that you're not alone!