Illness benefit, work related stress and the future

porqueno

Hey all, hope you are all doing well (as can be) in the strange times. I've had a look through previous posts on this topic but I'm still a bit uncertain as to what the future might hold so here I am asking.

I've just been given leave from work, due to work-related stress, for a month, which might be longer depending on my recovery. Because of the situation, I'm starting to wonder if I will return to my current role or should I move on. Where I'm unclear is what happens if/when the decision is made, either from myself or my work? I knew I wasn't doing well but had been downplaying it because I was so afraid of losing my income and then not being eligible for state supports if I left the job. When I brought this up with my manager that's when they suggested I needed time off (along with all the symptoms on top of that).

I'm hoping that things get sorted, but I'm also being pragmatic in that things might not be resolved for me to return to this role or this organization, and I'm wondering what situation that leaves me in. My basic reading of the rules is that if I leave, or am let go, I won't be eligible for supports and this is putting the fear of the financial gods into me.

Any ideas on how this works or doesn't? Thanks

Tell me how

porqueno wrote: »

Hey all, hope you are all doing well (as can be) in the strange times. I've had a look through previous posts on this topic but I'm still a bit uncertain as to what the future might hold so here I am asking.

I've just been given leave from work, due to work-related stress, for a month, which might be longer depending on my recovery. Because of the situation, I'm starting to wonder if I will return to my current role or should I move on. Where I'm unclear is what happens if/when the decision is made, either from myself or my work? I knew I wasn't doing well but had been downplaying it because I was so afraid of losing my income and then not being eligible for state supports if I left the job. When I brought this up with my manager that's when they suggested I needed time off (along with all the symptoms on top of that).

I'm hoping that things get sorted, but I'm also being pragmatic in that things might not be resolved for me to return to this role or this organization, and I'm wondering what situation that leaves me in. My basic reading of the rules is that if I leave, or am let go, I won't be eligible for supports and this is putting the fear of the financial gods into me.

Any ideas on how this works or doesn't? Thanks

There are an awful lot of factors to consider here.

Your health, your work obligations, how your work feel about your performance, if you leave and how, and what happens after.

First off, I presume the company advised you to go to your doctor to be certified as being unable to work due to illness and you have done that. That is quite different to a company telling you to take some time at home but of paramount importance is if you are unable to work because of illness, then you need treatment to help overcome that.

I would advise, that unless you definitely want to leave the company (doesn't sound like you are sure that you do) that you tell them you are confident you will recover under the care of your doctor and will be happy to return at that point. You don't need to be having conversations with them about the future while you are certified as being out on sick leave. (At least not now anyway) Any conversation should be considered within the context of what your Dr is telling you is best for you and in relation to this, it is best if you assume that the Dr is the person making the decision when you return, and not you, and certainly not the company. There are limits as to how long the company will allow you to remain off work but that should be detailed in their employee handbook or HR should be able to inform you.

If you do end up leaving, yes, if it is your choice versus if it is some form of redundancy then that influences what income supports are available to you. I think the citizens information website is quite useful in this respect. See link below.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/

There is a link on the above page which helps you to find a Citizens information centre near to you and I'm sure that you can arrange an appointment (probably online given covid) to discuss your status, or likely status.

If you want to stay working where you are, but the company want you to leave, they may ask you to resign. They may say that this will look better on your CV rather than saying you were asked to leave but bear in mind, it is much easier for them if you do resign. Again, the employee handbook should detail how employee performance is dealt with and there should typically be a series of warnings and possibly personal improvement plan utilized before a decision is made that someone must leave. That's assuming that you have been working there longer than 6 months and are a permanent employee.