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Stress Leave/Leave of Absence

  1. sera_87

    pomegranate / 3604 posts

    @.twist.: sick leave on EI (up to 15 weeks) would probably cover it. just need to get a doc to sign off on it.

    ETA: do it. That's what it's there for.

  2. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    @.twist.: I don't have any experience but I just wanted to say *hugs*! Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. That's the most important.

  3. ValentineMommy

    pomelo / 5791 posts

    @.twist.: messaging you on your wall.

  4. MsMini

    grapefruit / 4056 posts

    I am in Canada and a few coworker's have taken extended leaves for medical or psychological issues. Your doctor has to write a letter that you are to be off, the reason DOES NOT need to be disclosed. Just that they have assessed that you require xx time off. Usually you can take off a certain number of days at full (sick time) pay, and then you move I to STD/LTD but generally both come at a pay cut (in my industry STD is 2/3 income and LTD about 40%). If you move into EI that is also a big pay cut. I found my coworkers who took a stress leave were more likely to take more sick time or subsequent stress leaves in the long term, and just from observation, I think that unless you spend that time working really hard on yourself it is just a band-aid solution. That being said, if you are feeling desperate - a band-aid must be just the ticket.

  5. .twist.

    pineapple / 12802 posts

    @CHERRYBEE: So glad you're feeling stronger and more able to handle the challenges. I'm definitely where you were at the beginning. Nice to know I'm not alone.

    @MRS.KMM: @HLK208: Thanks ladies.

    @CHUCKLES: Thanks! Sounds like you made a good call on getting out of there. I definitely hope I will have enough time to make a change too. and yea, there aren't even job in my field in other industries. There are 10's of thousands of people looking for the same work I do right now. It's soooo bad.

    @Mama Bird: Yes, I think it would be. Glad to hear you got some clarity. That is totally what I'm looking for.

    @RAINDROP: Yea, I've been here 10 years and I've not moved up at all. Last time I tried to initiate a slight raise/promotion and they told me they wouldn't because I was already over qualified. So... there's no where for me to go here!

    @sera_87: I'm pretty lucky, I've been here 10 years, so through my company I have 17 weeks fully paid job protection for sick leave. It's definitely something I will do if my doctor agrees, I am just nervous, I guess.

  6. .twist.

    pineapple / 12802 posts

    @MsMini: Thank you! Very informative. I didn't know all that about how it worked with the doctor. I don't know what he requires to "approve" me of something like this, but I hope he agrees. I luckily am entitled to 17 weeks @ full pay because I have been here so long. This is definitely a bandaid solution. I am fully desperate and on the brink of a nervous break down every single day. Some days I just want to keep walking and not even go into work. Just not show up. Other days I just cry. I'm in a very bad place.

  7. ShootingStar

    coconut / 8472 posts

    I don't have any experience, but it seems like there's hardly a way it could hurt. I hope you find a way to feel better .

  8. sera_87

    pomegranate / 3604 posts

    @.twist.: so take your vacation, then your 17 weeks, and then the 15 EI. 😉 That's 32 weeks+ off work.

  9. StrawberryBee

    nectarine / 2530 posts

    Just saw this and wanted to send my love to you Sounds like you're pointed on the right path to getting to a better place emotionally, and that a LOA is necessary for that. Please wall if you ever need to vent!

  10. travelgirl1

    cantaloupe / 6630 posts

    I haven't, but I have former colleagues who have. Two spring to mind. They were off a couple of months each and it was very needed for them and absolutely the right decision. Yes, people kind of knew why they were out, but I think everyone was just concerned for them. Hugs, I hope you manage to get the leave and some respite.

  11. Ra

    honeydew / 7586 posts

    No advice but lots of hugs, friend. I'm so sorry you are going through a rough time.

  12. Shantuck

    pear / 1767 posts

    I'm an attorney and I've actually known two co-workers who have done that. One was quite secretive about the reason for her leave and just told people she was fine but that it was for "health related reasons." We all suspected stress related issues as it is a high stress job. Another co-worker broke up with a girlfriend and told people that his therapist recommended he take a break to deal with some things. People gossiped a bit about the second co-worker so I definitely think a less is more approach is better. For both of these people, there were no negative repercussions. People generally accepted that they needed a bit of time to work through things and they both returned and appeared to be refreshed.

  13. .twist.

    pineapple / 12802 posts

    @Ra: @StrawberryBee: Thanks for the love ladies!

    @travelgirl1: Thank you! It is just so nice to see that other people have used time off like this. I don't feel quite so weird about it.

    @Shantuck: I wish I even had the excuse that my job was high-stress. But it's just not. It's just a lot of things compounding, being here too long, working with bullies. It's just built up, along with other life stuff that I feel is much more important that I need to work on. I already know who will gossip about it, and I know they've already started, but whatever. Getting away from these people will be healing enough.

  14. Shantuck

    pear / 1767 posts

    @.twist.: I'm sorry. That's tough. I had a job once where I would be in tears every Sunday night and filled with such immense dread that I would feel sick. The industry I was working in had tanked so I was "lucky" to have a job but towards the end I had decided that I would be better off with no job than such a toxic job. Luckily, I eventually found something new. I'm sorry you are going through this.

  15. ChiCalGoBee

    nectarine / 2028 posts

    I am so sorry you're going through a hard time. Mental health is of the utmost importance, and I think you need to prioritize that in a big way. I've seen too many bad things happen in friends who have ignored mental health, so please please please please find a way to take the time to get help. If we stop stigmatizing mental health issues, and make them more mainstream, we could help so many people in this world! Sorry, I'll get off my soap box. Take care of yourself-we're here for you.

  16. Astro Bee

    pear / 1503 posts

    Perhaps it's because my industry (military) has been so proactive in recent years about dealing with mental health issues that there is less stigma associated with it now. I know of several people, both military and civilian, who have taken stress leave (long term and short term) and not had any career repercussions, although one friend received a medical release for mental health due to service and received her full pension plus a medical pension. She has been very open about her experiences, and told me that her doctor (actually mine too) had been really supportive of her when she told him that she'd reached finally her limit. For co-workers on stress leave, while I'll say that we did talk about them (behind their backs) it was not in a disrespectful way, and more glad that they got the help they needed. Unfortunately, it's quite often really obvious when someone is off for stress leave rather than a physical rehabilitation, especially at a small office/company.

    I hope your time away from your job, assuming you do decide to take stress leave, is able to put things in perspective for you so that you are in a better state of mind when you go back. Lastly, I wouldn't give a flying F what people think about how lucky I am to have that job. Your mental health is most important, and you have those things like sick leave and EI/disability to ensure that there isn't a financial burden associated with you taking care of you!

  17. Boopers

    pear / 1548 posts

    @.twist.: big hugs! Ignore the haters and do what's best for you 💗

  18. MoonMoon

    pomegranate / 3392 posts

    @.twist.: I don't have any advice, but I just want to say I'm sorry you or your friend are feeling overwhelmed and having a rough time. I hope you find relief and healing.

  19. YouGotMe

    apricot / 477 posts

    @.twist.: my best friend took a leave of absence from her job (in Canada) a few years ago and it turned out pretty good for her. She used the time to get her medication working and to get herself a network of support. Some people did know why she left but at that point she didn't care.

    Her doctor only approved her the first time for a month off, just before the month was up she was able to get it extended for an additional month. Which allowed her to have the EI.

  20. .twist.

    pineapple / 12802 posts

    @ChiCalGoBee: Thanks! I agree, it is important. I definitely wish more people around me felt the same, but I guess I will pave the way. haha

    @Astro Bee: @Boopers: @MoonMoon: @YouGotMe: Thank you all so much for your support. I'm definitely going to try and get some time off.

  21. lawbee11

    GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

    @.twist.: No advice but thinking of you and sending you lots of !

  22. Reese

    pomegranate / 3521 posts

    @.twist.: thinking of you,girl

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