How easy is it to get a fit note for stress? Struggling at the moment with current job and personal issues.

Posted by FreedomEagle76@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 6 comments

Struggling with mental health and work at the moment. My main issue is my shifts. I only do 16 hours a week, 4 hour shifts. I am autistic so it takes me longer to recharged but my shifts at the moment are every other day. I only get two days off in a row every two weeks. I'm running at a constant every deficit and I can't get anything else done in my life. Also add in the pressure of being the only admin colleague in my store and getting rushed to finish my own important work. Always struggled with my mental health but now I can feel myself dipping back into a depressive episode or approaching burnout. So before that happens I wondered if it would be beneficial going off on stress to get SSP at least while I look for other work With the fit note do I have to self certify for 7 days? I have a holiday coming up so could I just say that was my self certification period? Any tips on how to actually tell my line manager? I don't really want to go into details with them about it.

6 Comments

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foxhill_matt@reddit

Pretty much every doctor I've seen has given me a SOFFW for at least a month when I declare stress/anxiety to them as a side-effect of my Autism. Some ask 'how long do you need it for'. I've never had a problem with it apart from the autistic inertia of actually making the phone call.

swirlysquiggles@reddit

For the first time and a week or so, I think you’ll find it very easy :) You can self certify for 7 days, but there’s no ‘you have to self certify for 7 days before you can see your gp’ rule. Saying your holiday was your self certification period doesn’t make sense- that is something you’re entitled to before needing to be signed off sick, not a hoop to jump through before you’re allowed to be signed off sick. To your line manager: > Hi, I’m having some health problems and will be off work for X time. If they are the person you give your sick note to, then they’ll see the reason as it’s put there. If it goes to some sort of HR then they don’t need to see it. Either way, it is okay to say that it’s personal and you don’t want to discuss it.

hijabibarbie@reddit

Honestly as a doctor I don’t argue with people who want fit notes

OurSoul1337@reddit

If you get an appointment with your GP and start crying you can get as many weeks off as you like. Source: happened to me.

wardyms@reddit

If the job is making you stressed out and is causing you issues with performing at work you should absolutely tell your manager first so they can try and do something about it and hopefully rectify the issues first. If they can't/won't or nothing changed you can take time off in line with your own policies. Which is usually 7 days then a fit note from a doctor. Which is very straight forward. Depending where you work sick leave overrights planned annual leave. So if you are off sick during a period of planned leave you would get that back.

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