Employee off with 'work stress'

[Harper]

I have just been signed off work with stress. I am hardworking and feel more than a failure having to do this.
I am normally the kind of person who thrives under pressure but most recently my workload has increased massively, everything is required in the tightest of deadlines and the work is piling up, I have started working early in the morning to late at night and still can't get the work done (salary definitely does not reflect out of hours working) I have informed my management and they agree with me that the role has evolved and is work enough for 2 people but that's where it ends.
Due to targets no new members of staff will be taken on and although I know my employers see the problem, nothing is going to be done.
I pride myself on what I am able to achieve at work and know my bosses are happy with my work. It's started as feeling slightly under valued, then overworked and before I knew it I was continually crying at home wondering how I was going to get everything done and subsequently slipping behind and feeling like a failure.
I finally broke down and am really stuck knowing the right way to get back on track, I feel like a failure.
Though I would share this as I looked to forums for a little bit of support and reading this there is considerable bad feeling surrounding this subject.
Yes do people use it as an easy out, I'm sure they do but are there employers who would prefer to use any underhand way to make it a reason to get rid rather than really help someone, of course.
Can I still have fun with my family and friends, yes but I can also be physically sick thinking about a day in the office.

 

[dev99]

What kind of work do you do?

How long have you been working for your present employer?

How long have you been signed off for?

I personally would not want to be rid of anyone that serves a purpose.

 

[silvermusic]

I hear-by give you permission to quit you current job. It's a job, not a life sentence.

 

[Pish_Pash]

I hear-by give you permission to quit you current job. It's a job, not a life sentence.

Bearing in mind most people have debts, mortgages & obligations .....& bear in mind most fear the unknown ...it is essentially a life sentence....but in the OP's shoes - with such an employer - I'd certainly be trying to get another job.

 

[helen0722]

I have just been signed off work with stress. I am hardworking and feel more than a failure having to do this.
I am normally the kind of person who thrives under pressure but most recently my workload has increased massively, everything is required in the tightest of deadlines and the work is piling up, I have started working early in the morning to late at night and still can't get the work done (salary definitely does not reflect out of hours working) I have informed my management and they agree with me that the role has evolved and is work enough for 2 people but that's where it ends.
Due to targets no new members of staff will be taken on and although I know my employers see the problem, nothing is going to be done.
I pride myself on what I am able to achieve at work and know my bosses are happy with my work. It's started as feeling slightly under valued, then overworked and before I knew it I was continually crying at home wondering how I was going to get everything done and subsequently slipping behind and feeling like a failure.
I finally broke down and am really stuck knowing the right way to get back on track, I feel like a failure.
Though I would share this as I looked to forums for a little bit of support and reading this there is considerable bad feeling surrounding this subject.
Yes do people use it as an easy out, I'm sure they do but are there employers who would prefer to use any underhand way to make it a reason to get rid rather than really help someone, of course.
Can I still have fun with my family and friends, yes but I can also be physically sick thinking about a day in the office.

sorry to hear about what you are going through. What line of work are you in? If your management cannot make your work environment less stressful it's time for you to reflect how important is your job? can you be working elsewhere in a less stress environment?

whilst you are signed off is best not to think about your job and completely cut off until you feel stress free only then you will be able to sort things out.

Do not feel that you are failing, you need to listen to your mind, body and soul and do what's best for you and your family.

 

[billybob99]

I hear-by give you permission to quit you current job. It's a job, not a life sentence.

Well said.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

The line I cope well under stress has always fascinated me .
It depends on the circumstances . If your in stressful workplace that takes it out of you and it feels tough and your getting the results and everybody is patting on your back . Is a lot different to feeling that the goals are impossible and everyday is getting worse . The worse thing we can say is I cope well under stress . We don't we are just better in some situations than others .
You can go on for so long absorbing stress and then one day just blow up .

Maybe as already indicated it is not worth the worry

 

[Chris Ashdown]

What does your contract state about working hours, you are entitled to only work those hours specified.
There is also a maximum number of hours you can work by law unless you agree to more. not fully sure of what the limit is but someone will be along to tell you i hope

The company has a duty of care and there may be legal implications especially if you have worked over two years.

 

[Newchodge]

The maximum hours you can work per week is 48, but as this is averaged over a 17 week period it is quite easy for employers to demand crazy hours for several weeks and then drop down to bring the average down. Also this is the only part of the working time regulations that an employee can agree to opt out of.

 

[RPower]

@Harper One of the most important things is to use the time you're off not to feel guilty, or even more stressed that you're not working, but to take things slowly and make small, proactive steps to feeling better and thinking about what you want.

Maybe seek the advice of a counsellor, spend some time with family and friends and just rest.
Try some light exercise, and indulge in activities that you love (and are good for you!). Life is short but it's long too; a month or two or however long you need to get back on track will only do you the world of wonder in the long run - and once you know how to get out of stress once, the next time (if it does) it happens you'll be well equipped to deal with it.

Hope things improve for you soon.

 

[silvermusic]

Bearing in mind most people have debts, mortgages & obligations .....& bear in mind most fear the unknown ...it is essentially a life sentence....but in the OP's shoes - with such an employer - I'd certainly be trying to get another job.

Despite what some people may think, there are more important things in life than a job. Speaking from my own experience when you've cheated death it's puts into crystal clear perspective exactly what is and what isn't important.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Use the time off to find another job. Go down a pay grade or two and into easier employment. No point going back into the same situation, if you can't handle it now why would you be able to cope in a few weeks?

It's just a job, you should have left months ago when you realised you couldn't cope.

 

[paulears]

A good friend of mine cannot deal with work stress. He's amazingly talented and intelligent but responsibility kills him, and medication, and strong mediation at that, is the solution, until he leaves. He tried retail, then technical in a college, and in both jobs he got promoted, and then fell apart. He tried retail again, and again, got promoted, but luckily was allowed to go back to his original job. Then the business closed down. He'd always been a musician, and a very, very good one, so knew plenty of people. He then got offered the job as guitarist for an internationally known heavy rock musician who's own band toured just a few weeks a year - he set up his own band, and the record company toured them worldwide to the big name band's audience. Huge stadiums and amazing places. This is perfect. He gets taken around, woke up in the hotel bedroom, stuck into limos and taken to the gigs. All the worrying is done by somebody else, and he just plays. His head stays on straight and he's having a great time. Work stress is amazingly destructive to the individual and totally inconvenient to the employer. So when it happens, it's always bad and trick to solve!

 

[RPower]

@Richard Head I'd not spend the time looking for another job. Get yourself into a good place mentally before you even think about anything like that. You will be able to cope in a few weeks once you've had proper rest and care.

Take care of yourself first, then work will follow.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

@Richard Head I'd not spend the time looking for another job. Get yourself into a good place mentally before you even think about anything like that. You will be able to cope in a few weeks once you've had proper rest and care.

Take care of yourself first, then work will follow.

If you can't cope today you won't be able to cope next month, not for long anyway unless something in the work place changes.

I agree with "take care of yourself first' and the best way the op can do this is to take himself out of the situation and into a workplace he can handle. That'll benefit him and his ex-employer.

 

[Pish_Pash]

Despite what some people may think, there are more important things in life than a job. Speaking from my own experience when you've cheated death it's puts into crystal clear perspective exactly what is and what isn't important.

[baliffs knocking on the door with a High Court Order] "Mr Pash, you've not paid your rent for 6 months, we've come to repossess...you are homeless"

Me: "But, but...silvermusic said there are more important things than earning a living"

...that's the (real) possible end come - yep, you've got rid of your work related stress, but step in from the shadows 'can't pay the bills' related stress.

It's all very 'right on' telling folks to walk away from their job, but are you going to let them kip on your sofa?

 

[RPower]

@Pish_Pash Work is definitely important, but mental health is more important.

At the end of the day what're you going to remember when you're grey and old; you're not going to wish you worked more, you're going to wish you made yourself happier.

So earn enough to pay the bills, and if you have a few months ill, then use it to turn it into a positive experience.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

[baliffs knocking on the door with a High Court Order] "Mr Pash, you've not paid your rent for 6 months, we've come to repossess...you are homeless"

Me: "But, but...silvermusic said there are more important things than earning a living"

...that's the (real) possible end come - yep, you've got rid of your work related stress, but step in from the shadows 'can't pay the bills' related stress.

It's all very 'right on' telling folks to walk away from their job, but are you going to let them kip on your sofa?

Which is why you change jobs to one you are capable of doing. Isn't it?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Nice to chat amongst ourselves isn't it. OP posted and hasn't been back since!! Obviously has trouble committing rather than stress.

 

[silvermusic]

[baliffs knocking on the door with a High Court Order] "Mr Pash, you've not paid your rent for 6 months, we've come to repossess...you are homeless"

Me: "But, but...silvermusic said there are more important things than earning a living"

...that's the (real) possible end come - yep, you've got rid of your work related stress, but step in from the shadows 'can't pay the bills' related stress.

It's all very 'right on' telling folks to walk away from their job, but are you going to let them kip on your sofa?

They won't be speaking to anyone if they're dead, heart attacks don't just happen to other people, stress is a very real killer. I'm not suggesting they just stand up and walk out, unless they have another job to go to, but to realise that they can actively look to leave and from the sound of it the sooner the better. Even going from Employment to self-employment many years ago took someone to push me into doing it because they had faith in my abilities. Sometimes it's just coming to realise something doesn't have to be the way it is forever, it can change and you can make that change.

 

[Bill1954]

So, only you can do the job, there's too much work for you and your employers won't employ someone to help. You are now off work, who is doing what you usually do? If you're that important your employers should be beating a path to your door to get you back, if they aren't, maybe you aren't as vital as you think

 

[jackal999]

OP hasn't been online since the original post. Anyone else smelling a WUM?

 

[rebellion]

Wouldn't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes and feel the pressure.