Sick leave doesn't make people better
Leadership coach Blaire Palmer argues that taking a leave from a job that’s caused anguish isn’t the answer – it’s the workplace that needs to change.
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Blaire Palmer is a leadership coach, author, podcaster and conference speaker. As CEO of That People Thing she coaches senior leadership teams to help them rethink how to lead in these fast-changing times.
Blaire has a podcast,...
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My partner was off work with stress, including work stress, for two working weeks. His employer contacted him 6+ times in those two weeks including requesting HR interview him. He took his own life the morning after receiving the voicemail from HR. Lessons need to be learned.
My partner was off work with stress, including work stress, for two working weeks. His employer contacted him 6+ times in those two weeks including requesting HR interview him. He took his own life the morning after receiving the voicemail from HR. Lessons need to be learned.
This is truly awful and my heart goes out to you.
Businesses of all sizes and hues need to learn that poor mental health due to work pressures is a real problem. The lack of awareness and the fact that mentally compromised folk don't "look" unwell feeds ignorance.
So if someone is unwell whether physically or mentally, they need to be left to recover.
And when staff are well but away on courses, holiday or funerals, again their space should be respected. Always.
Mental Health issues are complex and they are rarely just to do with working practices or the work environment. Whilst every business should endeavour to provide a work environment that is as stress free as possible the employer has no control over (nor even the right to know about) the stresses present in the private lives of their employees.
I agree that sick leave from work very often doesn't solve the problem, but that is partly becasue it is often not work that was the problem in the first place.
This is an absolute minefield, especially for small employers.
I worked for a large independent firm in Leeds for 8 years. I'm nearly 51 and have worked in several accounting practices though out my successful career. Mental health had never even crossed my mind until I joined the horrible firm. They had no idea about mental health.
Unless the work place culture is changed then it's almost pointless having sick leave. The work situation will still be therefore when you go back; though sometimes you cannot function due to stress and anxiety and therefore must take sick leave.
I still remember being in the Managing Partner's office explaining how the atmosphere was toxic and how I was struggling.
He gave the analogy of two runners in a race where one of them had tried really hard but had come in second in the race. He said that that was not good enough; it was all about winning and being the best.
I was demoted and given a pay reduction.
When I did try to talk to colleagues, just for a release etc, the Managing Partner said that they are not skilled mental health professionals and that I should not air my issues at work!
The Managing Partner had an MBA and I though that when I joined the firm that he'd have some idea about running a business and understanding people.
Unfortunately, the Managing Partner locked himself in a large office, lived in the country in a gated estate, was from a minority background and had no idea about people.
I now run my highly successful firm from home and make multiples of my former employer's salary. If only he had only harnessed my skills then he would have made a good profit from me and had a happier workforce. I've never seen staff turnover is a professional firm so high.
I appreciate the difficulty for any business, especially untrained and unskilled business owners and managers. However, it is good to talk and a supportive environment would have greatly helped.