ChatterBank1 min ago
Is depression related leave the easy way out?
22 Answers
A debate please.........
Employers, what is your take on depression realted sick leave?
Employees, why not just change jobs or address the issues with your employers, instead of letting matters get t othe 'depressive' stage?
I have had jobs where I hated the work or a colleague or two, but I either spoke of the issues and changes occured or, I left and found more rewarding employment - why do people let themselves get into this state?
I am truly bemused by 'depression related absence' and want to understand why people get into this position - to me it appears like a way to skive off, to be frank - whats your opinions...................?
Employers, what is your take on depression realted sick leave?
Employees, why not just change jobs or address the issues with your employers, instead of letting matters get t othe 'depressive' stage?
I have had jobs where I hated the work or a colleague or two, but I either spoke of the issues and changes occured or, I left and found more rewarding employment - why do people let themselves get into this state?
I am truly bemused by 'depression related absence' and want to understand why people get into this position - to me it appears like a way to skive off, to be frank - whats your opinions...................?
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"Why do people let themselves get into this state?".....Do you honestly believe that someone suffering from clinical depression (for any reason) has a choice in the matter?!
Congratulations on being able to speak out about issues that have bothered you personally at work - not everyone finds it so easy.
Mental illness is very common and questions like this do nothing to help sufferers feel that they will be taken seriously.
Congratulations on being able to speak out about issues that have bothered you personally at work - not everyone finds it so easy.
Mental illness is very common and questions like this do nothing to help sufferers feel that they will be taken seriously.
I think that your opinion is quite horrible to be honest.
When people are depressed they dont "let themselves get into this position" ! Thats not how depression works.
I do however understand where you are coming from. I know there are people who are just unhappy in their jobs and are giving themselves the label of being depressed.
But you can't put all people on depression related absence under the same bracket.
Some people will be off for depression and it will have nothing to do with their career, something else could be making them depressed and as a result they can't cope with work, for example post-natal depression leaves many women unable to cope with being at work.
The way you are thinking of it is quite ignorant to the facts about depression.
When people are depressed they dont "let themselves get into this position" ! Thats not how depression works.
I do however understand where you are coming from. I know there are people who are just unhappy in their jobs and are giving themselves the label of being depressed.
But you can't put all people on depression related absence under the same bracket.
Some people will be off for depression and it will have nothing to do with their career, something else could be making them depressed and as a result they can't cope with work, for example post-natal depression leaves many women unable to cope with being at work.
The way you are thinking of it is quite ignorant to the facts about depression.
Actually questions like this are intended to open a healthy debate, seeing both sides of the coin, educating the uneducated (in this topic) and .
I'd like to hear from sufferers and understand them, in order to update and revise my current assumptions......... the last thing anybody wants to see is a colleague suffering, possibly in silence, when they could do something about it.
Everybody has an opinion, lets hear them, I repeat my initial question..........................
I'd like to hear from sufferers and understand them, in order to update and revise my current assumptions......... the last thing anybody wants to see is a colleague suffering, possibly in silence, when they could do something about it.
Everybody has an opinion, lets hear them, I repeat my initial question..........................
feeling stressed out isn't the same as clinical depression
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/ 0,,2151097,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/ 0,,2151097,00.html
I have just realised that my initial question did not clarify that I am only referring to 'work related depression', i.e. a depression caused by their job - maybe my question makes more sense now!
Sorry for the lack of initial clarity, I fully understand other causes of depression and was not referring to them!
Yours truly & slightly embarrased,
FG
Sorry for the lack of initial clarity, I fully understand other causes of depression and was not referring to them!
Yours truly & slightly embarrased,
FG
Clinical depression is caused by the person's body being unable to produce enough serotonin, a hormone.
Finding the right anti-depressant, and dose, is extremely difficult and can cause many unpleasant side effects and even exacerbate the depression.
Type 1 Diabetics are not derided for their reliance on insulin injections, and that is exactly the same principle - lack of a hormone the body needs to function properly.
Just be thankful you have never had to deal with clinical depression, either in yourself or your family. It is a most debilitating condition.
Finding the right anti-depressant, and dose, is extremely difficult and can cause many unpleasant side effects and even exacerbate the depression.
Type 1 Diabetics are not derided for their reliance on insulin injections, and that is exactly the same principle - lack of a hormone the body needs to function properly.
Just be thankful you have never had to deal with clinical depression, either in yourself or your family. It is a most debilitating condition.
i think its just like saying why do people have broken leg related leave - its because they cant work due to health reasons. Depression, imho is an illness that happens to you much the same way as a broken leg might - ie it just happens and you dont have any control over it Sure work might contribute to depression but work might also contribute to a broken leg. I think your question is obsolete. people haave sick leave because they are sick, whether that is a physical illness or mental one
well, i've hit a raw nerve here haven't I !!
Bottom line, people should not let an issue at work get to the stage of absence due to issue related depression. It is not a secret that employees carry many more rights than employers and employers have a duty to act when notified of a problem that requires them to help an employee who is suffering problems.
I simply see and hear too often about staff taking time off because work is 'depressing' them, only to enjoy the time off and then carry on as normal when they come back - nothing has changed, aside from 10 or more days on their holiday entitlement than they should have!
For the record, I employ a lot of people, nobody in my firms have taken time off for this reason, I have dealt with a close family member suffering depression for years now (and help in every way I can), my question is not "obsolete" and it is a real debatable issue, with a method of getting time off being abused... in my current opinion.
Can anybody who has taken time off in this manner tell me a story about their reasons, or a story from anybody about somebody they know?
Bottom line, people should not let an issue at work get to the stage of absence due to issue related depression. It is not a secret that employees carry many more rights than employers and employers have a duty to act when notified of a problem that requires them to help an employee who is suffering problems.
I simply see and hear too often about staff taking time off because work is 'depressing' them, only to enjoy the time off and then carry on as normal when they come back - nothing has changed, aside from 10 or more days on their holiday entitlement than they should have!
For the record, I employ a lot of people, nobody in my firms have taken time off for this reason, I have dealt with a close family member suffering depression for years now (and help in every way I can), my question is not "obsolete" and it is a real debatable issue, with a method of getting time off being abused... in my current opinion.
Can anybody who has taken time off in this manner tell me a story about their reasons, or a story from anybody about somebody they know?
-- answer removed --
Just overwork - not simply the work itself, but the demands and expectations which some people find oppressive. One of the people has been here 10 years, the other closer to 20; so we are talking slow build-up, coupled with frequent changes (changing computer systems, eg) and the usual staffing cuts without any lessening of the workload. Both just had enough. They are not related; it's just coincidence it hit them both at once. The work itself is reasonably varied and challenging but there's an increeasing amount of it. I am ok, being fairly laid-back; the other two are hard workers who are suffering for it. I've known a handful of others have the same problem over the years: always the conscientious types who work hard to do a good job, not the skivers (there are a few of them around too)
it seems as though the employer has let them down a lot - those reasons make sense to me, thanks jno.
I guess my mindset has been centred around people who dont work hard and are looking for an excuse to blame it on something, other than themselves. Your examples attract sympathy as the individuals sound like hard workers who are getting left behind, due to lack of training and bad senior management.
Maybe thats what it all comes down too? If employers watched out for their employees and encouraged debate (through 121's for example), these events would be less likely to occur?
hmmm. not quite an epiphany just yet, but a step in the right direction maybe?
More examples and opinions please...........
I guess my mindset has been centred around people who dont work hard and are looking for an excuse to blame it on something, other than themselves. Your examples attract sympathy as the individuals sound like hard workers who are getting left behind, due to lack of training and bad senior management.
Maybe thats what it all comes down too? If employers watched out for their employees and encouraged debate (through 121's for example), these events would be less likely to occur?
hmmm. not quite an epiphany just yet, but a step in the right direction maybe?
More examples and opinions please...........
yes, I do think bad management has a role to play; of the five people I've known in this sort of trouble (2 men, 3 women) one had a fairly top job and was well respected, the others were under-appreciated as well as overworked. I feel more sympathetic treatment would have done a lot to make them feel less crushed. But all were hard workers. Skivers may fancy the odd week or two off. These ones were all off for 9-12 months, and I don't think your average skiver would plan that far ahead.
If you are weak enough to be off work with work related stress there are two solutions:
Get a grip or get another job. Why should I have to go to work every day when someone else within the organisation can't cope and sits at home for 6 months watching Trisha?
Being off work through depression that isn't work related is another matter but one that is frequently abused. I used to work for Blue Chip company and you would be surprised how many people were off with "stress" only to miraculasly get better after 6 months and they were about to go onto half pay.
Get a grip or get another job. Why should I have to go to work every day when someone else within the organisation can't cope and sits at home for 6 months watching Trisha?
Being off work through depression that isn't work related is another matter but one that is frequently abused. I used to work for Blue Chip company and you would be surprised how many people were off with "stress" only to miraculasly get better after 6 months and they were about to go onto half pay.
of course there are some grey areas between the whinging fakers and actual suicide victims but i have faith because
employees do have to disclose some previous medical history for most jobs
sick employees will have to see a doctor who should refer them to a therapist / psychologist
there is a mutual obligation of trust in law between employees and employers
'work related' depression is a cause not a medical distinction and the process by which someone becomes depressed will naturally have bearing on the solution towards which all parties should strive
people who fancy '10 days off' are much more likely to give a physical illness as an alibi rather than a mental one because of the social stigma depression carries
employees do have to disclose some previous medical history for most jobs
sick employees will have to see a doctor who should refer them to a therapist / psychologist
there is a mutual obligation of trust in law between employees and employers
'work related' depression is a cause not a medical distinction and the process by which someone becomes depressed will naturally have bearing on the solution towards which all parties should strive
people who fancy '10 days off' are much more likely to give a physical illness as an alibi rather than a mental one because of the social stigma depression carries
here, here, reverendfunk.
People should get their heads down and get on with the job, if they face a problem they should be hard enough to confront their manager with it.
Going off with stress is not efficient and i understand that theres a difference between being sh*t on and work related stress but they get paid to be put in that position and if they cant handle it then maybe they should be positioned lower down in the chain where theres less responsibility.
No anti-descrimination policies
No pro-descrimination policies
No quotas to fill
Best Man for the job!!!
People should get their heads down and get on with the job, if they face a problem they should be hard enough to confront their manager with it.
Going off with stress is not efficient and i understand that theres a difference between being sh*t on and work related stress but they get paid to be put in that position and if they cant handle it then maybe they should be positioned lower down in the chain where theres less responsibility.
No anti-descrimination policies
No pro-descrimination policies
No quotas to fill
Best Man for the job!!!
And the pendulum swings back in favour of the apparently 'obsolete' stance I was maintaining at the start of this debate......
I guess It may be fair to say that there are a lot of lazy b******s out there who are work shy, alongside a minority of genuine claimants - these are mixed in with a lot of weak people that do not have the self awareness (or the balls) to confront their own issues and deal with them properly, preferring to take the easy way out (only to miraculously recover just prior to their salary dropping to half pay of course!)
Its enough to make me depressed !
I guess It may be fair to say that there are a lot of lazy b******s out there who are work shy, alongside a minority of genuine claimants - these are mixed in with a lot of weak people that do not have the self awareness (or the balls) to confront their own issues and deal with them properly, preferring to take the easy way out (only to miraculously recover just prior to their salary dropping to half pay of course!)
Its enough to make me depressed !
i was off due to stress and anxiety ( depression) untill that day i had never taken time off work. I spoke to my employer about my job and the pressure that came with it, i regulary asked for support but never got it.This went on for over a year so in the end i couldnt take anymore my job was making me ill i had seven weeks of in total. I am now back at work and now doing a differant job there is still no support from my manager but the colleague i work with is great. Depression is something i never thought id suffer from and it hit me like a ton of bricks. dont think all people who are off due to depression are pulling the wool.
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