I don't expect sympathy on here, as there are many people whom will take the tone of 'you should be lucky you have a job', 'you don't deserve a job', 'its unfair on other people for you to call in sick' or whatever. I expect pitiful comments here, but what the hell I'll post anyways as I'm pretty pissed off at my boss.
I've had a job in a fast paced environment for the last 6 months, and in that time my mental health has dipped and I've been put back on medication for anxiety/depression. Put bluntly, the workplace is full of nasty individuals, management is cliquey and my boss is a bully. People are basically kissing backside for a measly few quid promotion.
During my employment there, I've basically declined in my self-esteem due to colleagues slating me and my work ethic, often times its done when I can hear it, and its gotten to the point I actually question myself. I know most of you will tell me to get help from my GP or therapy- which I'm already doing and have been for such a long time. I'm currently seeking therapy on the NHS and even that is a futile effort.
My workplace doesn't know i suffer from mental health difficulties although they know i'm anxious. I don't feel comfortable telling them about such issues, as I know colleagues in the past who've done so and they get slated behind their backs rather nastily. My boss has also done some pretty spiteful stuff to former employees by not giving shifts during notice week, and generally playing hell.
This behavior in the workplace- bullying, scapegoating and meddling with peoples lives- has over time eroded my tolerance, and oftentimes I ring in because I just cant be bothered to deal with it all. I have cried in mornings, felt exhausted, and not slept. So sometimes it is actual physical illness, other times it is mental health related, but I can't ring in and say "I just don't wanna come in".
Today, I rang in sick complaining of Diarrhea and sickness (as I usually do- or words to those effect). The phone-call to my boss was pretty grilling to say the least and she basically told me: "While you've been employed here you've had a lot of time off, owning to Diarrhea and Sickness, even more so than I do myself, it is a problem and to be honest a cause for concern. I think you should go to your Doctor's as it is quite worrying."
I said I would if that's what she wanted. She then proclaimed that she was merely suggesting it. The conversation wasn't friendly at all and rather dismissive. I don't expect better treatment from that organisation anyways, but as I am sitting at home now i feel hostile and restless and pissed off due to her reaction.
I think the problem goes much farther. As a society, we are pretty much neglecting our emotional and mental health for the sake of keeping our bosses happy. I've always taken the tone of 'if your ill your ill, what business is it of their's?' I felt her tone was intrusive for her to ask what was wrong with me.
I think I may go to the doctors (yet again) and basically just tell him my absenteeism is causing problem with my employment. A number of times I've been ill, but most of all it is to do with depression, exhaustion and not feeling comfortable in my workplace, and see if he can provide medical evidence to substantiate.
I'm absolutely fed up of this. There are people that will tell me to just find another job, which I've been trying for months and months. It is tiresome.
I get interviews on occasion and usually I cock up as i'm far far too nervous and not confident. Issues like this dent my confidence, because I'm made to feel like a shirker and not a worker, that im somehow not valuable because I phone in sick due to mental health issues.
Employers have too many loopholes and rights nowadays, and people are far too jobs-worthy to take a day or so off sick due to mental health issues. Unless your dying people literally work themselves to the grave.
What is the likelihood the employer wants to replace me or I'll get fired?
When she stated cause for concern I took that as a verbal warning.