Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi I work in a call centre for HMRC. I have worked here for 11 months. In that time I've had loads of abusive customers and suicidal customers etc. This was making me have panic stacks and I got really depressed but still went to work.
I was coping with this all to a degree because I had good support from my manager but then my manager got changed a few months ago. I can't go into details but the way I was treated by the new manager caused me to get more stressed and after 3/4 months I finally had a break down from the pressure of it all.
This was 2 weeks ago now and I am due back the week after next. I don't feel any better for the time off, as work have been contacting me and pressuring me to go back, I've also had 3 appointments at work which has made me physically sick and I can't sleep.
I want to go back, I'm good at the job when I'm in the right frame of mind and I have made lot of friends there, but I'm not ready yet. My counsellor has advised me not to rush my self. But work have made it clear if I'm not back within a set time frame I will be having a formal meeting.
I am seeing the gp on Monday because I'm scared of feeling like this for much longer, it's awful..
What should i do?
2 likes, 20 replies
Hollyworrier19 soph97510
Posted
soph97510 Hollyworrier19
Posted
Hollyworrier19 soph97510
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Rainboy soph97510
Posted
This is a horrible situation for you with what seems like no way out. I experienced exactly the same problems a couple of years ago following a severe breakdown at work. Coincidentally, my job was in public service like yours.
I have a brilliant GP and feel very lucky, but he gave me some advice that helped me and may help you too. He gave me a number to ring a department run by the County Council that give advice on all things work/money/welfare/employment rights.
To cut a long story short, I ended up receiving a home visit from a very experienced guy who worked on this support team. He explained to me exactly where I stood in terms of how to deal with work, money, and dealing with formal warnings etc.
He actually wrote a letter on my behalf to my employer, and eventually set up a meeting where I attended, but he was my spokesman and represented me in front of my employers HR team.
It changed everything and was such a relief. He was fair and explained my employer had rights too, but the most important thing was my welfare and health and basically took his lead from my GP.
Wherever you are in the country, I would encourage you to see if your local Town Council or your County Council have a helpline for this kind of advice. I think all of them do these days.
On the plus side, because your employer is the HMRC, they will be well aware of their obligations toward you as one of their employees. There is more than a hint of employer liability or contributory negligence in your post, so I feel confident that things will come right for you.
Please accept my sincere good wishes.
francesca45319 Rainboy
Posted
That sounds a very useful service I could do with something similar having been off work for 5 weeks and very anxious about returning. Did the dept in question have a specific name? Perhaps it was part of social services?
Thank you for your help.
Rainboy francesca45319
Posted
Do you know, it did, and when I was writing to Soph, I was trying desparately hard to remember what they were called.
I'm sure it will come back to me, and when I have some spare time, I'll see if I have kept a reference in my files, as I kept the most important paperwork in case I ever needed it.
I will make you a promise that if I remember, or if I can locate the info, I will write to you with the answer.
Lots of good wishes to you. :-)
francesca45319 Rainboy
Posted
Much appreciated..
Fran
caitlin39841 Rainboy
Posted
Caitlin
Rainboy francesca45319
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I am delighted to tell you I have been looking through my records and found what I was looking for.
It was "The Welfare Rights Service".
Try typing in your search engine the name of your county council followed by the above and see what returns you get. For example;
ANXIETYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE
Please do not feel obligated, but if you have any success in your search, I would love to know, because it would make me very happy to know that you have found a source of help.
I'm sorry you've had to wait a few hours for the information, but I had to wait until I finished work.
I am wishing you a peaceful evening and weekend, and for the record, you are more important than your job. I understand how important having a job is, and nobody can afford to take work lightly these days. But when it comes to your personal well-being, there can only ever be one priority and that is you. If you take care of yourself and get help and support, you end up being a better employee anyway, so it's not in your employer’s interest to harass you.
Everyone that has replied to you will be thinking of you Fran. :-)
soph97510 Rainboy
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Rainboy soph97510
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I posted it on Frans message as she originally put the question to me, but as it was your thread, I expected you would be notified.
The message applies to you as well and I hope with all my heart you are able to locate a similar organisation. :-)
francesca45319 Rainboy
Posted
Camden council do have a welfare rights team but it seems their remit is helping council tenants with benefits and debt....It might still be worth doing a referal form...
I hope you have a good weekend too.
jmcg2014 soph97510
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Codi soph97510
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The job you have taken on is not an easy one. Maybe you find that your heart is in the right place - but other circumstances in your life make you currently unable to council others who are struggling with their own battles. If that's the case listen to your body first and foremost and try to understand why you feel vulnerable at this time. I know from counseling others that anxiety increases when 2 people with anxiety try to comfort each other by sharing their distress. It seems right because you have an understanding of how anxiety affects others and you seek to comfort them out of compassion. This is hard to do without triggering yourself if you are still suffering from anxiety yourself.
Usually one must make a formal complaint to HR about the person who is harassing you. Have proof that it is affecting your health with medical notes provided from your Dr's. Have witnesses that will verify the harassment and show how it degrades you, punishes you, discrimates against you to the point of causing illness, physically, emotionally or both.
1) sounds like you need to get your own anxiety under control before you take on anyone elses.
2) Look up your state labor laws to see how your state handles harassment cases.
Take care of your self now so you really know how to help others later. God Bless
Rainboy Codi
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Just wished to say that your reply to soph97510 offered both very practical advice, and spot-on information about employment rights. A very sound and well thought out reply that I'm sure will help her.
Best wishes Pal.
soph97510 Rainboy
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I got a letter from work today about a formal meeting regarding my absence with it hitting a trigger point I have been signed off again for another week and have to ring them next week to inform them. The thought of this is making me ill! X
Rainboy soph97510
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This is exactly what happened to me. A close friend replied to the letter and explained I was far too ill to even contemplate attending such a meeting. Had it been necessary, there was plenty of evidence to back that up, but the letter was not replied to. I think they got the message!
It's good news to hear you've been to the Doctor. Does he know about the letter, or did you get it after your appointment. I'm pretty certain that if he knew, and realised how it is debilitating to you, he would say 'that's not going to happen'.
The opinion of your GP carries weight. I can't bear the thought of you spending the weekend ruminating and worrying about this letter. There is nothing you can do about it until Monday, so if you can, put it away and forget it until then. If you find yourself meditating on it, the moment you realise, do something to change your thoughts.
One more thing. If at some point you decide to have a meeting with your employer, remember you have every right to take someone with you, and if you wish, they can act as your proxy and speak on your behalf as long as they have the facts.
Don't be bullied. There are more of us than there are of them, and we are on your side!
Thinking of you. :-)
Codi Rainboy
Posted
I pray she finds relief soon.
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