Walked out of work, no support

Dear JJ

There is little I can add but an extra voice of support. What I've read and taken at face value is completely and totallu unacceptable. What a gross lack of understanding and duty of care to display to an employee (whether serving notice or not).

In some ways JJ, it is a pity the decision to leave had already been made, otherwise I would have some very different advice for you. However, even though serving out your notice, you were at that point still an employee in the full sense of the word, so I shall be watching this space for developments.

Sending love, good wishes, and support. Today is all about you and you must put yourself first and take care of yourself and your emotional needs. Revisit yesterday later, much later. Whatever has worked in the past to help you remain calm, make sure you do it. If you find yourself thinkingh about yesterday, replace those thoughts immediately.

Give your emotions time to settle. Rest, have a quiet day as far as it depends upon you, and don't think ahead any further than taking an hour at a time.

I am so sorry.  I lost my job because I was off work a lot with depression.  I took my employers to Industrial Tribunal and lost.  I reckoned if I had broken a leg, or had a heart attack, or similar, there would have been sympathy.  I found, like you, mental illness was not understood, or taken into consideration.  It scares people.  There is a stigma.

I don't suppose all employers are like ours, but I know exactly how you feel.  I am sure none of it was your fault, they just wanted to get rid of someone with a menbtal illness.  You were totally honest with them.  Recently I even lost a voluntary job because of my illness, and I was doing really well. 

I think it is awful how bad you and I were meant to feel because of no fault of our own.  You worked hard, and gave ytour all.  Put it down to your employers just not understanding your illness.  They are ignorant, and do not understand.  Don't beat yourself up about it.  Not your fault.  Put it down to their ignorance. 

Keep going please, don't let this episode affect how you feel about yourself.  How rude for your supervisor to say such harsh, unfeeling words.  Makes many people with mental illness not  want to divulge it to their employers. 

Perhaps you could keep it quiet when you next get a job.  You sound a very dedicated person.  Take a break.  Have some "me" time, and when you are ready. look for another job, with hopefully, a more understanding employer.

Can totally understand how you were feeling, this happened to me last year,my monthly reviews were getting worse and things kept cropping up like my attitude was affecting the whole team, if I got annoyed or upset they would tell me to go and have 5 mins to myself.

I think its generally that people do not understand depression and think its only when people cry all day. They have no idea of the short term memory loss, the lack of concentration etc that comes with the complete and utter feeling of uselesness .

I was lucky I work for a huge company that offered excellent benefits including free therapy which helped, and although I went back to the same job after 2 months I decided to move back to my old job.

I absolutely think you did the right thing hun, if there's no support and no willingness by your colleagues to try and understand you are better off out. Hope everything works out for you lovely. You are definitely not alone. X

What a bunch of ignorant pigs!

You have an illness, there are laws about bullying and harrassment in the workplace speak to your union or the citizens advice buereau. That is disgusting, treatment if a person has a physical illness they would not be allowed to treat them in this way. It shouldn't make a difference that you left on the of your own accord you were treated that appallingly when at your most vulnerable it's not a surprise you couldn't defend yourself in the way that you probably would have before you became Ill.

Ooh i hate things like this out and out bullying. Did they not offer you any help before the assassination or say is there any thing we can do to help you at all?

Definitely find out your rights on this one hun. You are not useless your previous appraisal is testament to that!

It would be good if you could screw them for thousands at a tribunal and then get a job working for a rival firm!

 

You are very welcome Jo. I really hope things work for you. Bless your heart. X