signed off. can I be sacked ?

A question about : signed off. can I be sacked ?

Need some advice.

I started a new job at a hospital as a health care assistant in October, a few days after starting I was sick at work and sent home I was told not to return for 48 hours. At the start of this month I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, I started have bad panic attacks and became very emotional. I went to my gp who gave me tablets bit said they would not begin to work until 3-4 weeks. My line manager then referred me to occupational health who have now signed me off work until my tablets start to work, I have also agreed to attend councellig. However I am now very worried that I could lose my job and it is stressing me out.

Could I lose my job.

Best answers:

• Hi
  I am sorry to hear just what you are going through but as the law stands you can be dis missed by any company for no reason in the first two years of working for them. Only after that do you have any comeback if you think your removal has been unfair.
  All I can say is just follow what the company has asked of you and see how things go.
• I have agreed to everything they have asked such as attending counselling and attending occupational health I just get so worried that my mental state at the moment will cost me my job. My career is everything and I'm embarrassed as it is that I am suffering I'm clearly not as strong as I thought.
• no need to be embarrassed OP , we all have times in our lives that are difficult. Just do everything occ health ask of you, which you already are. Your GP is correct, the pills can take some time to kick in, but take each day one step at a time. Best wishes to you x
• I agree with Chella, this is not something you have done to yourself,the medication will as your GP has said take a time to be effective and as you are on he early stages of the pills you are not going to see a change overnight. Take things one step at a time, what will be will be and worrying about it both will not change the situation and will only worsen the medical problem you have.
  I know saying do not worry is easy for others not in your position but try to focus on the main thing that is first getting better then being the best health care assistant you know you can be. Good luck :0)
• Like I said I feel very pressured at the moment and the fact I have been signed off has made my stress worse
• Sorry to hear things are a bit tough just now
  Have you got a copy of the sickness policy?
  If not, is there anyone you know well enough to ask to send one / could you ask your HR dept to send one to you
  It will really depend on what's written in there .... eg our work view absences in 2 ways - 'disciplinary' if you're off with no underlying
  health condition and 'capability' if you do have one with each being treated differently
  You really need to find out what the policy is / what the steps in it are etc
  Good luck
• Hi Silver - sorry to hear you have had some though days. I had a similar problem last year myself and my firm was understanding thankfully.
  It can be worrying I agree but you should focus on feeling better first. This will help you go back to work quicker.
  Talking to someone from HR or your manager might help.
• Don't get too stressed about it, although I would say it isn't the employer being necessarily unfair you must understand.
  An employer expects the average employee to be off sick (whether that's signed off or not) for a particular period per year, if sickness creeps up above this (all sickness is regarded as genuine so theres no slur here it might not be) then the employer may need to look at whether you are fit enough to do the work they employed you specifically for, if not then, yes, they can dismiss I am afraid.
  An employer cannot keep a job open indefinitely (even if they are not paying you directly they are liable for lots of costs under SSP and have an 'empty slot' in the workforce) so sometimes it's fairer to simply state 'we can't employ you unless you can come into work'. it might feel unfair, but it really isn't, such costs can cripple smaller companies.
• Of course I understand what your saying and I understand that there is policies but on the other hand they no that the me that I am at the moment is not the real me as I am naturally a very outgoing, bubbly person which they said themselves is why they hired me in the first place. Also they no that I am good at my job as they have told me on numerous occasions and have had alot of compliments from patients and there relatives. I just hope that once these tablets start to work I can continue my duties as normal. I hope that they realise this.
• I sincerely hope they can see that -starting so relatively recently they might not however I am afraid.
  I wish you the best of luck going forward.
• I don't really have any answers OP, but just wanted to say that I understand how you feel as, I, too suffer from anxiety/depression and panic attacks. It does take quite a while for the medication to take effect.
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