Hello everyone,
I'm new to posting on this forum and just need a bit of advice!
I quit my job yesterday and I feel like I was forced into the decision. Apologies in advance for what will be a very long winded post!
I work for a large organisation and have done for the last 5 years. I have always been a good worker and last year I received a promotion in recognition of this. However I'll be the first to admit that my attendance record is not brilliant (although I did get the promotion in spite of this).
I've had more than the average amount of time off of work over the years due to migraines and one off illness such as flu or stomach bugs. The only time my attendance has been brought into question has been when my sick pay was suspended about 4 years ago (and has been since). It is also mentioned in my annual reviews, but has not stopped me getting pay rises etc.
Things got bad for me just before in October and I got signed off of work with depression for two months. During this time my contact with work was minimal, basically just me sending them the doctors notes and calling my manager to update her on my circumstances. Work were made previously aware of my depression (with my manager being confided in with the exact causes) and meeting with Occupational Health (related to my migraines but with the depression being mentioned - I'll go into that in a bit more detail later) and also when I had to attend 4 councilling sessions through the NHS which meant me having a longer lunch break.
Upon my return to work, just before Christmas, my manager gave me a very high-pressured piece of work to complete (complex, half finished by someone else, and with a days deadline). I did not feel up to doing this work, but as my manager had already mentioned how hard it had been coping without me there I did not feel able to mention this. Subsequently I was signed off for another 2 weeks (which coincided with the Christmas holidays). Typically I then caught that horrible flu and did not return to work until a week after the Christmas holidays. When I returned my Manager was in meetings and my Supervisor was very understanding and gave me some easy work to ease me back into the working environment. I had a few meetings with Occupational Health, but no 'return to work' meeting with my Manager.
Since then I have had a couple of days off with migraine, which I took as emergency holiday rather than sick, due to my aunt being critically ill - a situation my Manager was again made aware of.
Last week I had wednesday and thursday day off with food poising (I think, or a stomach bug! Im not a doctor! lol).
I had Monday 14th Feburary off, booked as holiday.
Upon my return yesterday I was immediatly called into a meeting with my Manager, General Manager and Personnel in which I was asked whether I knew how much time I'd had off, the impact it was having on the department and similar questions. It was very brief. I was told that it would be reviewed and would have an 'attendance meeting' in the next two weeks (which is basically a disciplinary). I returned to my desk and asked my Manager if I could speak to her she replied that she was busy and so I had to wait. She then took me into the hallway and I asked her exactly what was involved in this 'attendance meeting' - she said that she was not allowed to discuss this with me.
A combination of this, the general suggestions that I am a problem for the department, lack of understanding about my mental illness, and that I have been unhappy for a while, and my emotional state after such an impromptu meeting made me feel alienated and deeply upset so I told my manager that I was leaving. To which she replied 'ok you'll have to tell personnel'.
Before I managed to leave the building my General Manager called me into a quick meeting with him and the Divisional Director. The Director wanted me to be sure about my decision and that I had said that I didn't feel supported.
Since yesterday I have received a letter from the Director re my statement about no support. Stating that they paid for my periods of absence when I first had to attend the NHS councilor and that they offered to pay for private councilling (this was mentioned during my occupational health meeting and the occupational health lady stated that it was difficult to get this kind of councilling 'signed off'). Also, when I had first mentioned to Occupational Health that I felt I was suffering from depression the lady had told me quite simply that I 'wasn't' - making me very unwilling to discuss my depression with her.
Anyway, I'm sorry for the long message - I'm still quite upset about this and I'm not really sure what to do.
Thank you for any advice you can give me.
Jo
Also, on a side note, during my time at the Company I know of 2 people who have been 'bullied' out of their positions and have followed this through via the courts. 3 people have been fired from my department alone, not through performance reviews but through back-handed tactics as their face didnt fit - and this is currently happening with an older woman in my department too.
Thanks again.
