View Full Version : Walked out - taking medical leave
This is in open because it is work, healthcare, relationships, maybe some spirituality thrown in.
This is the first week of summer camp. I have been struggling with insomnia since December, started with some anxiety treatment a couple months ago, and now this camp. I got this site with 1 1/2 weeks notice, staff in the hiring process, totally unknown children and numbers, a site with no printer, copier or supplies, and a few other issues (you may have read about the poor dad who spoke only Burmese and went to the wrong bus stop).
So the camp is not going well (I hear that several of the similar sites are also a wreck),
Today I checked my email and it had a list of follow ups from my summer sup to do, I was already up past 10 last night, I was up again early today, my old sup was on his way over, and I had a field trip to get ready for that I felt totally not prepared for, and
not enough hours to possibly make it work. I was so worried about missing things or making excuses to old sup or anything. I just starting tearing up and called current sup. I walked outside to talk and at first he tried to help me break down the tasks, and then it was obvious that I could not mentally manage that. So he had me just take a break, by the time I got back for the meeting with my old sup he had called him and their supervisor. The calvary came in and took over, I appreciate the higher supervisor and how she responded. I was not able to process everything, and what I could process was slow. I helped them get the basics together and pass things over, it took a few hours. She seemed to understand that I was really doing my best. Honestly I had done my job but I could not keep it up, and to not be 100% on a field trip tomorrow as the only one delegated for medication for a brittle diabetic was not a good situation.
I actually feel I am more clear than I have been in awhile. I need to do paperwork to be on a type of leave, I will get to that. Meanwhile I can maybe sleep tonight. I just know that 4 hours ago I was obviously not okay. Like if you had a short conversation with me you would notice I was not tracking information or processing very well. I have an appointment with psychiatrist but not for over a week. He is good about emailing too. And I can walk, start to cut the caffeine down, maybe even sleep.
Yikes ZG! I'm glad you have given yourself a time out. Please be gentle with yourself.
While I was still in the building I was worried more about taking care of things or what people would think of me. I just want to sleep tonight, please.
Teacher Terry
6-14-18, 7:27pm
ZG, no one could keep going with this type of work load or pressure. Sending you a big hug:))
Thank you, it took a team of supervisors to do what I was trying to do this week, I feel more than a little set up. The closest similar site had months of planning and 2 PS's and a team of supervisors to start off this week.
Teacher Terry
6-14-18, 7:56pm
The whole situation was impossible. It is really bad when they send in a entire team to do what they were expecting one person to do. Like Alice in Wonderland ((:
Your health comes first, and the welfare of the children as well if the program is not well run and you well supported. Perhaps the psychiatrist can refer you to a vocational rehabilitation counselor who can help you find more suitable employment.
Zoe, I think you should have just done one work thread and kept updating it. We could see the entire sh*t show in one place! ;)
Hugs, so sorry you had to go through this. Hope you can get some sleep. Hopefully this doesn't affect your finances too much, but you definitely need to put your health first. I hope you can get some sort of paid leave, but is that asking too much?
I have almost unlimited sick time and 35 days of vacation. I hope it will be okay, my thoughts are a couple weeks to possibly get new meds or just bring down stress from the first week.
Honestly I can do my job, I did a LOT of it before I left today, and in general I do a good job even though the department may not think so.
Teacher Terry
6-14-18, 8:26pm
Glad you have paid leave. Excellent!
Very glad to hear about the paid leave!
good decision and I am so glad you were able to make it. Those in charge are not thinking of the children either.
Teacher Terry
6-14-18, 8:30pm
Vocational rehabilitation counselors have big caseloads and really don’t do much counseling but refer people out for services. So if you had trouble filling out applications they would hire someone to help you, etc. Someone at Zoe’s functioning levels would be told to start job searching. If she didn’t have a job they might hire a job placement person to help her. There funds are limited so have to figure out the best way to help as many people as possible.
iris lilies
6-14-18, 9:02pm
Did you drive home, or did someone take you home?
Did you drive home, or did someone take you home?
I never considered I might need that help, what a thought. I was in better shape than that however the nurse who made my appointment with my psychiatrist asked if I was really okay. I have never had that happen before. I think for some time I know that anyone having even a short conversation with me would have noticed that something was off. I have had a few other times in the last 6 months where I caught myself repeating in depth conversations or appearing confused.
I thought today would be better, it started with a 6:30 am phone call because I could not get our registration system to allow me to print the info cards. Most people wanted to just walk me through directions, and I am thinking that I trained these people when they were hired on many of our systems. Turns out that I couldn't print because I had too many schools I was authorized for based on our original plan to have me float to different schools. So it was a pretty tricky fix, and I felt smart and on top of things again. Hours later I got the email with almost 20 to-do items on it and that is what triggered the issue.
I am looking at some menopause related anxiety and mood issues. I think I will make an appointment with my GP also, maybe it is triggered by the situation however if hormones are part of it maybe there is some relief.
Teacher Terry
6-14-18, 11:19pm
If we forget any of your medical conditions and think about someone with no issues who could possibly keep all these balls in the air? I get anxious just reading this shit. They literally are using people up and spitting them out when they cannot do the job of 4 people. Maybe if you give up eating and sleeping. I am holding a good thought that you find the right and perfect job. It is obvious to me you have lots of skills that others would be lucky to have.
Yes teacher terry, i know of 4 people who quit specifically because of stress or work conditions this year. One had no job or plan, he just had to leave. I can't totally afford to leave but i now know how to use my protections.
It is sad, i spoke to people with 5 sifferent home languages already and from 4 continents i am guessing.
Good for you Zoe Girl. I think taking a break to catch your breath and focus on just you would be a great start.
dado potato
6-15-18, 10:36am
Are you Walking Still?
It is a downpour here -- much needed rain -- so I am baking baguettes. When the bread is done, I plan on an umbrella walk around town.
The whole situation was impossible. It is really bad when they send in a entire team to do what they were expecting one person to do. Like Alice in Wonderland ((:
Exactly.
Can i have a baguette? No rain here but sounds good.
Going to starbucks to crochet
dado potato
6-15-18, 2:31pm
This was my first attempt with a new steel mesh pan I bought from Chicago Metallic. The loaf is 14" long. I was kinda liberal with the egg-white wash. Bon appetit.
2251
ZG, take good care, and Starbuck and crocheting sounds absolutely inspired today.
yum, a baguette with jelly and strong tea is an awesome breakfast,
crochet was good, my roomate does not seem to have a hot pad, thinking about hiking days next week when I am not having appointments.
Got a Dr appointment this week, psychiatrist July 2nd and even a counselor appointment on Tuesday! Looking at taking a hiking day or an overnight camping trip.
Nervousness is a little settling in, like is everything okay without me.
Remember the team that took over. They will handle it or should. They are supervisors and know everything. :-)
Remember the team that took over. They will handle it or should. They are supervisors and know everything. :-)
Bwa haha, okay stopped laughing. Actually I really do trust two out of the 3, the only one who looked clueless and totally unhelpful was my regular supervisor. Best case scenario is that someone gets a f-ing wake up call.
I know that the supervisor level gave such bad reviews to their supervisors that they now have an anonymous suggestion box for feedback. I can't count on it or hold any expectations. Just need to turn off and take care of myself. I didn't eat a real lunch but I am getting some food for dinner, thought about a movie but I don't have the attention span.
mschrisgo2
6-15-18, 9:18pm
OM GOSH, Zoe Girl! I am SO glad you are out of there!!
Frankly, I've been wondering what would have to happen for you to get some relief... Working for the inept manager from hell, enduring insulting communication and evaluations, crazy long hours, inadequate staffing- then add all the unknowns with this summer program that you inherited on super short notice... I am glad "the team" gets to deal with it while you rest, and I hope someone in a change capacity is involved.
Now might I suggest that you focus on your health not as the Cause,
but as the Result of the demands of this job?
It is more than any one person can handle on an ongoing basis.
Please be careful not to take on too much responsibility; that lets the organization off the hook, to continue the disfunction.
Okay, turning it off and focusing on self.
I already see that with stress level more down that I am more compassionate and caring towards others. I have contacted a few people but focused much more on them. That is how I prefer to be, when I am grounded and with energy I find it food and not draining.
Are you on protected FMLA leave? Do you have the full twelve weeks available? Or have you used some in the last year?
Interesting point about FMLA, Reyes. A quick Google search turned up this article:
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-2584064
Might be helpful.
I am surprised you have instant FMLA. It requires physician documentation and the HR approval process followed by monitoring. I've had employees who had it approved retro for injury events.
Meanwhile, do take good care of yourself and let it go. The longer you hold on the job, the longer you delay healing rest. 12 weeks goes by in a blink!
iris lilies
6-17-18, 2:31pm
I am surprised you have instant FMLA. It requires physician documentation and the HR approval process followed by monitoring. I've had employees who had it approved retro for injury events.
Meanwhile, do take good care of yourself and let it go. The longer you hold on the job, the longer you delay healing rest. 12 weeks goes by in a blink!
I assumed this was an emergency health event and retro approval process woild take place.
Simplemind
6-17-18, 6:24pm
I had a couple of people in our group out on similar circumstances on FMLA. It was retro.
I will get a case worker as part of the process, I already have multiple DR appointments. It is good that my supervisors and staff all saw what kind of shape I was in during the anxiety and break down moments. It took a couple hours to be basically functional. I was not able to finish the day or come in the next day, Honestly I have had a leave suggested by 4-5 people over the last few months. I think I would have been okay with subbing and supporting others but taking on a full site with under 2 weeks notice was too much.
I think eventually I will start to deal with either embarrassment or just the difficulty of knowing that a whole lot of people saw me not okay. I saw a colleague at comic con this weekend that I trusted enough to just say I was on medical leave and suggest what it was. She said she was super stressed and she had months to plan and a staff. So I told her when the rumors start to make up something cool, like I was skateboarding down a mountain and wiped out. Honestly I think people will know, and the ones that matter won't be judgmental.
I assumed this was an emergency health event and retro approval process woild take place.
I was not functional that day or the following day. They asked me to immediately go into the HR system and request a leave. The HR people told me about the process, I had to call back twice because my brain was just struggling so much. I highly doubt I will get turned down, but I am doing everything I need to comply
My mother had a nervous breakdown and they offered her medical leave, but she chose not to take it. She was also in a high stress school setting but was a teacher.
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