Post by peterh on Jan 11, 2008 19:22:26 GMT
I'm currently on a sick leave from work for at least one week due to stress related illness. The signs have been there for months with stomach problems, headaches, isolation and tiredness but I've been ignoring it.
But Sunday night I couldn't escape it anymore. The stomach pains were building and while I have been throwing up before, this time I threw up blood. The next day I contacted the doctor and he concluded that the stress had cause a scratch/cut in the stomach so I was put on pills against ulcer. This is a problem I've experienced 4 years ago as well but never thought would come back.
Naturally I called in sick and have been thinking the situation through and came up with some conclusion as to why this happened.
First off I work odd hours and that takes it's toll. A normal week might consist of working days from 8.20am - 16.50pm, 12.30pm - 9pm, wednesday off, 10am - 6pm and 12.00pm - 8.30pm on normal workdays while also working 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. And then the following weeks will be different as well. That irregularity makes it hard to maintain some continuity both in the private and work life.
Secondly there's a lot of stress at work. Winter usually generate the most calls due the weather and as an extra disadvantafe we're vastly understaffed. Last year TDC closed down three branches due to financial decisions and while we're still hiring it's nowhere up to the level it was last autumn. That, of course, results in more work per employee and makes the pressure even greater.
Third, I'm in too bad a shape healthwise to withstand the pressure. I need to go on a diet and get some excersise, especially since I work at a desk. I had planned to start this month but due to the odd hours it's fecking hard to maintain a regular diet. Plus, I don't have the energy to do much other than work. And when it comes down to it, then my health is the most important thing. Luckily, we've made a plan to make it possible, but more on that later.
Also, I can't overlook my own ambitions as part of the problem. I want to succed at TDC so I've been pressuring myself and taking on more work than I should - even though overtime does pay good. I've also helped people with stuff when I had something to do myself - even though I'm not even the one they should ask. I did my best, but I overdid it and I contribute that to my situation as well.
All this came crashing down hard this week and I was torn apart by it. I do not want to lose my job, expecially when I'm doing very good, so of course that frustrated the hell out of me and added to the stress. I contacted my boss, of course, and told her why I was sick and asked for a meeting yesterday so i could tell her why and find out what we should do.
I don't mind admitting I was nervous as hell because of the meeting and of course I tried to come up with some solution myself, both to continue work or what would happen if I got the boot. I talked at lenght with my parents and friends and decided to call the union to see what my possibilities were. I had an idea to maybe work 5 hours a day for a period and then get additional fund from the union. As it turns out it was possible, but due to the rules, I could not longer be an employee at TDC.
Basically that meant I had to be fired and rehired on a limited contract while still being open to other jobs. So, if the union suddenly decided I had to have another job, I couldn't turn it down without losing the funding. The other opportunity was to get fired, then get union funding and still risk being sent out in a job in two days - meaning I wouldn't get the chance to get better.
So, yesterday I went to the meeting with my boss, explained the situation to her and told her I liked my job, liked my co workers and didn't want to lose it. Tina was very generous with me and told me I wouldn't lose the job. She thought I was good at it, I fit in well and she much cherished that I came out and told her instead of her coming to me. She seemed to agree on the points and that it also could be reversed if I got time to heal and get into shape. She was also glad that I myself had a solution ready, akward as it would have been to implement.
Needless to say, she stunned me by offering me something vastly better. First of all she told me to take a sick leave for a week or maybe two if needed and then I would work on a limited basis for a few months - and then get paid by the company, not the union. Basically she gave me two weeks to rest, a limited sickess leave for almost two months working 5 hours a day and still having my job!!
Jeez, I was so thankful I even went to hug her. It was way better than what I could even hope for and my boss, whom I already did have very high thoughts for, got even more respect from me. I am not sure if this is a solution offered to every employee, but nevertheless I am damn proud of it.
So from the start of next week I will begin to plan my diet and it'll go into effect either be wednesday next week or the following Monday all depending. Furthermore I'll also begin to take some long walks and get a regular schedule I can hopefully keep up.
So, it's the end of a long rant but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless
But Sunday night I couldn't escape it anymore. The stomach pains were building and while I have been throwing up before, this time I threw up blood. The next day I contacted the doctor and he concluded that the stress had cause a scratch/cut in the stomach so I was put on pills against ulcer. This is a problem I've experienced 4 years ago as well but never thought would come back.
Naturally I called in sick and have been thinking the situation through and came up with some conclusion as to why this happened.
First off I work odd hours and that takes it's toll. A normal week might consist of working days from 8.20am - 16.50pm, 12.30pm - 9pm, wednesday off, 10am - 6pm and 12.00pm - 8.30pm on normal workdays while also working 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. And then the following weeks will be different as well. That irregularity makes it hard to maintain some continuity both in the private and work life.
Secondly there's a lot of stress at work. Winter usually generate the most calls due the weather and as an extra disadvantafe we're vastly understaffed. Last year TDC closed down three branches due to financial decisions and while we're still hiring it's nowhere up to the level it was last autumn. That, of course, results in more work per employee and makes the pressure even greater.
Third, I'm in too bad a shape healthwise to withstand the pressure. I need to go on a diet and get some excersise, especially since I work at a desk. I had planned to start this month but due to the odd hours it's fecking hard to maintain a regular diet. Plus, I don't have the energy to do much other than work. And when it comes down to it, then my health is the most important thing. Luckily, we've made a plan to make it possible, but more on that later.
Also, I can't overlook my own ambitions as part of the problem. I want to succed at TDC so I've been pressuring myself and taking on more work than I should - even though overtime does pay good. I've also helped people with stuff when I had something to do myself - even though I'm not even the one they should ask. I did my best, but I overdid it and I contribute that to my situation as well.
All this came crashing down hard this week and I was torn apart by it. I do not want to lose my job, expecially when I'm doing very good, so of course that frustrated the hell out of me and added to the stress. I contacted my boss, of course, and told her why I was sick and asked for a meeting yesterday so i could tell her why and find out what we should do.
I don't mind admitting I was nervous as hell because of the meeting and of course I tried to come up with some solution myself, both to continue work or what would happen if I got the boot. I talked at lenght with my parents and friends and decided to call the union to see what my possibilities were. I had an idea to maybe work 5 hours a day for a period and then get additional fund from the union. As it turns out it was possible, but due to the rules, I could not longer be an employee at TDC.
Basically that meant I had to be fired and rehired on a limited contract while still being open to other jobs. So, if the union suddenly decided I had to have another job, I couldn't turn it down without losing the funding. The other opportunity was to get fired, then get union funding and still risk being sent out in a job in two days - meaning I wouldn't get the chance to get better.
So, yesterday I went to the meeting with my boss, explained the situation to her and told her I liked my job, liked my co workers and didn't want to lose it. Tina was very generous with me and told me I wouldn't lose the job. She thought I was good at it, I fit in well and she much cherished that I came out and told her instead of her coming to me. She seemed to agree on the points and that it also could be reversed if I got time to heal and get into shape. She was also glad that I myself had a solution ready, akward as it would have been to implement.
Needless to say, she stunned me by offering me something vastly better. First of all she told me to take a sick leave for a week or maybe two if needed and then I would work on a limited basis for a few months - and then get paid by the company, not the union. Basically she gave me two weeks to rest, a limited sickess leave for almost two months working 5 hours a day and still having my job!!
Jeez, I was so thankful I even went to hug her. It was way better than what I could even hope for and my boss, whom I already did have very high thoughts for, got even more respect from me. I am not sure if this is a solution offered to every employee, but nevertheless I am damn proud of it.
So from the start of next week I will begin to plan my diet and it'll go into effect either be wednesday next week or the following Monday all depending. Furthermore I'll also begin to take some long walks and get a regular schedule I can hopefully keep up.
So, it's the end of a long rant but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless