Stress induced illness -advice pelase

Still feeling vey confused. Probably even more so than before as I can't understand how anyone can be too stressed to teach (enough to be on sick leave) and consider going back into supply teaching?

Never mind. I don't want to get in to an argument about the public sector v the private sector etc. so will just leave it there.

Supply teaching varies according to th area, the schools and even classes within schools. I've heard supply teachers comparing notes on which classes they refused to accept and most have preferences regarding where they will go.
Some schools make it simple and treat you as as a valued resource, others, well, don't! My last couple of years (of 50 teaching!) were spent doing regular supply work at a specific school where I was welcomed. Some classes were much easier to deal with than others, as in any school! Whatever you do, good luck!

gillybob - Supply teaching is less stressful because it does not carry the same responsibilities as a permanent post. All permanent teachers have additional responsibilities that have to be done alongside classroom teaching. These can range from heading up and being responsible for a department (eg Head of English) to running an after school club. Supply teachers can generally come in, teach, go home. Stress is still possible, of course, but less likely, and so some professionals prefer to be on supply. The downside of supply is that you do not have the same sense of belonging to a school and being part of what is going on. I take your point that continually changing teachers is not a good thing for the children.

stillhere, so sorry to hear about your husband's experience. It seems his health was wrecked by his employment so would it have been possible for him to apply for early retirement on health grounds. I do accept though, that the process itself is hugely stressful.

DBH! Who lost his job.

lost his job two days before Xmas, - and yes he was a 'Head of'. He had a breakdown last June, and had been hoping (after trialling various medications that all had some fairly nasty effects on him) to return after Easter, for the summer term, but the school couldn't afford to keep paying him as well as a supply teacher, and also didn't want to risk it happening to him again. He was signed off every month by the Dr, and he had a term at full pay and after that, went down to half pay, when PPI kicked in and paid our mortgage. Sick pay from work runs out at 28 weeks, so his pay stopped a few days ago, with his last salary. He has received a lump payment from the school because they don't want him suing them for overwork, but frankly he is in no state to be able to sue anyone.

Yes, he will do supply teaching, and also exam marking and whatever else he can cope with doing. And as for supply teachers not being adequate - I'm afraid that is often down to the school, trying to save money by saving on little extras - such as my friend, returning from maternity leave, discovering that the school had not wanted to pay for ANY of her 'A' level students to have their homework marked! Apparently they can pay for bog-standard teaching, or pay more for all the extras.

It has really hit him hard, though. Despite being hugely overworked, he did love his job. The school only realised how much he did when they not only had to fund a supply teacher, but had to dish out all his other work between five different people. None of whom are all that pleased about it. I reckon losing his job has set him back about three months.

He left it too long, he thought he could cope, so I really think leaving may be the best thing for you. However - get yourself signed off for longer, and then see how you feel. Maybe aim to return after Easter. I suppose it's possible you just need a break.

gillybob, the truth is that large numbers of teachers are being treated for work related stress. I don't believe this can be attributed to teachers being made of less stern stuff than they used to be. Those of us who are teachers or have teachers in our families or close friendship groups will know that teachers work very long hours, that the demands relating to paper work increase by the day and that stress at work is a real issue.

Luckgirl is right, schools (and social work departments) would simply not function without agency staff. A young and outstanding teacher I know, left after 3 years to do agency work. She misses the comradeship and commitment that goes with working in one school but is glad to be free of the stress that goes with being an employed teacher.

Well I admit to being even more confused than I was before. Speaking for the OP Mumofmadboys said that being off sick since 4th December is not long term ?? Considering it is now 12th January I would consider this to be long term. Although maybe in the public sector/ teaching it is not?

I cannot understand how anyone could leave a teaching post (because of stress after being on the long term/short term/mid term sick due to stress) and then feel able to or consider taking up a supply teaching post. I can however understand someone being unhappy in their job and fancying a change, looking out for a new position and moving jobs in the normal??? way.

My 3 grandchildren have all been messed around at school. They are nearly 10, nearly 8 and just gone 6. Not one of them has had a teacher for an entire school year! They are all very bright children despite the fact that they often don't know who will be teaching them from one day until the next.

Please do not worry about the above comments about leaving early after a period of stress-related illness going against you in the job market (either in teaching or some other job). If those employing supply teachers did not employ people who have been in your situation, then they would not be able to keep schools staffed.

As to the whole Easter thing - as you will know, under normal circumstances a term's notice is required. In your situation this does not apply as it is to the school's advantage to be able to get on with interviewing for a replacement. I am chair of the staffing committee of governors and I can assure that they have a duty of care to you, and also a duty to expedite the appointment of someone new.

I do understand your feelings of regret about a profession that you once enjoyed turning bad on you - I went into SW with a real sense of vocation which was battered out of me as the years passed - it was time to go! But it is sad for you, as it was for me - but beleive me I never regretted it - life is too short and all that.

I do think that you are likely to enjoy supply teaching and that your current unhappy situation will not count against you. As someone who interviews and makes decisions about employing staff, I would be asking what your track record over your 8 years is, and also asking myself how we as a school and group of governors could best support you to do it well.

A member of my family has been bullied out of work. This happened in December and even a Partner in his firm told him he had been treated very badly and should go for constructive dismissal but he can't face the aggro as he has been told it will take months so he has resigned. We seem to be hearing it more and more but your well being and peace of mind is more important so take care of yourself and take your time looking round for something else.

I'm disgusted to read this, but it comes as no surprise as my daughter teaches and my SiL was bullied out of teaching several years ago.

It's not the profession it was when I started in the 1960s and it's not the profession I left in 1998 - though the 'rot' was just starting then.

You could claim constructive dismissal, but I understand you may want to return at some time.

Despite what the government says the profession is in meltdown and those recruitment 'awe and wonder' adverts make me want to reach for the bucket.

God help our grandchildren

I am sorry to hear this. If you feel up to it I think you need to focus on what is best for your future employment.

Will you be in a better position to apply for new teaching jobs if your record shows you were not off for very long? If it makes no difference either way then I think you should stay off. Just try to look at what your options will be for getting another job.

Is there some sort of HR you could go and talk to? You may have a case for constructive dismissal but think carefully about what it might mean if you choose that route.

Good luck whatever you do.

I have a teacher friend who always wanted to leave and do something else but she had got used to the salary and the holidays and never found anything else where she could get the same.

I left work (scraped into early retirement!) after stress started attacking me ... I would go home at night and just cry for no real reason! Best thing ever!

However, since you still need to be earning a living, the supply teaching sounds like a great option. I'm not sure how you go about getting placements, do you join an agency?

I was a nurse, and left my regular (nightshirt) job after 25+ years to be a bank (day shift) nurse and it was the best move ever ... only wish I had done it years before.
I worked the days I wanted, took holidays to suit me instead of the rest of the ward, even managed a social life, and made a perfectly good living from it. The best bit was that even though I did work in a particular ward nearly exclusively, I didn't feel the same pressure as I did in my previous job. I found myself in a totally different mindset and really enjoyed my job again.
I did this until I was head hunted for my last job which was office hours as I wanted, but would have happily continued banking for years if a proper job hadn't turned up.

Stress is a weird and horrible illness ... don't jeopardise your recovery by going back to work, I'm sure your GP will sign you off until your leaving date.

Look after yourself first and foremost, and good luck with whatever you decide! ?

No problem - to clarify, I have been signed off since early Dec. I wrote my formal letter of resignation by 31st Dec - normal procedure, but I would usually be expected to work 2 terms notice and therefore until the Easter holiday. However, I asked if they would consider letting me go by Feb 12th (end of term 3) with my class' needs in mind as well as my own health needs. I teach year 6 children and I felt it would be better for them to have another teacher for terms 3-6 rather than arriving just before they sit their SATs in early May. In theory this has been agreed, via email, but not confirmed for me which is also adding to my stress! Another teacher left in December and she was meant to work until February, but was allowed to go early. Adverts are out for replacements and interviews will take place next week. Perhaps I will know then.

It is not easy for me to have come to this decision. I have had many happy years at the school and it grieves me considerably to see it going through difficult times. I could have 'jumped ship' a year ago, but stayed because I felt a sense of loyalty which has not been returned or rewarded in any way. Hey ho.

OP has been off work since 4 th Dec. Not long term sick . The stress is situational as I understand it. In another situation Imperfect 27 will likely be fine. Sorry I don't mean to speak for you!!

Have I misunderstood Imperfect27 or are you considering giving up teaching after being on long term sick to do supply teaching?

I have probably misunderstood.

Won't it go against you, leaving a couple of weeks into a new term? I'm surprised you didn't have to wait until Easter to leave, at the earliest.

Luckygirl and mumofmadboys, you have made me feel so much better, thank you. Yes, there are particular stresses in teaching at present and it is indeed a high-energy job. I have averaged 1 or 2 days off a year over the past 8 years - and that because of tummy bugs I picked up from the children. I trained later in life, a year after losing a daughter, and have only been in teaching for 8 years, but until recently I was regarded as an outstanding teacher, already had 2 promotions and a TLR. I have never taken a day off because of bereavement stress - this is very much work induced, but my resilience is temporarily non-existent! I am having to reconcile what seems like the end of a career I have largely enjoyed with the need to step down for now. I did have two bursts of teaching supply, one at the end of my training year and one before I started my current job and I loved it - it is just the worry of making ends meet at the moment, but I understand there is plenty of work out there at the moment because, as you say, so many teachers are off sick with stress. And yes, health and happiness are so much more important. Thank you again for your reassurances.

I am a retired GP and agree with other posters that it is probably best to get a sick note to cover you to the end of your employment. Your health is very important. No point putting yourself under a lot of pressure because you are a hard working and responsible teacher if its going to take a heavy toll on your well being. Think how much time you have taken off sick over your whole teaching career. You have probably had very little so be kind to yourself.

Imperfect - I am governor at a primary school so can understand the ridiculous pressures that you are under; and that HTs are under. Luckily the staff team and ourselves as governors are all of the same mind and are able to support each other in the gargantuan task that the government has set with all these ludicrous targets and mountains of unnecessary paperwork.

I do not think you should go in for the last 4 weeks - you need to be performing at your best in front of the children and that is very hard when you feel as you do at present. The option of just gritting your teeth and carrying on is not possible in a teaching setting when you have reached rock bottom. I am sure that you have been a good teacher throughout your career and do not think you should feel bad about leaving on health grounds. It is a rational decision - if the job in this particular school is making you ill, then you have to stop. If anything else was making you ill you would stop. It is not a stain on your work record - it is a mark in your favour that you can see what needs to be done and have the sense to do it.

My sister is a primary teacher and she manages to tick along on supply work - and in fact has come to enjoy it. She jets in and enjoys a few days and then jets out again - no OfSted pressure, no massive quantities of paperwork, no strategic responsibilities. She gets plenty of work - mainly because F/T teachers are going off sick with stress.

I am sure you are making the right decision and it is wonderful that your OH is behind you. We had 3 children at school when I jumped off the wheel and it was a risky decision as my OH had retired on health grounds and was just doing locums. We have never regretted our decisions and we had a lot to lose financially. My DDs always say that they see our example of putting health and happiness before lots of money has been an inspiration to them.

I was amazed at how much better I felt when I left the job and at the doors that opened because I was out there and looking for them. You will have a wealth of transferable skills - sit down and list them - and you will be able to sell yourself once you have given yourself a breathing space to gather yourself. Lots of good luck with all this.

Apologies to the OP who asked for advice not my gloomy post.

My DH and I run our own small business Imperfect27 and I can understand how you feel although I could never go on the sick no matter how bad things get as there would be no one to do my job and no sick pay either. Sometimes I pull up outside work and feel physically sick at the thought of the day ahead. Neither DH or I sleep well (in fact we hardly sleep) and it seems like our entire lives are taken up with responsibilities of work (and in my case family too).

For us I guess it all boils down to not ever seeing an end to it all. To the fact that DH was never cut out to run a business (he is far too nice) it was something we fell into after DH was seriously ill. My DH is 64 years old and works physically and mentally harder than most men half his age. I worry that he will literally work himself to death.

It is teaching. Very small school - every teaching member of staff off sick at the start of this term, 3 out of 4 with stress! Should in itself say something.The new HT is inexperienced and floundering and being bullied herself from up above. We are due Ofsted any minute and I don't want to go in and then underperform for them as a permanent mark on my record. Eighteen months ago we were doing brilliantly - now we are constantly told we are failing and it is apparently all the fault of the teachers. Very sad. How can good and outstanding teachers become poor overnight? But the management are hiding behind us. Sadly, I cannot see a good ending - just a good exit. I am reconciled to leaving and doing supply for a while to tide me over, but I will need a permanent job again and need to earn at least £23K longer term to meet household needs. I do dream of getting out of the profession and am scouring lots of job vacancies. Thank goodness my lovely OH is completely supportive. And at least I will have a bit more flexibility re seeing new GS in these early months. x infinity.

It sounds like what I went through a few times with endless NHS re-organisations (that's where the money goes folks). In the end I retired early because I was lucky and able to do so. I think its a good idea to share this with your GP. If he can sign you off so that you don't have to go back you might be more refreshed to move onto the next stage. However it may leave you with an unsatisfied feeling about leaving in this way. If you can steel yourself to go back and finish with a flourish so to speak you may feel better about yourself. You have to decide really as I'm sure you know. BY the way do you not have an HR dept to speak with?

I had a very similar end to my career, I was bullied by the new management until I completely fell apart. My GP signed me off to the end of my notice period, I was physically sick at the thought of even driving to work.
Don't go back, it's clear from what happened to your colleague that there's no Duty of Care towards staff, very sad.
((Hugs))