Getting signed off with teacher stress : A guide

Getting signed off with teacher stress? It’s more common than you think.

For me it was the desperation of doing anything, ANYTHING to get out of work. Crashing into a tree on the way to work was one that I’d thought of over and over again. This was a case of Sunday dread, it was more. It was teacher burnout; I needed to be signed off work with teacher stress.

As I prepare for my own return into teaching after some time away from the classroom, here are my thoughts as to why we are getting it so wrong and how to regain a more balanced life if you choose to stay in the profession.

Has it always been so tough?

Even before the pandemic hit, teacher stress was a well-known occupational hazard. I remember a member of my SLT team telling me her life insurance broker raising an eyebrow when asking her job title in the 90s; it’s always been a role in which you’re expected to go above and beyond.

The NEU states that even in 2017, female teachers in the primary and nursery sector had a higher risk of suicide. And as a teacher in the state sector who has worked in some pretty tough schools, there have been many elements including the following that have made life stressful:

• Observations

• Planning

• Long work hours

• Last minute meetings

And yes, it’s tough, tougher than most people’s jobs that I know but the biggest thing, the biggest reason for why it’s so difficult at times is the inability to say NO.

Saying NO!

Let’s look at this socio-demographically. Teachers tend to be agreeable people and quite-often-than-not tend to thrive on doing it all. What happens after years and years of being a yes person? You burn out. Your body says no and you start to think of awful things to do to get out teaching your tough bottom-set year 10 class on a Monday morning.

So, what do you do? You learn to say no.

1. No to staying after school last minute when you’ve got to pick up your child and you know if you don’t go when you planned, you’ll have an extra £20 to pay for those 15 minutes you’ll be late.
2. No to giving up your PPA time to have a meeting when you need the time to do your own tasks which will give you more you time at home.
3. No to answering work emails at 10pm because you feel guilty (don’t check them when you are at home).

The list is endless. But what happens when you really have reached the end of that teether that you thought was never-ending (because it does end; believe me)?

A Step-by-Step guide to getting signed off as a teacher

• First call into work and say one of two things. Either 1. You are too ill to come in and will speak to your Doctor or 2. That you are mentally unwell and will be speaking to your Doctor. In the unlikely event (maybe I’ve been extremely lucky) that you will have to plan detailed lessons, book a Doctor’s appointment ASAP, after you have fulfilled your duties. You can sign yourself off/self certify for 7 days if you can’t get an immediate appointment.

• Then your appointment. Your GP will usually want a face-to-face appointment even in the time of you-know-what. Explain to them how you feel. If you have suicidal feelings, tell them. If you have self-harmed you MUST tell them (GPs have two different routes to go down): suicidal thoughts and actual harm mean they can offer you different support. You will fill in a crisis form at your GP. Again be honest. With mine, it came out that I was moderately depressed, though as an ‘agreeable, ‘yes’ person, I tended to downplay the extreme feelings I had even then.

They will tend to do the following:

1. Give you 2 weeks off work. They do this by giving you a fit note.
2. Offer you medication if suitable/ if you want it. I am going out on a limb here by saying, regardless of your stance on anti-depressants, accept the prescription. I’ll explain why later.
3. Refer you for NHS counselling.
4. Agree a date in which you will be reviewed before the two weeks is up.

• Thirdly, once you receive your fit note from the GP, contact your school. I think it’s best practise to speak to your HOD personally or a trusted member of SLT and let them know. This can be done via phone call/ text/ WhatsApp but always follow up with a professional email so you have a paper trail. Email over your fit note to HR; double check and ask them if they will accept a scanned copy; mine always have. If not, say you will post it or get someone to drop it off. You do not have to go into work.

After you hand in your fit note

Once you have sent in that fit note, you are not required to plan at all. You are off to get yourself better in what ever form that takes. If it means that you enrol in a yoga/ meditation class or even go abroad (unlikely at the moment) then so be it.

It is reasonable to keep in touch with the school. For me that meant messages once a week or so to see how I was getting on. This was completely not work related.

Extending your note after 2 weeks

Now just because you’ve had 2 weeks off, it doesn’t mean you’re going to want to stop driving yourself into a tree. If that’s the case, in your review with your GP discuss your state-of-mind and your medication discuss some more time off. I said earlier to take the prescription anyway regardless of your stance. I found my GP was willing to give me time off if I conformed to Western medicine rather than yoga, meditation and talking therapies. It’s very important to be honest and not lie about taking them though!

Again, send your fit note into HR. At this stage, GPs will often give you an extension of 4 weeks. This seems to be the norm. To be aware, if your 4 week note is 1 week before say, the Christmas holiday, the note will end 1 week after the Christmas holiday if your holiday is 2 weeks. It does not bypass the holiday (there is a way of doing this if you are on very long term sick but speak to HR).

Further Extension and Attendance Meetings

As I said before, it is good practise to keep in touch with your school. Even if you absolutely cannot stand them, having a professional paper trail is always a positive thing.

You will be called to an attendance meeting in the first three months. My heart sank when I had mine through the post, not the best for depression and anxiety but, I promise, this is just a formality. You will not be sacked at this stage. Take a union representative with you if you can, or just someone supportive. In this climate, you’ll possibly be offered a meeting online. HR will be present as well as your HT who will see how they can offer you help. Ask for any counselling they can provide. Don’t give them a date you will come back if you don’t feel well enough, say you will speak to your GP.

Phased Return

Sometimes your GP will recommend this but you can just go through your school and not renew your note. All unions suggest a phased return to eliminate the possibility of going off sick again. This can be in the form of reduced days, later starts and/ or reduced duties. This is often over a period of no more than 4 weeks until you return to ‘normal’. Take any offer of easing you in. And discuss it; if you think they are throwing you in at the deep end, say so. Don’t be afraid to say no or that it is too much too soon. You can do it.

Payment for phased return

Your salary will be topped up with sick-pay as long as you are within the sick pay time limits in accordance with the burgundy book. 100% get this confirmation in an email. Again, that paper trail is a godsend!

Don’t do what I did and hide away in the house in fear of seeing anyone from work, get out there and breathe in some fresh air; sometimes it really is the cure.