Has anyone navigated approval of temporary disability or paid leave for toxic workplace issues such as harassment?
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So about 10 years ago, I took a month off work (sick days) doctor approved for depression. I was depressed, not about work but a family tragedy. A psychiatrist gave me a note/excuse. I actually asked her for two months but she said no. How much time off are you thinking?
Not worth even asking unless you have a break down as described already. Even then you're on thin ice. We all go through it. I had a colleague in Korea who would have panic attacks, be taken to ER and prescribed medication. He never put it on his insurance in case the Company found out. It's considered weakness.
@bm Thanks for the detailed information. A friend of mine came out of a huddle room after meeting with her supervisor visibly distressed and struggling to breathe. We took her to the medical center (wellness), where she explained what happened. They referred her to a psychiatrist and based on his evaluation she took some time off. I don’t know the full details of her case.
@OP ,The number of sick‑leave days an employee can use is limited, and it’s tied to short‑term disability. If you need more than two consecutive days, you usually have to provide a doctor’s note. Short‑term disability itself is divided into a certain number of weeks at full pay, followed by weeks at half pay(depending of years of service).
After those days are exhausted, the company may allow unpaid leave depending on your years of service, but most of the time it’s denied and the employee is terminated unless they qualify for long‑term disability — which typically doesn’t apply to mental‑health conditions.
Also, you can’t combine FMLA (12 weeks unpaid job‑protected leave) with short‑term disability as if they’re interchangeable. You can’t finish one and then switch to the other. Short‑term disability is usually the better option, but to get it you need documentation from your doctor stating that you are ‘unfit for duty.’
Hope this helps.
Incompatible with a forced ranking system. You’d be better off just leaving. This company isn’t for everyone. Never has been!
I have heard of several people taking leave for mental health reasons (XOM induced). Not sure if they disclosed that the reason for leave was hating their job or something else, though.
@OP You can apply for FMLA, but there’s a lot of rules around it. I’ve personally never used it.
I wish. But my exxon would most likely just fire you