I've been experiencing pretty severe anxiety lately, particularly in the mornings. My doctor has prescribed medication, but it can impair my ability to drive, so taking it before commuting isn't really an option.
I'm struggling and trying to understand what options might be available. Has anyone successfully taken medical leave for anxiety, stress, or another psychological condition? How does the process work? How long can you take leave, and is it possible to arrange reduced hours or a modified schedule instead of taking a complete leave of absence?
I'm also concerned about job security, particularly being NRE and potentially losing the retirement benefits I've worked so many years to earn. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has navigated this. Did medical leave actually help? Were you able to return to work successfully? And did you feel your employment was protected while you were out? I'm trying to figure out what options I have before my health gets any worse. I hate being in this situation having to choose between my well being and losing all my retirement which is only a couple years away.
14 replies (most recent on top)
"Has anyone taken medical leave for anxiety or stress?"
No cause we're not ghey.
Not having anyone in HR available to you is by design, EM doesn't want you to be able to find/go to them. Inevitably HR will take the company's side over an employee 10/10 times so it doesn't matter anyway.
Normally you can request 1 month leave no questions ask. Just say personal. If medical, get doctor involved. Request leave and provide doctors info and XOM will notify supervisor you are out for medical reasons Do not discuss anything with your mgmt. they do not need to know any specifics
@cz I am no longer with the company so I unfortunately do not have a good answer for you. I worked at a site in TX (not HQ), and we had an HR department onsite.
I'm thinking you should be able to go through whatever org charts you have to get to the right person.
@cq with all the online portals (Alight for instance) and offshoring of jobs, how does one “contact HR” today? This probably sounds like a sarcastic question, I don’t mean it that way, I just don’t know how to contact HR or who Hr is anymore.
I tried this back in 2019 and went through my manager, which was an absolute horrible idea. They heavily discouraged me from getting the real help I needed, and I definitely needed it at the time. I was way too open with them and I was told that even if it was legitimate, any sort of psychiatric disability would be bad for my future at the company. They offered me an unpaid leave, which at the time would have been financially impossible for me.
You need your doctor to make the diagnosis that you have a mental impairment that requires a medical leave. You do not need to involve your manager/supervisor. Get everything from your doctor in writing, make sure it satisfies all of the requirements, then take it to HR. HR will then contact your manager/supervisor and you should be able to take your leave.
This is the way I would navigate this if I could go back in time. Best of luck to you.
@a7 gross response.
I hope you never have anything you don’t have the tools to handle, occur to you.
Or if you do I hope your awesome, heroic and very very tough and manly and alpha traits you clearly have help you out.
and here we have the generic bootlicker coming out of the woodwork to fill the role of corporate cuck.
congratulations?
@ba That sounds like retaliation for you taking medical leave. That is illegal and if you have that documented, you can sue not only the company, but your supervisor directly in a civil court with a jury to decide the outcome.
No more nre for us. I took medical leave and the next year was piped out. They said my performance dropped due to me being out. My pip was designed so i could not recover. Have a plan in case they pip or fire you. No more nre protection.
@op I was just looking into it this week myself. Alight will be involved, but I ah went figured out the exact process. I believe you need to get your doctor to fill out some forms and you go on disability leave.
Maybe you can wear your snuggie if you get permission when in the office. You are probably a bad hire and lied on your resume and interview. This is a rough neck environment. Not easy like banking or investments. No free trophies anymore for participating. Just my opinion of your post. Gotta work hard. Nothing in life is easy and AI is breathing down your neck.
A lot of people have at EMHC, past and present. Not sure exactly how it works. Asking your manager and HR might be a minefield, maybe write to alight and ask what the policies are? Hope you feel better, remember it's just a job. This company is trash and not worth sacrificing your mental health.
What country are you in? Protections vary greatly. In Canada you are protected.