Long Term Sick Leave Can Be Hard, Here’s How To Get By

There are many reasons why you might find yourself off work for an extended period. You may have suffered a physical injury that has left you unable to perform to your full capacity. Or, you might be dealing with an emotional problem that has left you unable to cope with the daily stress of work life. In either case, time off work can be difficult. You’ll feel the weight on your finances certainly, and the social detachment can be traumatic. Here’s how to cope with long term sick leave and ensure that you don’t make the situation worse.

Know Your Rights

It’s important that you know your rights if you are off work ill. On a permanent contract, your employer is legally obligated to grant you statutory sick pay guide. There is also a minimum that they must pay you regarding the amount. This is intended to ensure that you do not have financial issues due to your time off work. The problem is that an extended leave of absence can mean that the statutory pay level is not enough. A statutory sick pay guide will tell you about the rights you have to this benefit as an employee.

Additional Compensation

If the sick leave is caused by accident or incident that occurred at work, you can gain additional compensation. You may able to do this by filing a claim against your former or current employer. You will be able to claim if you suffered an injury that wasn’t your fault. Or, if working in business caused you severe emotional distress. You’ll have money that will help you during your time off work. Emotional distress cases are difficult to win. Make sure that you have evidence of damages, including a recorded doctor’s appointment.

Managing Your Finances

You may want to alter your finances, by assessing how much you spend in certain areas. Most people can not afford to live the same way they did when they weren’t on long-term sick leave. As such, you need to think about how you can save more money. One of the best ways to do this is by cutting back money spent on energy bills. You should try to limit your use of electricity, water, and heating. Especially in the summer months when at least two of these resources will not be as necessary or vital. Power usage can be reduced by ensuring that you turn off devices and invest in greener tech.

Work From Home

Finally, you may want to consider looking into the possibility of working from home. Depending on your condition, you may be able to complete freelance work to make money outside of the office. This is a good idea if you have suffered an injury that might have left you unable to walk. It won’t stop you typing, and that means you can work from the comfort of your bed. You can continue to do this, earning a living, until you can return to the office. This will ensure your quality of life does not deteriorate when you are off sick.

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