Employment Issues  for People with Depression

 
Working is very important for all of us. It provides benefits such as social identity and status, social contacts and support; a means of structuring and occupying time; activity and involvement; and a sense of personal achievement. However, Depression can make it difficult for us to do our jobs or even go to work. At least one in five of us will have Depression to some degree at some point in our lives and that is a lot of the workforce!

On this page:
What can I do if I'm depressed at work?
I'm too ill to work, what about me?
I'm unemployed and want to work
For Employers
Further advice and support

What can I do if I’m depressed at work?

You may worry about what your boss and colleagues will think if you admit to having Depression. While it would be wrong of us to suggest that stigma against Depression does not exist, remember the situation is improving in Scotland and more employers are open to supporting employees with mental health issues including Depression.

Things at work that can cause Depression or stress

• Excessive workload and too much pressure with deadlines and overtime
• Unsociable hours
• Unsupportive working environment
• Bullying and harassment
• Problems with colleagues
• Having too much responsibility beyond your job level. Or not having enough responsibility!
• Lack of job security
• Lack of job satisfaction, either from repetitive work or not get positive feedback
• Personal crisis or problems, such as bereavement, financial problems, relationship difficulties, health concerns or illness, or problems with housing

How to cope if your Depression causes you problems at work

• Don't be afraid to take time off sick if you need it. Sometimes it can be better to take time off when you first get sick and allow yourself time to improve, rather than make yourself feel worse by struggling on when you really are too ill to go to work. Ask yourself would you feel bad taking time off for the flu? Depression is an illness too.
• If any issues at work are causing you stress or making you feel ill at work, try to talk to your line manager about them. If the problems concern your line manager, can their line manager help resolve them.
• If your employer has one, ask to be seen by the Occupational Health Department.
• If you are a member of a Trade Union they may be able to offer information and support.
• You may have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA).
• Contact your local mental health advocacy project. An advocate can support you in putting your point of view across. You can find details of advocacy projects across Scotland at www.siaa.org.uk
• Citizens Advice Bureaux can help with issues related to employment and employment laws.
• The disability advisor at your local job centre may be able to advise you.

Why having experience of low mood can make you a better employee

• You’ll be more aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
  
• You’ve learned coping strategies for dealing with stress.
• You’ll be more empathetic towards your colleagues when they are stressed and feeling pressured.
• You’ll know why work / life balance is so important.
• You’ve learned not to let things get out of hand before you take action and talk to someone.

I’m too ill to work, what about me?

Firstly try not to feel guilty as this can hold you back in your recovery. This can be hard for people with Depression who are often experts in guilt and feeling bad but severe Depression is a valid reason for not working. If you need to claim benefits, that is what they are there for.

If you are employed you may be entitled to sick pay from your employer.  If you don’t or when it runs out, you may get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).  SSP is paid by your employer for up to a maximum of 28 weeks once you have been sick for four days or more.

If you are unemployed, self-employed and not entitled to SSP you may be entitled to other benefits. , From October 27th 2008, a new benefit called the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced. All new claimants of sickness benefits will be put on this benefit. Claimants will be required to attend a "work-focused interview" after about eight weeks of claiming which will assess their capacity for work. If you are found to be capable of work you will be required to attend further work-focussed interviews and risk having your benefit cut if you do not comply. People currently getting Incapacity Benefit will continue to get it for now. For a useful guide to ESA visit the Disability Alliance website.

For more information about all sickness and disability benefits visit the Citizen's Advice Adviceguide. To find out exactly what you are entitled to and to get support filling in forms, it is important to speak to a trained welfare rights advisor. The Further Advice and Support Section on this page has details of people you can contact.

I’m unemployed and want to work

Many people who are not working because of mental health problems do want to work . There are many benefits to working and having a job can help people regain their confidence and self-esteem. You may feel ready to go back part-time but be worried about the affect on your benefits.   Some people find themselves caught in a benefits trap. 

• The new Employment and Support Allowance is supposed to help people who can work back into work. If you are on this benefit, you may have to attend work focussed interviews with a view to helping you back into work. If you receive the Support element of this benefit, you won't have to attend these interviews but you can always volunteer to do so.
• If you are on the older Incapacity benefit it may be worth talking to a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) disability advisor at your local job centre as there are a number of financial incentives for people on incapacity benefit who wish to work.  For example you can work part time and earn up to a certain amount for six months while still claiming Incapacity Benefit.  This can be extended to a year if agreed with a DWP disability adviser.
• Expert supported employment schemes, such as is offered by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) offer training and support to refresh or retrain individuals into work and find employment that is aware and sensitive to mental health problems.
• Consider doing voluntary work.  This can help you gain valuable experience and get your confidence back.

For Employers

Employers, especially large employers, need to appreciate that there will be Depression amonst their staff. For a company of 1000 employees, 200-300 employees will experience Depression or anxiety during a 30 year career. The same company could experience one suicide per decade.

Many employers now realise that clinical Depression is not just feeling fed-up; it is an illness that can severely affect the person’s life. As an employer, if you take time to put policies and procedures in place to tackle workplace discrimination and offer support to those affected by mental ill health, you will retain the services of talented individuals who you have invested in.    

How can I support my employees affected by Depression or low mood

• Ask the employee if the Depression is caused by problems at work and try to find a resolution to their concerns;
• Encourage employees to raise and discuss issues concerning their Depression in supervision or other confidential settings.  Stress that everything they tell you is confidential and make sure you keep it that way.
• Learn about Depression It is usually a very treatable illness with the right early support and care/treatment – the majority of people experiencing Depression can and do recover.  Early intervention can help.
• Value your employee with Depression. Keeping an employee who has had training and uses the skills and experience for the job is an investment worth keeping, even if absent from work for a longer period rather than having to take on a new worker from scratch.
• Keep in touch with employees who are off sick with Depression. Don't over pressurise them but encourage them to keep you informed so you know where you stand.
• Offer people returning to work from a period of Depression or other mental ill health, a gradual return to work. For example they could start by working two days a week and gradually build it up until they are full-time.
• Ensure that managers and supervisors understand the facts about Depression.and encourage all employees to look after their mental health. At DAS we give talks designed to raise awareness of Depression . Contact us for details. see me scotland can help with workplace campaigns such as payslip inserts about mental health and workplace roadshows.    

Further Advice and Support

The Disability Discrimination Act and Depression

Citizens Advice Scotland

Details of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) in Scotland. CABx can advise on benefits, debt issues, employment and consumer concerns. www.cas.org.uk. The Citizens Advice Adviceguide has up to date benefit rates www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

This website contains details of local independent advocacy projects. An advocate can support you to express your needs and make your own decisions, gain access to information and make your views and wishes known. They can also speak on your behalf www.siaa.org.uk

The Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/scotland/pages/ehrcscotland.aspx

see me

Scotland's anti-stigma campaign. Their website includes a section on employment and useful information for employers. www.seemescotland.org.uk

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)

Offer training and employment support for people affected by mental health problems www.samh.org.uk/frontend/index.cfm?page=243. SAMH also provide information about benefits, contact the Benefits Officer on 0141 568 7180 or at: benefits@samh.org.uk. Main website: www.samh.org.uk

Employee Counselling Service

Employee Counselling Service provides support for employers and employees in dealing with difficult personal problems www.empcs.org.uk.

ACAS

ACAS aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. They provide impartial advice, training, information and a range of problem resolution services. www.acas.org.uk

Look OK... Feel Crap? pages on Working and Not Working

The Look OK... Feel Crap? website is aimed at young adults but the pages on working and not working may be helpful for everyone. www.lookokfeelcrap.org/well/working.html
www.lookokfeelcrap.org/well/notworking.html

Disability Alliance

A charity which provides information on social security benefits and tax credits to disabled people, their families, carers and professional advisers; undertakes research into the needs of disabled people, with particular emphasis on income needs and seeks to promote a wider understanding of the views and circumstances of all disabled people.

/www.disabilityalliance.org

Rightsnet

Run by the London Advice Services Alliance, this site claims to have the most up to date information on welfare benefits and tax credits on the web. The site is aimed at welfare rights advisors but is a reliable source of information for everyone. www.rightsnet.org.uk

Benefits Enquiry Line

This is a government service which offers confidential advice on benefits. Freephone
0800 882 200 (free from landlines), text phone 0800 243 355, email address BEL-Customer-Services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk, opening hours Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9.00am - 1pm

Directgov

Government information on:

• Employment - www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm
• Money, Tax and Benefits - www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm
• Disability Benefits - www.direct.gov.uk/disability-money

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Page last updated 27/10/08