Leave of Absence
 

Figured I would start here, has anyone or know of anyone taken a leave of absence unpaid from their work? E.g. Take extended time off to rest unpaid or take time away to recover from physically illness (not sure if you need doctors note for this as you are taking unpaid time off??). Also legally I read online, your job is still protected?

I have worked a whole year straight without taking a single day off and literally feel burnt out and the work at my current job is very demanding now and stressful. Sure I can take some vacation days, but there's no fucking way I would be able to enjoy those 2 weeks of rest without not touching the work as I'm literally the only person doing the work.

Have not seen family much that's living on the other side of the world, along with this unknown lump mass on my neck that the doctors have not been able to determine cause/what it is. A lot of things stacked up and definitely putting a lot of strain mentally/physically over time now. I just want a long break from not working at a job (just a couple months).

You could take stress leave, I've heard of a few people I know doing it and they were away from work for 2-3 months. Unpaid of course but I don't know what the process is.

Maybe give this a read
https://www.bcbusiness.ca/how-to-go-...ime-off-trying

Ive heard of people getting it before with a note from their doctor.

Does your company have such a policy allowing it?
I've personally taken one, went to travel the world, live in a different country etc etc. Best decision i've ever made don't regret it one bit.

There is a policy that allows LOA for school studies/extended vacation, both unpaid. As well as medical leave unpaid. Seems the safest route is go medical leave rest unpaid and get a doctors note for it, as straight up telling them I want to rest and not work definitely doesn't look like it will sit well with them (due to the fact I am the only person doing this particular job role at the moment; they have another person on contract that was doing my job prior but they end up paying them twice as much due to contractor agreement rates).

legal side - medical leave of absence (stress leave) is accepted at a higher standard if you can support with a dr note rather than just talking to the manager. default is usually 3 mos.

practical side - once you go back after 3 mos your job is pretty safe. if you go back after 1 year, be prepared to be "performance managed" out the door. business has no time for your slow ass to be brought back up to speed - especially if the new person is better than you.

alternative? - how about job share arrangement so you only work 2-3 days a week for 6 mos?


source: experience from the manager side.

My last company had a no questions asked LOA policy up to a month. You could request up to 1 year at the maximum, but anything past 1 month you would no longer be guaranteed your position upon your return which is very understandable from a business standpoint. You would still be considered an employee, but would have to re-apply for any open position at that point in time. I took the longer route as 1 month simply wasn't good enough for me, I knew I'd be itching for more.

That is what I am thinking. I have enough doctor visits the past year to document a trend for my doctor to issue me a note for rest/deal with my physical well-being.

I assume you did this when you were young/single? I can't imagine someone taking extended time away if they have financial/family obligations.

Young enough to not be shackled down, old enough to have be independent and financially able to do it. Of course everyone's situation going to be different, met quite a lot of other people out there from all sorts of backgrounds and family situations. Its all a matter of priorities and what you value.

End of the day, if you truly wanted to do something, you'll find all the ways to knock down the walls stopping you and throw away the things that are dragging you down. If you didn't truly want to do something, you'll find excuse after excuse not to do it. Hope you figure it out man!

Edit: I'll add this. Very few of my friends and coworkers were fully supportive of the move. Many said it would be financially and career destructive. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

i did two extended world travel trips (8.5 and 9 months) and quit both times

weren't companies i wanted to go back to anyways

best decisions ever