How does someone go on stress leave in BC?

                   I've been at my job for almost 8 years. And in that time I've worked myself up from sales associate/customer service to co-ordinator to keyholder. For the longest time I loved my job. I looked forward to going to work. But in the past year my excitement hasn't been the same. Yes some changes were made. Some I didn't agree with, but there's not much that you can do when you're not the boss. During the time of these changes, I've gained lots of weight, my migraines have increased, the problem with my leg has gotten worse and to top it all off, I spend at least 3 times a week at work crying. I'm crying either in my office or I go hide in the bathroom and cry. And if I'm not crying at work, I'm crying on my way home from work or I'm crying at home. As well, I don't sleep well anymore. I'm constantly worried about one thing or another to do with work.

                      It's not like we don't have anyone at work that we can talk to. We have open door. But open door doesn't work. Especially when you go to your manager to talk to him about a concern and he talk to you in circles and just regurgates to you some company policy instead of actually listening to you.

                      You make a mistake, the managers are not always forgiving and act like they themselves have never made a mistake. What is that all about? Sorry if this sounds like a rant. I'm just stressed and lost. I dont know what to do anymore.

My boyfriend mentioned something about stress leave. So I'm here to see if anyone knows how to go on stress leave and how to get EI while you're on it?

Rosie

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 3/4/2011 7:03:32 AM (GMT-7)

Thank you. I too am glad that I found you. I was at the end of my rope.

Hi Rosie,

Here's a link that explains EI sickness benefits:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/special.shtml#much

You can pick up a sickness kit at the local EI office or have one mailed out to you. Get it submitted asap even if you don't have all the required forms ready. Just submitting the application by itself will save you a spot in the line up.

Your employer will have to issue you what's called a Record of Employment. Most employers of any size have these on hand. It is required to show how long you have worked and what your average earning are. There is a box on the form for your employer to show that you stopped work due to illness.

Get an appointment with your doctor asap and have him complete the medical form that EI gives you or just have him write something on his script pad showing that he/she recommends that you be off work due to anxiety or stress or whatever he/she wishes to call it. As a return to work date make sure the doc says "indefinite".

Generally, a medical from a GP will give you 4-6 weeks or so of sick benefits to start. If you will need longer than that EI may ask for something from a shrink so if you think you'll be off quite a while may as well get a referral from your GP right away.

In a previous life I used to work for EI processing sick claims. I'm sure that some things have changed but not that much.

Best of luck...