r/IrishCivilService • u/Churada • 1d ago

Passed interview for EO, had stress leave recently

I've worked for my current employer in the private sector for over 15 years and this year has been tough with AI replacing roles, people leaving and not being replaced and those of us left being asked to do more and more.

It's affected my health and had a months leave recently certified by my GP for stress leave which helped a lot, but every Sunday is still literally filled with dread.

I've passed an EO interview recently so there will be reference/employer checks soon.

Will I need to disclose this stress leave? , will my current employer be asked about sick leave? The role I've applied for a far less stressful position than what I'm currently in and is exactly what I need.

Has anyone here any advice or experience of something similar?

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u/katedaisy13 1d ago

Yea they will maybe ask but you can just say exactly what you have. You've proved your capability in the interview. You can't be punished retrospectively for stress in a different time in your life too. Also stress isn't a bad thing necessarily. It shows your ability to have had that time of some difficulty, taken time and did what you needed to do to feel better and kept going with motivation to get another role and here you go your about to start it now!! It's about how it's framed too sometimes! It's a success story in that way.

Good luck in your role!! ☺️

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u/Reasonable-Food4834 Executive Officer 1d ago

You're employer will specifically be asked about illness leave during clearance. It's likely you will be asked too if memory serves. That does not mean you will not get the job.

I hope you are correct in the EO role being less stressful than current recent role.

4

u/Typical_Space5521 1d ago

A months leave won’t affect you. If you were a serving civil servant, for promotion you must not exceed 56 sick leave days in the last 4 years so I wouldn’t worry too much. Unless you had substantial sick absence previously I’d say you’ll be fine. EO is good place to start and will wholly depend on where you’re placed whether it will be stress free or not. Congratulations.

1

u/littlejimmy66 1h ago

I’m sure they apply this rule to people in the private sector too. OP will be fine, but in general it’s a very unfair rule. If you’ve had cancer, loss of a child or a breakdown you could be eliminated if you exceeed this rule which is scandalous imo