Has anyone taken a sudden LOA? How bad is it to only give a few days notice?
My depression, anxiety, and recent ADHD diagnosis coupled with an increasingly larger/unmanageable workload is destroying me.
Never requested a LOA before & nervous about the entire process (from notifying manager to figuring out what supporting docs my therapist needs to provide so I can qualify for STD). Any feedback is appreciated. Though, I’d love to hear from Cognizant folks.

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Yes. And not bad at all. Why would it be? Any company that expects people to notify them of any potential and impending crises is unreasonable. Be kind to yourself on your timeline.

The process is going to be much easier than you think. Hang in there.

likeuplifting

I could hug you. Sometimes the obvious isn’t so clear when you’re stressed. Thank you for your kind words and for that confirmation. This world is better bc of people like you. 🥲

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OP, mental health leave is no different than a "physical" health leave - you need time to heal, and it is just as urgent and important to take care of yourself as any other root cause. Prioritize yourself before anything work-related. Every employer, team, colleague will understand, and if for some reason they don't, that isn't on your shoulders. YOU getting better is on your shoulders, and those of the support system you gather around you.

We too often think that we can't use STD for mental health because it is meant for "more important" things. Mental health is perhaps the most important issue you can address. Give yourself time to be who you want to be - everything else will follow. This is what those benefits exist for.

I don't work for cognizant, but I've been down a similar path. I am more than happy to DM, both about the process as well as just being a friend who will listen.

likeuplifting

Not going to lie, this made me tear up. Thank you for that reminder. Sometimes it’s easy to minimize mental health. It can feel more like a personal flaw than an actual disability because it’s not visible. But you are 100% right -I know I can’t possibly go on like this. Thank you for taking the time to write such a kind and helpful message. Your words truly touched me. I appreciate the offer, and hope you are well. 🥲💗

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Hey OP - not Cognizant but recently went through something similar. Is there an internal policy you can refer to? At Accenture, you can take leave anytime for any reason (unpaid) and they ‘suggest’ you try to give a 30-day notice if possible. But it’s not always feasible so just let people know as soon as you know when you want to take leave so they can start the process for coverage and you don’t have to deal with anything abrupt on that end. But definitely put yourself first and follow-through if that is what you want to do - your team will manage…and it seems like you need to step away ASAP.

For STD, we go through MetLife and they will reach out to your healthcare provider (HCP) - just make sure your HCP will back up the leave and submit the paperwork accordingly. If not, you may want to go a different route.

You are not alone - I am rooting for you and hope everything works out. DM me if you want to chat more about anything.

To get an

likeuplifting

TL;DR: Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this information and those uplifting words. This message truly touched me, and although we are strangers, I am SO thankful for you. I hope this kindness is returned to you tenfold. 💛

Extra detail: I did review the leave policy and it’s essentially the same regarding the 30 day notice. Though, some of the details on the STD benefits are confusing (also got a little freaked out by the level of detail they might require from my provider). Thankfully, my therapist fully supports me in this and actually pushed me towards leave given how much of a mess I’ve been.
Part of the struggle (read: guilt) is that, I could possibly give more notice but am opting not to for a couple reasons:
1) it likely won’t make a difference or matter to the team -they’ll still be angry (based on prior experience when I used sick leave)
2) I’m certain they will pile on as much as possible between my notice period and leave which will only exacerbate my already unbearable anxiety

I think I was also a bit muddled up because I also wanted to be sure I could obtain short term disability during that time so I won’t have the added stress of losing income. But at this point, I know I need to take the leave regardless. Thanks again for stopping to provide your insight. I may just take you up on the DM…

Also, I know there’s a process to get the leave “approved”, but if I put notice on a Friday and state that I’ll be out starting Monday, is it okay to just not show up? (As long as I notified my manager). I just can’t do this anymore. I spend the entire day anxious with heart racing and knots in my stomach. Even one more day feels impossible to do.

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I totally get that the experience might cause some anxiety, but if you need the LOA you need it. Careers and work loads cans always be paused. Your mental health matters.

likeuplifting

You might never know how much this reminder helped me (and I imagine a few others reading). Thank you. From the bottom of my heart -thank you. 💛

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If this is for a couple of days you can just inform your manager that you are having a hard time and need a break. I'm sure they wouldnt ask too many questions.
I would be a bit carefull about sharing my mental health issues with my colleagues. More often than not it will play against you.

likehelpful

Thanks so much for your input. I do anticipate needing more than a few days. I was thinking a couple of months. Not in the best place now. I definitely won’t share the details. I believe I just need to inform them that I submitted the request.

I was in a similar situation and gave about 4/5 days notice. It was received well and they accommodated but it was also very unorganized. It definitely helped me get more of a handle on things

likehelpful

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It helps so much to know that someone “survived” a similar experience. Hope your healing journey went/is going well.

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Hi there. We’ve had a lot of ppl in my company go on urgent LOAs. No one questions it and literally everyone has empathy understanding and compassion. Take care of yourself!

likeuplifting

Thank you!! This helps ease my anxiety around taking the leave. I’m hopeful it will be well received, but either way, I know I need to do what’s necessary to care for myself.

How do you do it without partner backup?

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Hi there. Can you clarify your question?

I said for a couple of months I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed and said Iight need time off. When I gave certain notice it was a day and only stayed the day to transition work

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Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve said it previously, but leadership basically said to push through. Glad to hear your were able to get away for a while. Hope you are doing well.

I had a very similar experience last year and no it’s not bad, do what you need to do for yourself now. And even if it was “bad” (it’s not), your mental/spiritual health is far more important.

The good that will result from the decision to focus on your mental health will make any “bad” outcomes irrelevant.

If you want to chat/PM with someone who’s been through exactly what you’re going through, by all means, feel free to chat me.

uplifting

Absolutely. The book “The Secret” helped me a lot!

Yep. It was easy and the right thing for me to do. Don't be ashamed

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