Guess I’ll die 😬
Read the fine print too, a lot of these “mental health counseling services” have carve outs that stipulate that they can pass along data about your sessions to third parties (like your employer.) Most of them aren’t health care professionals so health care law doesn’t apply.
Everything HR does is for the benefit of the company. They do not do anything to genuinely help employees. You are a replaceable cog and the moment they decide you’re not useful, you will be tossed out. Never trust them or the structures they put in place.
Good HR people see their employees as tools and they know that tools need special care to work properly. Yes, they only do it because it’s best for the company.
I got lucky and two HR members in the four big companies I’ve worked for that were like that. I guess it isn’t the norm.
As tools, you say…
Yikes. OP is fortunate enough not to live in the USA.
Depending on what exactly they’re doing, that could be practicing without a license
But your job offered it which means it’s ok to use during working hours and get paid for it. If my job offered free lunch you can be damn sure I will eat it during my work day.
Oh you sweet summer child
This an American thing? This is exactly what happens in the UK.
Ikr
Man these people need to start rioting, why the fuck are you lot rolling over
Living paycheck to paycheck.
even more reason to riot
The system is set up such that if you lose your job you lose your health insurance, for you and your children.
And if you miss a paycheck you’re toast. Probable eviction notice in the future. Paycheck to paycheck living is real, even more so in the post 2020 world.
paycheck to paycheck isn’t “the system”, or there’s no way 40% of people would be able to avoid it
Specific to the USA “70-78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck” source
I’m guilty of it too but most people living paycheck to paycheck could avoid it. Bottom thirdish is definitely stuck in the poverty trap but most could cut their expenses if they tried.
Bootlicker spotted.
If everybody just worked harder, we wouldn’t have poor people 🤡
American here: worked jobs from digging ditches to writing software… This only happens if you let it.
If it’s offered and it’s free, check the times with the boss, if a reasonable reschedule (like "I’d really like you with me in a meeting at 10, can you take the 11 appt? Sure.) , Do it. Else, keep the appt and have your employment docs on hand for reference as needed.
Not American, but excellent try anyhow.
I’ve worked many different jobs in various sized companies and this wouldn’t be an issue.
Which naturally means it’s impossible for it to be an issue for literally anybody else anywhere at any time
And no, before some dumb fuck has any bright ideas, I’m not saying this will be an issue for everybody, just that it’s absolutely fucking idiotic to pretend it’s never an issue.
At least one person seems to live in reality. I would love to live in the ideal world the other posters think we live in, though.
Asininity aside, lawfully I can make this appointment. I will also find myself looking at unemployment or a PIP for “performance reasons”…
I got smoked out a company I helped found because I had health issues, even though I was still capable of doing my job. It’s illegal to fire people for health issues, but it’s not like firing someone is the only way to get rid of them.
Everybody who’s telling you you can legally use these appointments is probably completely correct. Whether the legality actually matters is another thing entirely.
The issue lays not with legality (it’s obviously illegal), but with a person’s (financial) ability to pursue legal recourse.
BUT, finances aside, people should always document everything. In person meeting or phone call? Follow up with an email recapping what was discussed. Make sure to take notes so you’re not relying solely on your memory.
Look for lawyers who would be willing to work on contingency. This is where they get paid when you get paid. If you have some money saved, you might be able to get away with retaining the lawyer.
Obviously a lot of people cannot afford a lawyer, and that’s a damn shame. Companies count on this fact and use it against their employees. But by documenting everything, you at least send a message to the company that you’re willing to fight back and that maybe enough in some cases to deter them (a long shot).
Also check with your state’s labor board to see what, if any, resources are available for workers in these type of cases.
I guess you could ask the question of someone (line manager most likely) - "Hey I saw that all these appointments are in working hours - does that mean I’m meant to take them during work time? How does it work?” - ie just play innocent and at least get clarity from them on what they understand it to mean.
In writing, ideally!
I mean, just schedule the appointment, put it on your work schedule, and ask that doctor (or whatever you call them) for a note for work. That’s what I do.
If any of my reports told me they booked an appointment through the health care we provided and it was during the work day I’d just say okay, mark it out on your calendar as busy so I don’t bug you or expect anything from you during that time. If they need to account for all their time like some roles, bill it as admin time.
It sounds like they want you to do it during working hours or else they wouldn’t offer those times. It’s a service offered by your job so it could be interpreted as a work-related function and therefore you should get paid for utilizing it.
Those aren’t therapy sessions
They’re data acquisition and gaslighting sessions
As a supporter of getting professional help like therapy, I get kinda frustrated at the whole process.
My company has two options: a in-company therapist and TalkSpace.
The in-company therapist is a nice lady but I don’t like that her boss is HR, where I have the most problems with. She’s also technically challenged and uses the company storage to save reports. You know who else has access to the company storage? IT. And I chill with those guys and absolutely know what they can see.
I had two really good therapists who quit TalkSpace in a year. But then, five people who were more like guidance counselors. They didn’t have any credentials in their profile outside of basic social work, and didn’t give me anything better than (ugh) an AI therapist.
Honestly I have to pay out of pocket for therapy now.
No idea where you are or what the labour laws or union situation are. But where I work, a consultation like that is a doctor’s appointment and can therefore be taken as medical leave during working hours.
They’re in the Netherlands, they can just take the day off to make use of this service
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Yeah sorry, that’s what I meant, they’re entitled to take special leave to go to this appointment. But it seems OP has already decided that they will be punished somehow for doing so
Based on the text in your image i assume that you live in the Netherlands. I would advise you to discuss this with your employer. As you are unable to plan a needed psychiatric appointment during working hours you have the right to take some short leave time for that.
Most likely it’s just a data harvesting scheme so they can see if you can mentally take being overworked (they don’t care and will work you to a slow death regardless), isn’t capitalism just wonderful :3
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I’ve heard people call these mental health days. At least to friends. Probably not to bosses. It’s good to take one once in a while (if you can) and just chill. I occasionally do so.
I’ll never forget my younger brother saying that in NYC people consider it really weird if you’re not in therapy. I didn’t comment, but that kind of bugged me. I’m all for de-stigmatizing therapy, but that made it sound like it’s some kind of flex to tell people you’re in therapy…?
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I appreciate you bringing up the money aspects. I have often felt the same way about the ubiquitousness of “just do therapy, bro”. That it’s just another sad aspect of late stage capitalism. It’s my understanding there’s not nearly enough providers to go around, yet the aggressive marketing continues. Because of course it does.
I don’t know if this is true or if it’s just a trope. But I’ve also heard that the field attracts people who usually need help themselves. Not that all therapists are “broken”…but that there’s a percentage who are. So on top of finding an available one at all, you hope you land a good one. Hopefully that’s just a BS stereotype.
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The other thing you mentioned: not having close friends and non-professional relationships. I think that’s very true. A lot of people are isolated these days. And many friends will keep you at arm’s length. They are happy to hang out. But if you start to open up too much, they will start to avoid you. Anything that smells remotely “clingy” is a big no-no. They’d rather look at screens than engage in real talk.
Just do it during work? Don’t take time off either, it’s specifically work related.
Please take care of yourself. You are important.
Haha, thanks for the laugh. If I was, I either wouldn’t need a psych appointment, or at least it wouldn’t cause any issues.
I know better than that what my place in this world is, though. But thanks for at least having a heart. That puts you above everyone I have to interact with on a daily basis.
I wasn’t being funny. I am genuinely concerned for your well being. Please continue to seek help and take care.
My workplace offers a mental health benefit similar to this, we inform HR that we’ve scheduled a mental health appointment during work, tell our manager that we’re stepping away for an hour, and then return to work after the appointment. It would be a good idea to ask someone in your company how to use your benefit.
I’ll be the first person to remind you that HR is not your friend, but this is exactly what they exist for
Everybody who keeps saying “just go” seems to be assuming that OP works in an office job where you can just come back and finish your work after your appointment.
What if they’re an air traffic controller, they’re operating factory equipment, monitoring a nuclear reactor, etc. Some jobs require a person to be present and attentive. Now they have to talk to their manager, find someone to cover for them, etc. Mental health treatment should be easily available without having to jump through hoops. I understand their frustration.
