'Office Refusal'

Post Reply New Topic

I am reading Tony Attwood's book; Currently the chapter on expression and emotions.

It seems that there are quite a few disorders that often accompany AS, not least anxiety, depression, OCD, anger, rage and..............yes...........'School Refusal'

I think I score quite high marks here.

I don't remember much 'School Refusal' but I was quite prone to 'Office Refusal'; calling in sick because I just couldn't bear to go into work.

I remember extended periods of time as an employee when I was more or less working a 4 day week.

If you have ever had a job what is your experience.

Have you ever been an 'Office Refuser'?

When I worked in an office I called in sick several times because I could not bear to go into work.

No. I have school refusal, and general going-places refusal. But I don't work.

I used to call in sick much more at work. I think it was because the other staff stressed me out (especially in the staff room).

I now bring my crossword puzzles or a magazine with me and I try to schedule my break for less busy times in the staff room so that I am not surrounded by all the noise and bickering during my coffee and lunch break.

Don't get me wrong - I still say "good morning" and chat to my co-workers for brief periods of time - it is just not over stimulating.

I like going to work now

Ive always had that "perfect attendance" thing with school and work. However I can not work at the moment so I guess I am in Office Refusal....

at times it feels over-helming to be at school in days u cant do nothing but sit around so at times yes

Strangely, no matter how much I suffered, I can only think of two occasions when I skipped work in this fashion, over a period of three years.

Every single day I'm scheduled it's a struggle for me to not call off. It's so hard to go in. I get SO anxious, even though I'm working way below my capability. I work in a photo lab, and I generally sit and read and do a whole lot of nothing. But my rule of "I must go to work because they need me" overpowers my not wanting to go. So far, in the last 5 months, I've only called off once and that was because I was truly sick.

But it's. So. Hard.

THe only days I skipped work was after I was sick, I extended my sick leave a bit. But the 'guilt' afterwards was so strong I worked my ass of in the next week. Too much guilt feelings for 'office refusal'.

I've always been a good attender at school and work...probably something to do with black and white thinking, you're supposed to be there, so you should be there, QED. But I've hardly ever actually wanted to turn up, and I don't look down on those who choose to vote with their feet, though I might feel rather envious of them. I don't think it's quite fair that I bite the bullet and turn up while they can't be bothered. Still, I wish the vast majority of people would boycott tiresome workplaces and schools. That way the planners would have to create something a little less painful, perhaps.

On the other hand I went in for science, so I've never had to do an office job (though some bosses have tried very hard to foist clerical duties onto me instead of hiring a bureaucrat). "Laboratory refusal" is probably a lot less common than office refusal. The work at least makes sense, while office work seems largely pointless to me, because it's based not on the laws of nature but on man-made regulations, or the preferences of some bigwig.

Unfortunately for me, Office Refusal constitutes either Dereliction of Duty or Absent Without Leave. Both of which tend to be rather stressful. Luckily however I can refuse to work in advance by taking leave. The frequent 3 day weekends and occasional week off really helps on the stress/anxiety.

I do remember when I worked at a pet store before I enlisted though that there were occasional days I would call in to say I wasn't coming in. Never used sickness as an excuse though. Just said I really didn't feel like coming in and that was that. I had a good rep at that store though, I was the animal manager basically, so I didn't have to work the customers as much, and apparently I was really good at it. I never thought that really, but that's what I was told. When I asked the manager why they put up with me, he said it was because I was damn good and I would willingly do overtime after the store closed (Quite enjoyable working with only the animals cage lights on in an empty store honestly) so they didn't mind the occasional refusals to come in.

I have a lot of refusesals in my head, but somehow to please, i do them anyway. I hate myself for that. I don't want to please, i just do.