Update 28/07/2026: Following today I've been dismissed from work on medical grounds.

The fault is entirely mine, never came to grounds that I hated the place, I hated the call system, people been leaving ever since the buyout and more stuff has been laid onto everyone, everything changed so much and no longer feels welcoming. I never wanted to handle calls for other brands and getting blind sided by that and basically being told "everyone has to do it" with no change to pay (always been minimal wage) and whenever that changes (due to the gov raising it) HR uses a canned template that makes it sound like we're getting rewarded when really, it's because they have to up it legally.

The phone system they changed to also does not respect your status, more times than once have I tried to go into an away, busy or DND state to still only get thrown into a call with a customer. The system also absolutely did not care if you had just handled a call and another op had been sat free for the last 1-5 minutes, it rolls the dice and throws you right back in. This has been complained about by multiple people when it was swapped over but it got waved off as that's just how it works. Throw in a coming panic/anxiety attack on top that wanted to step away to deal with for a moment, only to not the chance causes it to be absolutely overwhelming even with the medication I've got to help calm myself.

Work has tried to help me, but I've ignored it all as either out a subconscious response or out of depression fuelled denial.

I queried the possibility to be redeployed at one of the stores or the factory, but there was no availability in either so that was not a possibility.

Never been in this position before as the last place I worked at prior to the 9 years with the current employer I left due to getting ASD (acute stress disorder) from being literally held at gunpoint over £600 ( https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/robbers-strike-skelmersdale-post-office-6745277 )

A lot of what has happened mirrors that time a decade ago with how responded and over last weekend came to the realisation of this. My mind closes up and ignores the problem instead of attempting to deal with it as it's the easier coping mechanism. Realising this has happened twice and on both times resulted in me breaking means I have to change how deal with stress and other factors that cause my anxiety to spike.

Financially, I'm in a bad position. Especially as I currently can't claim anything until September due to my 9-week notice period (1 week for each year worked). I will be claiming my holiday hours, but this won't cover everything and in the meantime I also need to look for a new job to ensure I can keep payments up on my home and services.

I'll know more when I get the full paperwork in but as of today, I handed in my key and ID badge as I cannot do the job role they want me to without physically hurting myself by forcing myself into that place. I don't want to ever be in the situation where I'm vomiting in the shower again as feel absolutely overwhelmed or lay awake hours on end thinking if I don't sleep won't have to face the next day.

For anyone at work who is reading this, thank you for everything. Whilst things have changed over the years, none of you are to blame and there are those of you I will miss seeing.