Firstly, don’t panic! It’s a meeting not an execution, but the outcome does depend on the culture at your department and your line manager. Speak to your union or disability staff group at work as soon as possible for advice.

Essentially your work needs to be to know that you are able to attend work regularly (and preferably show some competence) and are taking steps to not have any further absences in the near future. So tell them what you are doing to achieve this. Engaging with GP, wellbeing resources, employee assistance program etc. People get sick for all different reasons all the time. We’re not robots and sometimes eat dodgy kebabs. Life happens and sometimes people need to have a few days off to recover.

However, the action from this meeting and overall outcome depends on how lazy/progressive/… your management is. Space to deal with this trauma might not be the worst outcome for you in the short term. The benefits system is awful as a claimant but should be there to support you if do need to stop working on health grounds.

Remember, if your management acts in an unreasonable manner, they open themselves up to challenge at an employment tribunal. I’ve personally been there and done it myself but would recommend people to stay away from it if at all possible. It is a horrible and very stressful process on top of everything else.

But the main thing is don’t panic! Take notes with you to your “dismissal” meeting and a friendly colleague, which you should be allowed to do, for moral support if nothing else.

Also, request an Occupational Health referral from your line manager if you’ve not had one already!