Is it ever ok to pull a sickie?

[annie0000]

I am one of the most concientious people I know. I have often gone onto work when I have not been well and in the 24 years I have been working, I am lucky if it averages at 1 day a year - and that includes two pregnancies. I have had a pretty stressful time at work lately and although I would say it is getting better now, I really feel that I could do with a day off. I can't take a holiday as I need to keep these to cover the kids holidays. I feel physically fine, just tired and fed up with never having any time to myself, I could call myself stressed, but is just not the done thing to take a day off with stress, whereas a tummy bug is never an issue. The question is, is it ever ok to take a sickie - knowing that you are ok to be at work?

[Buenchico]

Annie: Thanks for taking the time to reply. I hope that, however you manage it, you feel better soon.

Mightywease: Why on earth should anyone avoid a person with shingles? It's neither contagious or infectious, so it's impossible to catch it from someone else! That's rather a pity, actually. I've got shingles at the moment and I can think of quite a few people I'd like to give it to ;-)

Chris

[annie0000]

Thank you for all your help and best wishes guys - I went to work today and I will go in tomorrow as I have a couple of very important things on. I have not ruled out some time off in the second half of the week though. I think that it is the thought of going rather than actually being there that is the worst. I have a been wary of taking time off, because there were times over the last 6 months that I knew that if I took time off, I might never go back and unfortunately until I win the lottery, I need to work as I am the main breadwinner!

[mightywease]

Hi Chris - you can't catch shingles from someone with shingles but you can catch chicken pox if

a. You've never had it so don't have an immunity (only a small percentage of the population)

b. You have a compromised immune system which means you can catch chicken pox for a second time as your immunity has ben lowered

As my friend has a low immune system due to cancer we were advised to avoid him for a week - until the chance of infection was lowered - and after that my husband was to keep the shingles covered in his presence until they had gone.

Although the virus has to be passed on by direct contact - between the infected blisters and the other person so once the blisteres have dried they shouldn't be able to pass on the virus - we still felt, under the advice of the doctor, that it was safer to avoid contact altogether for a while.

[taliesin238]

Nothing wrong with pulling a sickie! it sounds like you got just reasons anyway! You dont sound like a bum at all who just cant be bothered! You just simply need a day to de-stress! Dont feel guilty!! Take care!!

[teash]

Seeing as a few have suggested not just to take one day off because it`ll look sus, then pull a sickie on a Friday (providing you don`t work weekends)
PS If your feeling the strain then having a few days break away from the stresses of work isn`t really a crime is it.
Hey and remember your secrets safe with us ;)