Phoning in sick

[iwbus]

Don't you just hate people that refuse to take time off sick like martyrs to their job. "Ooooh I couldn't possibly take a day off sick because they rely on me" etc etc. I obviously wouldn't take a day off sick just because I have a twinge in my left eye or something stupid but you hear people that go in to work packed with flu and who knows what. Are you one of these people? WHY DO YOU GO IN TO WORK?!?! STAY HOME!!!!!

[Big A.T]

I fully agree with you BUT where I work we have a bonus scheme whereby if you have so many days off a year you lose it. Wouldn't really bother me as I am not too badly off but it could affect some people.

[angel-cake]

I work with someone like this. She is a pain in the a***.

She has been in with really bad colds - passing them on to everyone but boasts about how she hasn't had a day off sick in about 5 years.

She is 57. I think it is the older generation that are more like this.

[Froggy_Queen]

I'm 27 and I hate to say that I've not had a day off sick for over a year. I don't pull sickies, the guilt just isn't worth it and I'm lucky enough to have a job I enjoy.

Saying that, if I really was ill I wouldn't take it to work and spread it around, that annoys me even more!

And what really, really annoys me is people that say they've had flu and are only off for a day or 2. If you've got flu, you're going to be very ill for 2 weeks at least. Its a virus, stop building it up!!!

[dancealot13]

As long as Im cought up with my work, If Im feeling crappy then Ill leave early or call in. Life is too short to force yourself to do something when you really don't feel well. Rest up!!

[dot.hawkes]

we have a bonus scheme too and it helps to keep staff loyal, companies have to pay staff who are off sick AND pay the person who covers for them, and so it is very expensive and infuriating when it is for no serious reason.

[tigilou]

Yeah i totally agree this winds me up look at this thread that happened a few months ago unbelivable. At the end of the day you dont get any thanks in my place when you work your arse off but the moment you ring in sick your frowned upon.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion184925.html

[paddy_36]

As much as I can't stand the martyrs who turn up at work when they're clearly not well, I also despise those who are off sick with the mildest of colds, or something equally pathetic. No-one can win!

[Buenchico]

Hmm. Let me think for a moment.

I left school at 18 and I'll be 53 this week (birthday greetings welcome!), so unless my ability to do mental arithmetic has finally deserted me, that's coming up to 35 years of college and employment. During that time I've taken two and a half days off work (all over a quarter of a century ago) and I still feel guilty about them ('cos they all had something to do with an excess of alcohol on the previous days!).

When I was teaching, certain staff used to drive me mad by taking days off almost every week. (It so happened that they were always female but I've since worked, in other jobs, where it's been the men that have been the 'wimps'). I once fell off the edge of a stage, fracturing three ribs. It was incredibly painful and I was told to 'take things easy' in case one of the ribs moved and punctured a lung. However, the only way the U-13 soccer team was going to win the league was if I turned out to referee their matches so, risk or no risk, I ran several miles forwards, backwards and sideways, refereeing two matches that week. It was due to those things called DEDICATION and COMMITMENT which so few people seem to understand these days.

Peope who stay at home 'so that other people won't catch the bug' are just conning themselves and others. There's been plenty of research which shows that if a bug is 'going around' it will continue to do so whether or not infected staff turn up to work.

Although I'm now self-employed, I used to work for a company who were extremely strict about absenteeism. For instance, a colleague who had a single day off (due to food poisoning) was given an extensive interview with a manager and a written warning regarding future absenteeism. This was his first day off sick in 13 years. I just wish that all employers would adopt a similar policy.

Chris

[robbo82]

I'm with Buenchico on this one I'm afraid. I have never taken a day off work sick, and only had about 5 days off in all my years at secondary school. I just don't seem to get especially ill, and if I feel myself getting sick, I find it's better to be busy than to mope around the house. Obviously if I was seriously ill I wouldn't go in, but some people just take liberties and constantly have days off, a lot of which I'm sure are unneccessary.

[lia*]

i have been on my job for ten years and have never called in sick or taken a day off. the only off days iv'e had are my vacation and my personal days. i have five personal days per yeay and i have never taken all of the five days.
hate me, what can i say. thank God i have never gotten sick (knock on wood)

[boderectium]

I remember working for the post office when someone/people with flu infected two thirds of the postal division, it caused absolute chaos.

If I were an employer, I would dicipline the people who come into work sick rather than the victims of flu/ colds.

Are you surprised people get sick, working 12 hr night shifts? The human body's immune system kicks in when you are supposed to be sleeping at night.

If you really want to get your own back on an employer who mistreats you, take six months off!!

[Lore]

I too work with someone like this. I agree that some people take time off when they don't need to but this person seems to be ill for at least 3 weeks of each month.

So many of us constantly tell her to go home and get better but in she comes day after day walking around like she's just got out of bed for the first time in 10 years and her answer .... Oh I'm ok, I've got too much to do!

I think more than anything it's an attention seeking thing and tend not to get into the 'you shouldn't be here' conversation with her.
I used to feel sorry for her and wanted her to feel better but as they years have gone by and still it's the same thing week in week out, I try to avoid her these days.
I know that sounds awful of me but it does annoy me and many others who I might add are two faced enough to show their concerns then slag her of the second she's away.- the place won't fall down without her being there.. just GO HOME!

[rosieo]

It's the "ill" voice that people use that gets my goat! Even when they say they have migraine or something completely unconnected to their voice. Why do they do it???