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AIBU?

WIBU to take time off sick this week?

114 replies

redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 17:43

I'm just coming to the end of 10 days annual leave and have been ill for the last 4 with what I am sure is flu, not a cold. Won't bore you with symptoms but even a shower is exhausting and I've barely moved since being ill. I work with elderly people and am scheduled to work all week, including 9 hours on Boxing Day, doing shifts from very early to very late. This is my first year in the job and I'm worried that if I take any time off sick I won't be believed as it's Christmas week and I have young children, someone else would have to cover (which I would feel guilty about), and the sickness policy at work will involve a a return to work interview with HR where I will need clear evidence of illness. I'm not sure that my GP will be best pleased if I waste their time this week asking for a sick note when they are likely to be busy and appointments are like gold dust at the best of times. On the other hand I feel genuinely ill and don't want to give this to my clients. WIBU to take time off or should I try and keep going?

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CurlyWurlyCake · 21/12/2014 17:47

If you are genuinely feeling I'll go to the doctor to be signed off.

Hope you feel better soon though.

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annielouisa · 21/12/2014 17:48

I have experience of working in care and if you are going to be off ill please get proof from a GP. I know you cannot help being ill but it will affect your relationship with your colleagues if they are not 100% sure you were really unwell as it will be them picking up the slack.

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Hobby2014 · 21/12/2014 17:50

Yes id say see GP but even if you don't, don't go to work and make vulnerable people sick.

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beginnerrunner · 21/12/2014 17:54

Tbh it sounds like you are planning to be I'll till boxing day. Genuinely I'll = take time off but this should be a day to day thing. Don't assume it'll last a week.

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 17:55

That's it Annielouisa, I know others will be called in to cover which is why I'm so anxious about going off. There's a culture of dragging yourself in even if you're seriously ill (not good - and has spread some nasty illnesses to frail people).

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 17:57

Begin I hope to be better by then, I'm just trying to say that I've got a lot of hours this week.

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Lilmissconcerned · 21/12/2014 17:58

I don't think it's unreasonable. Working with the elderly I think it it's only right .. I know a friend who is asked not to visit her mum in a care home when she's poorly.

Just agree that a sick not would be worth getting to ensure you are covered xxx

Get well soon x

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anothernumberone · 21/12/2014 18:02

I was just talking about this to a nurse last week. She said most of her colleagues would need a limb hanging off to miss work but there were huge consequences to this in terms of spreading illnesses. It is a tough call but at the very least I would put in sick for the 4 days holiday and at least get them back.

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Caravanoflove · 21/12/2014 18:08

I'm a GP and I've had an awful lot of care workers/nurses come in this week asking for a sick note until after Xmas for viral illness.
I've told them all, lets hope you are better for Xmas so if you still need a sick note by Xmas day we can reassess.
I'm not saying its ypu OP but there is definitely a culture in care work of getting a sick note for Xmas. I see it every year.

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Babyroobs · 21/12/2014 18:08

If you are genuinley sick then get a note I work on a ward and already lots of people are ringing in sick and look like being off christmas week Fortunately they never allow any Annual leave on Christmas week so are better staffed than normal, but I know some people won't dare ring in despite being genuinely sick.

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MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 21/12/2014 18:13

Get yourself a sicknote and stay off till you're better.

Would it be possible to return to work if you feel well enough before your sicknote runs out?

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 21/12/2014 18:15

Gp probably won't give you a sick note since you are meant to self certify for first week

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Marylou2 · 21/12/2014 18:19

A difficult dilemma. While you don't feel well now you can't possibly say how you'll feel on Boxing Day as it's 5 days away.If you are genuinely ill you'll have to be off but be prepared for the wrath of your colleagues.I'm a nurse and when I worked in a hospital it was the same people who let you down repeatedly. That said, I hope you're feeling better soon.

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 18:21

Well today I have a temp, vomiting, chesty cough, joint pains, runny nose etc but if there is a culture of care workers 'swinging the lead' at Christmas then I don't want to be tarred with that brush. I'm going to have to get on with it by the sounds of it.

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originalusernamefail · 21/12/2014 18:22

Caravan do you think the "culture" could be to do with the fact the other 51 weeks of the year you aren't required to "proove" you have a virus?

Seriously though OP I work in a hospital and the only excuse that would be tolerated would be being in hospital myself, especially if I thought I might just get better for Dec 27th Hmm. There is along time in case of virus' until Christmas and you've already been down nearly a week. I would estimate you would be over the worse by now. Play it by ear and if you're ill you're ill, but if it's just feeling a bit "rough" I would tog hit out tbh. Christmas working is usually alternated in healthcare so you would be forcing your cover to miss this year AND next.

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EnlightenedOwl · 21/12/2014 18:22

you self certify for first seven days so you wouldn't get a sick (or fit) note

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IsabeauMichelle · 21/12/2014 18:23

Oh you're blatantly blagging it! At least be honest with yourself. I don't doubt that you're ill, btw, just that it obvious you're planning on making it last until after Boxing Day.

I'd be pissed off if I were your colleagues.

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BrieAndChilli · 21/12/2014 18:24

This weekend was the busiest weekend of the year for the restaurant I work in. I've been really ill all week but went in Thursday as it's a family run business and I know they panic when I'm off! Anyway one of the bosses was off sick too as I got sent home early. But Isis work fri and sat too I have also given 75% of the staff the bug too!! So next time I will definitely ring in sick as remind them of this time!
Would it be possible for you to pop into work tomorrow and speak to the duty manager, if you are so sick not to be in work it will be obvious. They will be able to see this and there will be no doubt that you are genuinely ill. Unfortunately it is a known fact that people will ring in sick over the Xmas period coz they couldn't get the time off, it makes the real sick people appear guilty too.

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 18:27

I only mentioned Boxing Day because I was trying to explain that I have a lot of hours this week and Boxing Day is a particularly long day, I don't have a day in mind when I'm going to be miraculously well again Hmm however I can see that I'm not going to be believed and if the boot was on the other foot I would probably be suspicious too.

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Tinks42 · 21/12/2014 18:28

Why are you even thinking about this. There's another few days to go. Stop being such a drama queen about it.

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 18:30

Thank you Brie but there won't be any office support this week, just on call emergency team.

I think the answer is keep going.

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redhatnoknickers · 21/12/2014 18:31

Tinks I'm due in work tomorrow.

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ShowMeTheWonder · 21/12/2014 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tinks42 · 21/12/2014 18:32

If you arent well then dont go in.. talking about how you may feel on boxing is silly.

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plus3 · 21/12/2014 18:33

Oh come on - if you have a temp/ are vomiting do you really think you are fit for work ?? But given that it is Sunday there is every chance that you would recover in time for Cheistmas day . I work in intensive care so do understand the dilemma but also have a good working knowledge of my unit's sick policy. Just because you were sick on your A/L doesn't entitle you to days off afterwards to make up for it - just go and see your GP

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