To call in sick tomorrow?

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

I work on contracts an average length is about 12 weeks per contract. This year I have worked continuously and in this line of work every company wants loads from you - more than contracted hours etc. It's just industry standard to work long hours and you have to be seen to really care about the role. Obviously this can become hard when you do back to back contracts with no break or rest but if I'm not working I don't get paid so have to take work when I can.

I've been doing this job for about six weeks so far. The project is very difficult and not going well at all and we are very behind. My boss is very stressed and relying on me. For the past four weeks I've had a cough/ cold: virus which I thought was getting loads better but this weekend I feel dreadful again. Temperature, weak, very sore throat and generally exhausted. I feel like I'm losing my voice. I would love to call in sick tomorrow but think it will panic the manager and reflect badly on me. Plus I'm away this weekend visiting relatives which work know about and I think they'll think I'm lying to stay away for an extra night.

FWIW when I was feeling dreadful before all I did was WFH for one afternoon so didn't have any time off.

WWYD?

[NotStoppedAllDay]

I'd just carry on as normal. Surely you'll get some sort of break...a day or two at least.... over Christmas?

It would seem suspicious to me if you called in sick. Sorry

[Wolfiefan]

If you are well enough to go away then I would assume you are well enough to work.

[harderandharder2breathe]

I agree it looks really bad if you call in sick on a Monday after a weekend away

If you force yourself to go in tomorrow can you work from home Tuesday and Wednesday?

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

To be honest, unless you have got significantly sicker today, if I were your manager I'd wonder how you were well enough to go visiting but not come into work.

[Whatsername17]

Go in and get sent home.

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

That's what I'm worried about. I was OK Friday but have been in bed all day today and feeling dreadful. Have an ache in between my shoulders and feel so weak with a temperature.

[alotlikeChristmas16]

If you lost this contract, would you take a reputational hit that would mean you struggled to get more jobs? If so, you have to drag yourself in, get sent home and have Tuesday off, it's hard but if your employers are a small connected network...

[nocoolnamesleft]

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where the only relevant question would be "am I fit to be at work?"

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

nocool

Yes it would. I'm almost certain the reason I'm still unwell is because I haven't stopped. I'm barely sleeping and feel stressed and exhausted all the time. But I can't bear the idea of being bitched about at work if I'm not there and I'm almost certain that would happen.

I wouldn't lose the contract over it but I think my boss would be angry about it.

[alotlikeChristmas16]

do you need him for your next reference? I agree he sounds like an imbecile but contractors (I'm one) don't get cut much slack in the field I work in.

[alotlikeChristmas16]

him/her - by the way, any options for getting yourself into a less stressful area for 2017?

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

Yes I could need her for a reference
I feel so frustrated by it all I could cry to be honest.

[lovelearning]

less stressful area for 2017

Make that your New Year's Resolution.

[BarbaraofSeville]

less stressful area for 2017

^^ This. Time off from work is necessary or health can suffer, as you have discovered.

If you were an employee, you would be entitled to a minimum of 28 days paid holiday per year. Are you saying that you haven't even had this amount of time off? Do the contracts pay above the rate of an employee to account for lack of paid holiday etc? Can you afford to enforce a week or two between each contract? Is it possible to get a permanent job in the same industry so you don't have to work without any breaks?

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

I'd go in tomorrow morning, definitely, but don't hesitate to go home or take Tuesday off if you need to.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

It would seem suspicious to me if you called in sick. Sorry

I agree

[alotlikeChristmas16]

I still take time off and even as a contractor expect some understanding for rare sick days, dc sick days. short term contracts are horrible as you don't have previously established credibility to build on

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

I haven't had a single sick day this year just worked from home one afternoon when I got sent home.

If I go in there's no way they'll send me home but if I tell myself if I can push through tomorrow and then take Tuesday off that's a slightly comforting thought.

[TheSnowFairy]

There are so many threads about people thinking their co-workers are taking the piss because they have taken time off / are planning to take time off when it suits them.

If your colleagues know you are away they will definitely think you have added another day's holiday on.

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

TheSnowFairy

I agree. I'm trying to work out of I care enough about the office bitching or not to go in.

[ThatsWhatYouDo]

I won't be adding another day onto my holiday because I'm booked onto a fixed train so definitely going home tonight regardless.

[Astro55]

Please take a day if you aren't well - you may pass on the germs get worse or whatever - we all need time to recover - and ultimately you won't get paid for being ill - so they must know you wouldn't lose money unless you were ill - people get sick this time of year - let them talk!!!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I'd call in sick. People do get ill or worse while away for the weekend so it's not unheard of for someone to be away and then be off sick. Are you fit to work? If not, then ring in sick.
If you're not fit to work then you're also not fit to work from home. Take a few days proper recuperation. Too many people struggle into work spreading their germs about and don't give themselves a chance to recover properly.

[lovelearning]

cough/ cold: virus
losing my voice
ache in between my shoulders
weak with a temperature
barely sleeping and feel stressed and exhausted all the time

ThatsWhatYouDo, you are playing Russian Roulette with your health!

Stay home tomorrow, and whenever you are ill.

[alotlikeChristmas16]

I wouldn't care about office gossip, I'd care whether I was going to get a bad reference or impact my future job prospects because of it. Co workers saying 'oooh she's off finishing Xmas shopping' is neither here nor there.