To call in sick to work when you’re sick

I think people have different tolerance levels. Some feel capable of soldiering on when ill whereas some just can't get themselves out of bed. This is evidenced at my work where some people take between zero and 2 sick days a year and one or two who take at least 10 sick days a year, and it's always the same people.

That I don't just stay at home all day. So could catch stuff.

Lots of people, including my colleagues. They think it's strange that I don't do it.

And your point is...? 🤔

Who do you, personally, know who has done that? You seem to have a real chip on your shoulder about this for some reason.

My mother was like this. I only knew her be off work twice in her life.
I had horrendous periods pre menopause. I could barely move for risk of flooding and as a teacher couldn't go to the toilet any time I needed.
She dismissed this as "A piece of nonsense " and she would just have got on with it.

Well let's hope you never end up on any drugs that suppress your immune system.

For some of us with chronic illness our norm is to feel pretty unwell. I reckon on a good day I feel ill enough that many people would take a sick day if it wasn't their norm.

When you take immune suppression you catch every bug going and you get more ill. I used to breezily carry on with life if I had a mild cold. Now I almost inevitably get a chest infection that needs heavy antibiotics to treat it

Or that I don't call in sick when I fancy a week off.

No, but I find it odd to be off an average of 20 days a year. Apparently I'm lying about never being ill and spend all my time 'coughing and spluttering' all over everybody.

You sound insufferable.

Ask her "Are you a doctor?" because if not, she has no right to comment on whether someone should stay home sick or come in.

Covering work for a sick colleague is something she should take up with the manager if she is unhappy. Not you. Tell her the topic is closed and you don't want to hear another word of her carping.

You find it odd that humans get poorly? Have you ever heard of doctors? Hospitals? Nurses? Medicine? Germs? Infection? These are all pretty well known terms. Perhaps a dictionary might help?

Some people think that suffering earns them some kind of badge of honour. It's weird. If you're ill, don't go in to work. Nobody wants your germs.

Ok Superwoman… well done, aren’t you amazing! Now why don’t you just FO… No one likes a self-righteous bragger.

Just tell her to shut up and get on with her work or you will be going of sick again with bad headaches and she will end up having to cover your work again 😂
If that fails ignore, do not respond at all walk away each time she starts.

I would respond to another barbed comment in the lines of

"Gladys you and I have different views on this and we won't agree so going forward please dont comment to me about sickness ans sick leave and I won't comment to you. That way we can get along without any issues." If she goes " we'll I just think etc" A firm "As I said please do not bring your view to me and I won't to you" then big smile and move the subject on.

She won't like it but right now she has an audience.

What point are you making in saying this? There’s nothing laudable about never having taken sick leave. It simply means that either you’ve been lucky with your health, or you’ve gone to work sick and infected other people

I've had more than that off this year. And since then I have had a big promotion . I am a hard working and highly regarded member of the team. I just unfortunately have a body that gets very ill with things other people might shake off.

Immune suppression/underlying conditions can mean people need regular time off for something others can shake off. My health condition is between me, my line manager and HR. It's noone elses business.

Just say to her “I couldn’t walk so I couldn’t come into work. If you have a problem with my sickness record please raise it to HR”.

Self employed so if I am not out of the house I don’t get paid. But my god I despise people who get on like this. If you are sick you are sick. Just ignore this silly women. Then to all the people saying they are never sick! Well done to you all, how lucky you are!

I wfh so probably soldier on more than I would when I worked in an office. But I have had days when I’ve stopped for half a day. Also I broke a bone in my shoulder last year at our busiest time, and my only help had gone off sick but I worked using dictation to write emails. And I took time off to attend physio and fracture clinic at the local hospital (thankfully only 10 mins away)

But

I would never expect someone to work if they don’t feel well enough. Most of my ailments seem to be ok if I’m sat at my computer! And I can always stop, we are most definitely not monitored like that.

Invite her to fuck off

You must have an awesome immune system then. Very lucky.

Confuse her - “Honestly, I’m just really glad you are not as ill as I was, otherwise you wouldn’t have been here to tell me all about it.”

Then walk away to fill up you your water bottle.

Tell her that by coming in sick she made everyone else sick and that cost the company way more in time and money. Please next time think of her colleagues and stay at home.