How many sick days do you take?

[Mushroo]

Inspired by a Reddit thread. How many sick days do you take on average each year?

The consensus on Reddit seemed to be about 4 a year which I thought seemed quite high. Personally, I think I’ve had 2 or 3 in my working life (8 years) which I guess is low.

So just out of interest how many do you take?

None.

I used to work as a court solicitor so you would have to literally be on your death bed to not turn up for a case. One lawyer did a trial on what later turned out to be a broken leg. Another phoned from an ambulance to say he'd been in a car crash and sorry, he'd be late or arrange a stand-in, please don't hold him in contempt of court.

As I say to my colleagues, if I ever call in sick, you may as well order a wreath.

I’m public sector and have probably on average 0-2 days off sick per year the last 10 years. No sick time required since covid and home / hybrid working even when I had covid. I
am office based technical advisor though so it’s easier to work on when feeling a bit poorly in that circumstance, especially now when you can work from home often times.

Many of our public sector workers (refuse collection, street sweepers, janitors, teachers (speaking), home carers etc have very physically demanding jobs so working through when feeling ill might not be an option, or advisable if your caring for vulnerable people and have for example a heavy cold or cough.

Around 2 weeks maybe 3 times a year due to an ongoing health condition

For 15 years a total of 3.5 days, then 6 weeks in one year, 1 day in the last 2 years.

In the last 17 years of employment I think half a day of unplanned sick leave (I threw up at lunchtime and went home). Although I also had a few planned days off for an operation.

When I had covid I felt well enough to work from home.

1.5 total in the last 16 years but I am very lucky and bugs seem to pass me by

I don't tend to take them to be honest. I have quite a flexible job and I can still function over a phone even when feeling quite poorly.

Ridiculous question really, you can't compare and by trying to compare you do many a disservice, some disabilities or short term, long term physical or mental health conditions take time to recover from and it's impossible to avoid so bragging that you haven't been off sick or only had 2 days off
I say well lucky you.
Sick leave is for just that when you're experiencing ill health and too poorly to attend work.
Some conditions will always need extra consideration and supportive policies and procedures to be in place that support health and wellness within the workforce.
It's a well known fact that presenteeism is just as challenging as absenteeism
I.e staff attending a work places like the NHS or nursing homes nurseries etc with heavy colds flu's D&V could be fatal to the vulnerable people who are receiving care. 1 so called Hero going in to an office sick can affect a whole team.
There is no right amount or wrong amount it's about being able to get support when it's necessary and the piss takers being challenged.
As for self employed people Isn't there an insurance policy's that could be put in place to protect your income should you become unwell so you're not putting yourself or others in danger by attending work unwell?

I used to never call in sick.
Now I probably take 1 or 2 a year.
My last one was when I felt particularly anxious/stressed and hadn't slept all night.

🙌🏻

Maybe 10 in 25 years.

I’m public sector.
in the last 15 years I have had :-

this year 2 days for covid as it was over the Easter holidays so the rest of my quarantine was covered by bank holiday and weekend

4 days for tonsillitis 7 years ago

that’s it

so less of the tarring everyone in the public sector with the one brush

Until the last couple of years, maybe one or two tops, most years none. Two years ago I was off for a month after a massive immune system over-reaction to my first covid vaccine. This year I was off for 6 days after getting covid. Hopefully next year will be back to "normal" again.

2 days in five yrs.
I feel so guilty when I phone in sick!

I’m public sector and have very few sick days. In the last couple of years my only time off sick was when I had covid at the start of the year. Public sector workers are on the whole hard working. I could have 6 months off full pay if I was very unwell, I just feel lucky that I haven’t needed it. I don’t pull sickies. If I am ever off it is because I am very unwell.

About 3 in 15 years.

I had more as a c.minder as i had to close with stomach bugs, much less since covid.

No longer in childcare , have threw up in the toilets then started work - though side effects of the jab.

Definitely! It's not a coincidence that the people I know that are self-employed are all super hardy.

Until last month I hadn't taken any for 17 years.

Then I got Covid and ended up taking 4

Public sector worker here. With the exception of covid 10 days, I've had 3 years and 2 month with no sickness. And the last sickness was an assault by a patient! Probably nearer 4 years since an illness. Since covid, 18months

I started work in 1979.
1979-1986: 2 gastro enteritis
1987: 2 removal of breast lump
1990: 3 weeks after an operation
2005: 1 gastro enteritis
2006: 3 chest infection
2008: 3 acute back pain
2011: 3 broken ankle
2012: 1 unwell and dizzy
2016: 9 fractured vertebrae
2018: 2 colonoscopy
2022: 24 hour bug

30 days in 43 years. 20 in the pictures sector.

I've had two sick days in the past 20 years. So on average 0.1 day a year.

At least 3 a year. I'm ill at least once every kids term time.

I will confess that I will take a day off if I'm not "that" I'll because I teach teenagers and it sucks when you're ill!

In the last academic year I've had 3 standard sick days (2 back problem and one vomiting) plus 5 days for covid (second time) so way more than usual.

I don't often take more than one day off in a row even if I am still ill because it's not fair on other staff but one day to sleep makes a massive difference when you feel like shit!!

Most years I'll have had around 4-5 days off - a couple of days for cold/flu/urti and a couple of days for recurring stomach complaint.

No sickness for the last two years as it's so much easier to manage when working from home.

Self employed
Not had a sick day in 25 years.