Calling in sick in my fourth week and during probation … am I screwed?

[helloivewaitedhereforyou]

Band 5 NQP position in healthcare (independent sector, not NHS). Only been there a month and on six month probation programme. Fainted this morning on way to work. Came round spewing my guts up, sent to urgent care and now in a SDEC ward. They’re saying it’s medication related and a UTI, but want to rule out a blood clot. They’ve taken three different blood tests off me and an x Ray.

I’m panicking about work. Sickness is generally frowned upon I think, and I don’t want to look like I’m not trying hard or that I’m going to be a problem.

I’ve rung work and apologised but can they sack me for this?

Can they let you go specifically because you’ve rung in sick? Not really. But truthfully, during probation (and largely during the first 2 years of employment really), you can be let go for pretty much any reason or no reason if they decide it’s not working. They wouldn’t state when sacking you that it’s because of this sick day, but the reality is that lots of (bad) employers will let people go for ringing in sick and just give another excuse. Just focus on your health at the moment, you’re not well, you’re not able to be at work, that’s the end of that. If you are let go then at least you have found out now what kind of employer they are x

You can't help being sick and it's probably more likely that it's people swinging the lead that's frowned upon, those who phone in sick at the first sign of a sniffle, because they had a bit of a tummy ache or felt a bit tired.

Many employers have employees who seem to have far more than average of these types of 'illnesses' than their other employees, they'll be the same ones who 'had covid' half a dozen times while others never had it or maybe had it once or twice.

If you're otherwise a good employee, it's not going to be an issue. If you're not, and this isn't a one off sickness it could be part of the overall decision for not passing probation.

Thanks, I’ve otherwise been given glowing feedback so far and I’m doing everything asked of me. I’m absolutely mortified. I’ve got supervision tomorrow so I’ll ask her tomorrow for advice. I would have been out of office today anyway on training but I feel I’ve let them down. The shop I was in dialled 999 and I was vomiting continuously when I came round, so I’m hoping they understand from that I wasn’t mucking about - I’m covered in bruises from blood tests.

Are you even going to be in work tomorrow if you're in hospital now?

You're seriously ill. You haven't 'let them down'. People get sick, employers know that, they would have to be very strange to think that you're 'mucking about'. Get some advice from the doctors/nurses at the hospital about how long you should be off work for and let them know. There will probably be a procedure for a sick note.

Don't be going back to work before you're well as you're not going to be fit to do your job safely and effectively.

I would send them the supporting evidence you have of tests etc so they know it's genuine and serious. You shouldn't have to but I think it will help.

I wouldn't be too worried, if you're doing well it's unlikely they will want to let you go and recruit again.

Thanks, I hope so. I wasn’t meant to be in house today anyway so I’m not losing any clinical hours. SDEC are letting me away with antibiotics, anti sickness and reducing another long term med.

I’m not sure re work tomorrow. To be honest I have so much to do that I think I should go in, but I don’t know.

Rang work and told them I’ll come in tomorrow. Manager got in touch to check everything OK. I’m so worried this will make me look bad.

I was very ill indeed within my first month of probation, but I am still in the job 11 years later. (NHS - not clinical)

You need to try not to. Be the only one who makes this a big issue when it’s not. There is no point worrying and I know that’s easy to say but you’ve been genuinely sick. You have proof and documented evidence to support this. It’s unlikely to be a reoccurring issue. Your manager has. Been in touch, take that as a nice thing to have happened unless you see proof of it being anything else. It’s not easy to recruit the right members of staff and no one wants to have to go through that process again for no reason, you haven’t phoned in with a hangover and you’re not turning up the next day without a care in the world. You can’t help what’s happened and you can’t doo anymore more than you’ve done and you need to really try and just give yourself a break. These things happen and employers know that. I hope you’re ok Avon, that was a horrible thing to happen to you, remember you’ll be shaken up and feeling earth more emotionally vulnerable than usual as it is after all that. I truly believe it’ll be ok.