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How often do you take a sick day?

203 replies

Rapunzel91 · 25/02/2025 07:50

For those employed, how often do you take a sick day from work? And do you still sometimes work when ill?

Im ill all the time so tend to just work at home when I have a cold which is often. I’ve got a stomach bug today but feel like I still need to work as I took a sick day about a month ago 🤢

I think I’m ill more than the average person to be fair. Don’t know why, just seem to pick up everything 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
pinkroses79 · 25/02/2025 07:51

Barely ever. Last time I had a sick day was in 2021.

OdeToBarney · 25/02/2025 07:53

Hardly ever. But don't go to the office with a stomach bug FFS.

DustyLee123 · 25/02/2025 07:54

Only when I really can’t work. One time I thought I’d get through the day with some painkillers, but by lunch time I was really struggling. If I’d rung in sick they could have replaced me, whereas I left them struggling from lunch time.

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Morph22010 · 25/02/2025 07:54

I’ve been in work 30 years and had less than 10 sick days. If you are working in an office job though I think it’s easier to work when mildly ill as can work from home or go into
office and hide away. If I’d had a job working where I was working with people like a nurse or a teacher I’d have had much more days off

NancyJoan · 25/02/2025 07:56

I will work with a bit of a cold, but did have two days off in September when I had a mad temperature and headache with the cold. I think that’s the last time I took time off for illness. I’ve actually got a cold again this week, but worked yesterday dosed up on paracetamol.

I always say to my team, if you are ill, you are ill, and you should keep your germs to yourself.

in a year, I probably take time off once or twice, but I’m lucky that I don’t tend to get ill too often.

GivingUpFinally · 25/02/2025 07:56

Hardly ever. Like a couple of times in the last 5 years. I work when I'm ill. Rather be at work miserable and earning money than at home, miserable and not earning. And, I'm in a client facing role.

SallyWD · 25/02/2025 07:57

I generally have back to back colds, so tend to work through them however some are absolutely brutal. If it's a very nasty one and I can't work, I take a couple of days off. I'd say this happens about three times a year.
I'd definitely take time off for a stomach big unless it was very mild.

Moonlightstars · 25/02/2025 07:57

It varies I once had 8 months off because I had ME. But I haven't had a day off since March 2022.

I do wonder if working from home will potentially reduce sick days?

DisplayPurposesOnly · 25/02/2025 07:57

I work from home so work unless I'm too ill to work, if you see what I mean. So, I worked through shingles in 2020 but had a month off for anaemia in 2022.

I don't often get colds or stomach bugs, etc, but will take time off if I feel really bad.

Chasingsquirrels · 25/02/2025 07:58

Generally 2 to 4 days a year I'd say.
But I had 1 day and separately 2 weeks sick in January. I could barely move for the 2 weeks, never mind work.

Ankhmo · 25/02/2025 07:59

The reason you seem tonpick everything up OP is because the heroes and martyrs bring everything in and couldn't give a fuck if others catch their illnesses or not.

evilharpy · 25/02/2025 07:59

Usually almost never but I've had 3 1/2 days off sick this year already because of norovirus in Jan and a really bad bout of covid this month. I wasn't even able to WFH with covid as I have before.

CurbsideProphet · 25/02/2025 07:59

Hardly ever unless desperate, as the sick pay policy rolls over for several years and I worry about having a serious health issue.

stanleypops66 · 25/02/2025 07:59

I've not had a sick day in at least 5 years.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 25/02/2025 08:00

I had a week off in 2009 for D&V

I’ve not rung in sick since

Squidtentacles · 25/02/2025 08:00

In a good year, no more than once a year. My last sick day for nearly a year was for my miscarriage, and it was a single day. But I am part-time, so often when I'm ill it falls around my off days!

HeadFairy · 25/02/2025 08:00

Ankhmo · 25/02/2025 07:59

The reason you seem tonpick everything up OP is because the heroes and martyrs bring everything in and couldn't give a fuck if others catch their illnesses or not.

This!

Girasoli · 25/02/2025 08:00

Maybe two a year? If I have a cold I just work from home. I only really take the day off if I have picked up a sickness bug from the kids or about once a year I seem to get a dizziness/inner ear thing after a virus.

Dollmeup · 25/02/2025 08:00

I've had about 5 days in the last 10 years. I'm lucky though in that I don't tend to get ill very often.

Pumpkincozynights · 25/02/2025 08:01

Hardly ever and yes I still go in when I don’t feel well.

arethereanyleftatall · 25/02/2025 08:01

Everyone will probably think I'm lying - but - I've never taken one. Started work in 1991. I do get ill (like a cough/cold thing) once a year but it's never fallen over a work day. Fingers crossed I stay the same.

Enko · 25/02/2025 08:01

Well the last 3 July's I've had either covid or the flu. So I guess yearly in July 😄

This year I've booked a few days off in early July to see if this avoids that sick period.

I've had perhaps 2 other sick periods in the last 3 years. Usually a migraine so a day off.

Danikm151 · 25/02/2025 08:02

Covid in 2022 so off for 4 days nothing since then

Neurodiversitydoctor · 25/02/2025 08:02

An average of less than 1 a year.
In the last 10:
2015- none
2016- none
2017- none
5 days in 2018
2019- None
2020- None
3 days in 2021 ( Covid)
2022 - none
3 days in 2023 ( Covid)
2024- none
2025- so far so good.

Doggymummar · 25/02/2025 08:02

Not in the last three years. I'm generally pretty healthy