2nd day of new job calling in sick ????

[xogossipgirlxo]

I’m mortified. I had bit of cold yesterday, took paracetamol and ibuprofen, went to my first day at new job. You know what it’s like, adrenaline keeps you going, but I came home and felt really really run down. I barely slept at night, because meds didn’t really work. I know it’ll look bad calling in sick on my second day but I’m genuinely ill, my temperature is about 39C, my throat is aching so much, shivers, headache, my face feels really tender to touch on my cheeks like it is with sinusitis. Are they going to think I’m taking the mickey? I was so upbeat yesterday, really enjoyed my first day, I’m gutted today😢

As my mother would say “go to school and see how you feel when you get there”
Once you have something to do that takes your mind off feeling ill you’ll feel better. You can’t call in sick on your second day.

What job is it?
that would influence my decision.

My dad used to say ‘have a good wash, you’ll be ok’.
I usually was!

A friend of mine had to call in sick on her first day.
She was beside herself, however was genuinely sick and could not go in.

They agreed that she could start the following week instead and she ended up staying there for the next 18 years.

It happens unfortunately.
Hope you are start feeling better soon.

Are you able to wfh or do you have a job that can only be done from the office? A compromise could be that you explain that you’re unwell but willing to wfh so you don’t spread germs and don’t have to navigate a commute and teh office whilst feeling ill.

You can't go in with a fever. If they think you're taking the piss then unfortunately there's not much you can do about it in the moment. To be honest though in my work we wouldn't bat an eyelid - in an ideal world for us you wouldn't have come in yesterday and we would have just put your start date back a few days. Some employers do understand that life is a thing that happens to people.

Couldn't agree more. Having a good work ethic is one thing, putting colleagues at risk of something really nasty is another.

OP, it's just lousy timing and if they're a decent employer they'll understand. People get ill, and you may have caught it at work in the first place. Not had time to RTFT, but any chance you can get your hands on a flu test? (Amazon do them, I used one when I had flu last year.) If it does turn out to be flu and you're worried about being believed, that'd give you proof.

Id go in @xogossipgirlxo - new job, you need to make a good impression and show enthusiasm

Unless it’s d&v, go in

Thank you ❤️

OP this happened to me years ago, and my boss was really kind about it. Hopefully you have a good one

I would call in and speak to your line manager, explain the situation. No, it doesn't look good and as you're on probation, it's a worry. Tell your line manager that you're willing to seek medical advice. I don't think a GP will give a fit note, because they usually give those out once self-certification has expired. However, there's no harm in asking your GP, and explain why.

Not quite the full picture though is it?

Now for me, if I get a cold or other mildish illness, I'm calling in sick. I work for a large corporate and (most of) the cogs keep turning when i'm off. And to be frank, I just don't care enough about work to force myself in. However, I've worked for my company for 20 years, I'm well paid, well regarded and I get 6 months full paid sick.

It's easy to put work at the bottom of your priority pile when that's the case.

If I was on day 2 of a new job? No sick pay, in a business that has the ability to say 'mmm no thanks' and leave me unemployed? I'd drag myself in on my hands and knees.

For something like a cold I would usually call my manager and explain and ask them if they’re ok with me coming in/being potentially contagious. Unfortunately my manager died of a heart attack a few weeks ago so she’s not there to call now 😭

A high temperature would write me off for the day, I get really dizzy.

So they have the ability to day ‘mm no thanks’ for calling in sick but not the ability to say ‘mm no thanks’ for putting other people and the business at risk by turning up?

I worked at my new job for a week when I got struck down with covid. I was off for 5 days in the end and was convinced I'd lose my job. It was fine and several months later the same thing happened to a brand new colleague. It's shit but it happens. I hope you're feeling better today.

I was thinking meningitis too, although I think after that timespan probably not. Still sounds like you need medical attention though.

Our work culture is so shit when people have to have this back and forth with themselves.

I’d go in and say you felt you had to, but under normal circumstances you’d have stayed at home, you feel so ill. Then hope they send you home.

Well they have that ability regardless don't they?

I would slap a smile on, dose myself up to the eyeballs and downplay how I was feeling...unlikely to be any repurcussions. Calling in sick on day 2 is a far higher risk.

All the 'omg you'll pass it around' doombringers. Yes, she will. As will the other x hundred/thousands of people with the same virus but no temperature and fewer symptoms.

Tbph I'm astounded at the number of people on this thread who seem to have no understanding of absolute basics and are coming out with things like 'a TEMPERATURE! OMG that can't be just a cold!' 🙈

Even if the OP sees a GP, ten to one (or TBH 100 to one) they’ll say it’s probably a virus, so won’t dish out antibiotics.

Not so long ago I eventually saw the GP after a horrible bug that I just couldn’t shake off after 10 days. ‘Probably a virus, just rest and take fluids…’

That same night I was bluelighted to hospital with (bacterial!) pneumonia. (To be entirely fair, the shallow, painful breathing had only hit me that same evening.).

I knew someone who was ill on his first day at a new job. Was so worried that it would look bad that he went in, and vomited all over his desk.

I can’t believe people are actually suggesting you go in with the symptoms described. What world do we live in where you have to force yourself into the office (no doubt spreading germs) just to save face. Yes it’s the second day, but this shouldn’t sway whether probation is passed, it’s ridiculous.

Stay home, apologise, and make up for it when you go back in!

I am amazed people were missing the significance of that. That’s a high temperature and the OP has not managed to bring it down at home. That’s not just a mild, “oh take a Lemsip and soldier on,” cold. Those people are like the black knight from Monty Python’s Holy Grail. He’s still insisting he can fight when he’s had all of his limbs cut off: “‘tis but a scratch!” Insane.

OP, you must be feeling dreadful! I’ve been at work when a fever came on during the day and it’s not fun. You can’t choose when you’re ill. I had to phone in sick on my 2nd day due to having a sickness bug. It didn’t impact me.

Thank you to @PotatoFan for posting the NHS info.