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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To call in sick because I just can't face it

25 replies

Lj8893 · 24/07/2013 21:29

I posted a thread yesterday regarding how tiring and stressful my work is at the moment. I literally feel like I'm doing the work of 3 people!

Today wasent much better. I am completely mentally and physically exhausted and can really feel like I'm overdoing it, all my joints ache and my bump (26 weeks).

I don't like letting people down, and I hate phoning in sick unless I'm literally on my deathbed.

However I seriously feel like I need a couple days rest. Would I be unreasonable to phone in sick just because I feel like this?

OP posts:

pinkmagic1 · 24/07/2013 21:32

Could you get your doctor or midwife to sign you off for a week or so?

ProudAS · 24/07/2013 21:32

Get yourself to the surgery and see your GP.

ILikeToClean · 24/07/2013 21:32

YANBU if you're pg and exhausted, you need to look after yourself and bump. Do it!

Original poster

Lj8893 · 24/07/2013 21:37

My gp is crap. But I will go and see him anyway, just so I can say to work I have.

I begin my maternity leave in just over 2 weeks so don't feel like I need any longer than a couple days just to revive myself, then I shall feel back to my hard working self for my last 2 weeks.

I just feel so bad about doing it to my lovely collegues couldn't give a crap about the company and head office management

OP posts:

Original poster

Lj8893 · 24/07/2013 21:39

See, I can't even spell. *colleagues

OP posts:

Doobiedoobedoobie · 24/07/2013 21:39

It depends, phone in sick if you really need to but that doesn't really solve the problem. The problem being your work are putting too much pressure on you to do too much work. Have you spoken to your line manager/ HR about your workload? I'd be tempted to sort that first tbh as if you take a few days off you'll only be coming back to the same problem next week. Hope you can get it sorted.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 24/07/2013 21:41

You can self certificate for a couple of days. It's only >5 dy that you need a Drs note.

Ring in to work first thing then forget trying to waste a Drs time get a Drs appt.

Yorkieaddict · 24/07/2013 21:41

My first thought was YANBU, but having seen that you are starting mat leave in 2 weeks, can you really not hang in there until then? Its not long to push, then you can have a good long, guilt free break until the baby arrives.

ActionLog · 24/07/2013 21:42

Do you have a risk assessment - you should have. You should ask for that to be revisited and explain the overwork is having an effect on your health.

qualitytoffee · 24/07/2013 21:43

Harden up and look after you pet xx
Get thee to the GP. get signed off and don't feel quilty, after all, if you don't ;ook after you, who will?
Please take care and learn from your collegues and also don't give a crap either

2kidsintow · 24/07/2013 21:43

It's possible that your work can push you to start your maternity leave early if you take sick leave in the last few weeks before you start your leave.

Shakey1500 · 24/07/2013 21:45

I'd self cert for the 5 days, see my GP in that time and get signed off for the remainder until Mat leave.

Your health is the priority, not work. Hope you feel better soon.

sukysue · 24/07/2013 21:45

In my experience I always fel so bad I just don't go sick anymore the guilt is too much bother for me to handle. This week is esp bad for me but hey you know what I am nearly through it and it also shows you can do it. Don't let it beat you good luck love and congrats on the baby too .

UnicornsPooGlitter · 24/07/2013 21:45

Isn't there something odd though if you're off with a pregnancy related illness close to the beginning if maternity leave? I think you can be forced to begin maternity leave early.

qualitytoffee · 24/07/2013 21:45

quilty?? now thats a sign! I meant guilty! But get yourself under a quilt if you can pet xx

cardibach · 24/07/2013 21:51

If it's only two weeks early would that be a disaster though? If you are really tired and unable to cope you need to look after yourself.

Soupqueen · 24/07/2013 21:52

I think forcing maternity leave to start early applies later in the pregnancy - 36 weeks rings a bell for some reason.

You're not sick, and you have 2 weeks to go. I'd be going to work - I say that as someone currently 28 weeks pregnant and shattered due to lack of sleep. I know how tempting it is, but I'm not ill, and it doesn't sound as though you are either.

YonicTheHedgehog · 24/07/2013 21:59

Ah bugger it, take a couple of days. You'll be refreshed and ready to work after it.

Original poster

Lj8893 · 24/07/2013 22:01

Thanks all for your thoughts.

I don't think my work can push me to start maternity leave early if i do have any amount of time of sick as I am beginning my leave the earliest date possible as it is due to the physical side of my job. Im on my feet all day and up and down stairs all day and I knew I wouldn't be able to cope with that for much longer.

We can re assess my risk assessments, however its just not going to be possible to lighten my work load as we are short staffed as it is, and in a customer facing role I can't really pick and choose when I want to serve customers if that makes sense.

I think i might have to sleep on it and see how I feel in the morning. But currently I've struggled to stop crying since I got home purely out of tiredness.

OP posts:

kelpeed · 25/07/2013 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Lj8893 · 25/07/2013 13:24

My iron levels were checked at my last midwife apt and are fine.

I did call in sick today and my assistant manager was lovely, she said she's not surprised as she herself is shattered an can't begin to imagine how I must be feeling. And she said that it might help the regional manager see just how much pressure she's putting on us!

OP posts:

jammiedonut · 25/07/2013 13:36

They can't force you to start early maternity leave early, so don't worry about that.
Get yourself to the gp, a degree of tiredness is usual, but exhaustion isn't and could signal iron deficiency. You can also ask them for a statement of fitness that recommends a reduction in duties. When it's on paper from a doctor it is very difficult for work to ignore. I don't think 'it's only two weeks'- a lot can happen in two weeks. I had a very physical job and found it very difficult to reduce my duties as I thought I was meant to be tired all the time, saw the dr who gave me a very stern talking to!

jammiedonut · 25/07/2013 13:39

Fwiw I was a restaurant manager and we were running a skeleton crew at the time. It was very hard to put myself and baby first and demand that they reduce my duties. You can work different hours, request a chair, do the adminetc. I managed to get to 32 weeks pregnant working 50 hours a week before I cut back purely because work complied with my very reasonable requests to slow down

SelectAUserName · 25/07/2013 13:42

An employer can only start your maternity leave early if you are absent with pregnancy related illness within four weeks of your EWC.

Hope you feel better today, OP.

Alohomora · 25/07/2013 14:23

Sounds a bit like my work situation - I wouldn't feel guilty at all, it really depends on your GP but a few women I know were in a similar situation and were told to take sick leave by their GP.

If, however, you would feel so guilty that being at home would be more stressful than relaxing I'd just see about getting your duties changed and ask for more breaks and chances to sit-down. There's no point in being at home if you don't actually benefit from it because you feel bad.

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