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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have called in sick?

39 replies

livinginwonderland · 28/08/2013 11:06

I really don't think IBU but here goes.

Background: I work with food. I've had (including today) five days off work since January. 4 of these have been due to vomiting/sickness bugs. One was because I passed out due to the heat.

Woke up this morning when DP went to work (around 6am). Felt okay, bit tired, but fine. DP left for work and I got up and made toast. Ate it, got horrendous cramps and threw it up. Felt sicky/nauseous ever since. I rang in sick because obviously I'd thrown up. Queue people complaining because I'm "off sick" a lot.

I realise that 5 days in 8 months is quite a lot, but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do other than call in sick when I've thrown up everywhere?!

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 28/08/2013 11:56

I was completely on your side until your last post. I also get this and I know IYSWIM that it's period related vs. stomach bug. Speaking for myself, you may well be different once I've thrown up and spent half an hour recovering I get on with my day

So, hand on heart, did you not think the same and based on yr experience think you could have gone in?

LostMySocks · 28/08/2013 12:08

If you work with food it is illegal to go in with D&V

Original poster
livinginwonderland · 28/08/2013 12:11

No, considering I was sick again 20 minutes ago.

I get sick about 1 month out of 3 with period sickness. And I mean fainting, nausea, vomiting, cramps. I can't keep down food or painkillers for about 12 hours or so. If the first 12 hours of pain happen to coincide with work, I just can't do it. If it was a desk job, possibly, but not when I have to be on my feet and cook food in a hot kitchen for eight hours.

OP posts:
Original poster
livinginwonderland · 28/08/2013 12:15

OntheBottom thanks.

The first step in our company (triggered by 3 absences in 3 months) is just an informal meeting with your manager. They basically just check everything is okay and that there's nothing work can do to help, so if this does trigger anything, that will be it :)

OP posts:
EvieanneVolvic · 28/08/2013 12:18

Sounds horrible OP, but based on what Womansweekly says (in particular para 4) maybe you should consider chamging jobs to something that is more suited to your constitution (sorry that could be ready as snarky...really not meant that way!)

Original poster
livinginwonderland · 28/08/2013 12:21

Oh, I have. Been looking for a new job since I started, but I can't afford not to work! I apply for at least 10 jobs a week but no luck :(

OP posts:
EvieanneVolvic · 28/08/2013 12:24

Well all power to you then Wonderland...it's a bit of a numbers game and no mistake...yours will come out of the hat soon I'm sure!

Nanny0gg · 28/08/2013 12:25

If you work with food, shouldn't it be 48 hours D&V free before returning?

quesadilla · 28/08/2013 12:26

Evieanne I sounded off at great length about it on the last thread but here goes:
Yes some people take the piss and yes companies have every right to confront employees who they suspect are taking the piss...

But this business of tracking sick leave against a national average (the Bradford index? The fact there's an actual name for it makes me shudder) strikes me as quite sinister and an astonishingly blunt instrument. You cannot meaningfully extrapolate information about whether one of your staff is bunking off by comparing them to a national mean.

toomanyfionas · 28/08/2013 12:28

I think it is only sensible for you to call in sick.

But

That's quite a lot of vomiting bugs in a few months. You say the first one was food poisoning? Sometimes food poisoning lingers and you become susceptible to stomach upsets.

So possibly you may like to try taking a probiotic, a powder or a yoghurt drink, to help strengthen the lining of your stomach.

Feel better soon.

fishandmonkey · 28/08/2013 12:28

if it's period related then it's not contagious so the fact that you work with food is irrelevant. if you genuinely are not able to work then you have no choice but to call in sick. but, and i'm not saying this is you op, some people are less willing to put themselves out if they feel ill and it can be annoying for colleagues who have to cover for them.

EvieanneVolvic · 28/08/2013 12:30

Yes I remember that Quesadilla and I pretty much agree with you, but that is not a reason not to monitor at a local level (I had never heard of the Bradford Index until that last thread)

LustyBusty · 28/08/2013 12:35

I worked for a fast food place the summer after my GCSEs. One night (Saturday) I threw up unexpectedly. No tummyache, nothing, just vomited. Called in next day, said I'd been sick in the night, wouldn't be able to do that days shift, or the following day. (48hrs clear). Went to drs on the Monday and was told I'd had concussion and should've been in hospital for observation (oh yeah, I'd banged my head and forgotten about it!!) went into work on Wednesday (next shift) and got a first written warning for two days off unnecessarily. (Even though the two days off were related to potential bug...)
Anyway OP, YANBU. You have to be so careful when you're ill, especially working with food. Ignore the bitches!!

Original poster
livinginwonderland · 28/08/2013 12:38

fish that's true. However, I'm always willing to do overtime - today's shift was actually overtime to cover someone's holiday and I did the same for two days last week and again on Friday. I'm not lazy by any means, I just have a ridiculously sensitive stomach!

needs to stop getting defensive Blush

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