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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to call in sick or to not call in sick

135 replies

Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 07:54

Was unwell yesterday, sore throat, headache etc. Took paracetamol and worked for 10 hours.

I am due to work today but have woken up and can hardly talk. I've been awake a few hours and it hasn't got any better. If sound does come out I sound like Barry white crossed with a teenage boy.

Don't feel too bad apart from that. Bit tight chested. Problem is today I'm working on a shop floor, so full on engaging and chatting to people all day.

I also know my team are short staffed.

And I called in sick last Sunday and left early Thursday due to issues within my team and my manager was in support of that.

Otherwise it would be a no brainer and I would phone in but I'm not sure on this one..

OP posts:
shushpenfold · 16/11/2014 07:55

I'd go in.....your manager might hear you and then send you home but if you feel basically OK, go.

CaulkheadUpNorth · 16/11/2014 07:55

How much speaking is needed in your job?

Vivacia · 16/11/2014 07:56

left early Thursday due to issues within my team

What were these?

If you're well enough to work, go in to work. If you're not, you can't. You have my sympathies though, I used to hate making this decision in my last job.

SpottyTeacakes · 16/11/2014 07:56

I worked when I had lost my voice. I'm a drs receptionist (yes, you all hate me Wink).

It was slightly difficult, especially with the elderly patients who struggle to hear, but I managed.

Vivacia · 16/11/2014 07:56

How much speaking is needed in your job? Confused

LoxleyBarrett · 16/11/2014 07:57

Take some paracetamol and go to work. A funny voice is not a reason to stay off work when you otherwise feel not too bad.

minifingers · 16/11/2014 07:57

My rule is - vomiting/the shits, stay at home. Everything else, go in.

But then I'm self employed so no work = no pay!

Plonkysaurus · 16/11/2014 07:58

If you don't actually feel ill Id go in. Manager may sympathise and send you home. Or they'll be pleased you've made the effort.

But only you can decide if you're well enough to work.

merlehaggard · 16/11/2014 07:58

I'd go in. You can always ask later to go home later if you need to. By then everyone will hear you are genuine. That would be my thinking if it was me anyway.

Cornettoninja · 16/11/2014 08:01

If you feel ok otherwise go in. They might put you on duties to limit your need to speak to people.

I would be wary of having more time off given your last weeks attendance. Not saying it wasn't justified but if you can work you should.

merlehaggard · 16/11/2014 08:03

I tend to think like minifingers. I'm not self employed but my husband is and is rarely off work. I think to myself " would I go in if I wasn't being paid for it?". Usually it then just comes down to sickness/diarrhoea/real flu viruses.

londonrach · 16/11/2014 08:03

Go in as you dont feel ill. I have seen patients with no voice (wasnt ill) i just wrote everything down i wanted to say. Hope you feeling better soon x

Original poster
Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 08:04

I will literally be talking almost non stop for 6 hours. So, quite a lot of speaking. Pretty much no sound is coming out, or if it does its a deep growl sound followed by a squeak.

Again, if I was in an office I could easily go in. My usual job is office based, but on Sundays I'm on the shop floor.

I think I'm going to have to go in so they can at least hear for themselves.

OP posts:
GertrudeBell · 16/11/2014 08:05

Absolutely go in.

Vivacia · 16/11/2014 08:05

I think I'm going to have to go in so they can at least hear for themselves

I think that's a good idea. If you feel differently in a few hours you could leave early.

Original poster
Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 08:05

Ha, I can't write everything down. I will see and speak to maybe 500 people today.

OP posts:
GertrudeBell · 16/11/2014 08:06

Cross post - it sounds as though you might not be able to do your job as well as you do normally, but you're still not that ill.

ShatnersBassoon · 16/11/2014 08:10

Definitely go in. Let the manager decide if you'll be more hindrance than help today. Take some painkillers and have some throat sweets to suck when you can.

Original poster
Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 08:12

I'll go in..Water and throat sweets are not allowed.
It's very public facing and would be viewed as being unprofessional.

OP posts:
LoxleyBarrett · 16/11/2014 08:12

Stop making excuses - I'm sure in such a busy workplace there will be something else you can do.

ShatnersBassoon · 16/11/2014 08:16

Save the sick days for when you couldn't get in to work. Your lack of voice will become your manager's problem, they'll have to work around it.

Original poster
Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 08:18

Hmm not really.

It's the fact that it will be so busy today as to why I'm not doing my usual job. It's all hands on deck at the moment, right up to director level.

Water/ throat sweets etc are not allowed on the shop floor as it is not professional.

I've got to speak to about 500 odd people today which is going to be impossible as I can't actually talk. Added to which I'm not sure if any members if the public are going to want a wheezing woman in their face.

OP posts:
Pico2 · 16/11/2014 08:19

I wouldn't go in if I had to speak that much. I've done it before and completely lost my voice and ended up with tonsillitis and a week off work. I'm not sure that doing that caused the tonsillitis, but I wish I hadn't tried to work through it as I now get tonsillitis regularly.

Nativity3 · 16/11/2014 08:19

I am guessing its a checkout of some sort? Can't imagine where else you would meet 500 people in 6 hours Confused

Original poster
Vintagecrap · 16/11/2014 08:19

But I'll go in. And suspect I'll promptly be sent home.

OP posts:
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