to call in sick or to not call in sick

[Vintagecrap]

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..

[londonrach]

Look you dont sound well enough now op dont go in! They just have to manage without you. What time you meant to start, you feel worse if you went in and could be for the rest of the week. Just stay at home unless you need to visit a&e or gp and get better. Thanks an order.

[Fluffyears]

Wheezing and phlegm sound like a cheat infection. You shouldn't be going anywhere.

[Nativity3]

Hope they sent you home.... Anyone else wanting to know what the op does?

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Yeah I do

Hope she's ok.

[Vintagecrap]

Of course they didn't send me home, we were short staffed.

However, there are now 3 customer complaints about me.

[Nativity3]

Why have they complained?

[Vintagecrap]

Because I was ill.

One called me a horrible germy girl.
One complained because I was too slow and clearly not quite with it. And that theu had to repeat themselves. I can't hear out of one ear all that great. It popped at about 1130 and I haven't been able to un pop it.

One complained that it was awful service as they couldn't understand me with my voice and that I kept coughing.

[TheIronGnome]

What sort of complaints?? Because you're ill?

[Nativity3]

Call centre?

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

Oh, you really can't bloody win can you :(

Something easy for the kids for dinner, tv on, bed asap for all of you!

I hope the meeting goes OK tomorrow. If anyone says anything about the 'complaints' tell them if you weren't bloody well sick through being run down, overworked & bullied you wouldn't have been sick or if you were, you'd have taken the day off - as you should have, without worrying for your job. They cannot have it all their way fgs. They need to take some responsibility.

What are they doing about getting more staff??

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

Nativity - retail, the OP has already said that. Poor thing :(

[tobysmum77]

Well to be fair they probably had a point, why would they c want to be served by someone ill? Please be kind to yourself and stop letting people walk all over you. They are short staffed because it is clearly a vile place to work and others won't stand for it. That isn't something you are responsible for.

call in sick tomorrow and find something else. If there is a grievance meeting and you are off sick they have to rearrange it.

[Vintagecrap]

It's not a grievance meeting. Just a talk through with the team to hopefully draw a line under the whole thing.

The complaints are probably justified to be honest. If you are spending large sums of money you expect a certain level of service, which I was unable to provide.

[tobysmum77]

either way it can be rearranged and if it isn't sorted out then you do need to raise a formal grievance.

Seriously it isnt a coincedence they are short staffed. can't you get something else? All your loyalty is misguided honestly they are treating you like shit and your self esteem is low as a result

[Vintagecrap]

Generally theu treat us quite well. It's just the bullying thing within my team which is fairly recent.

We are short staff and over worked though. Same as many places and yes people have left because of it.

[tobysmum77]

so in that case they would surely understand that you are ill?

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Well I wouldn't have liked to be served by someone who is ill as I catch every germ going but I wouldn't have been rude to you either. Fucking Cuntstomers I sure as hell don't miss working with the public.

Feel better soon and start looking for another job. That said you're right about everywhere being the same and sometimes it's better the devil you know.

[tobysmum77]

everywhere isn't the same

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Well we are short staffed and overworked.

[googoodolly]

Ah, OP. I sympathise. Our place has been really gone downhill lately in terms of morale/team spirit. Lots of people have left and stepped down from manangement roles as a result.

Take care of yourself. If you're sick, stay home. They don't give a toss whether you're unwell or not, they just don't like being short-staffed. Call in sick tomorrow and get yourself to the GP - it sounds like you're stressed which really won't be helping the sickness situation at all. Can you get a note for stress and spend your time looking for a new job?

[Lauren83]

I don't know where you work but I work for a luxury retailer and I have never had a complaint about a member of my staff being ill, yes customers may of commented saying directly to them they sound poorly etc but people have only ever been nice, not once has anyone complained about the service due to it, and there's been plenty of lost voices etc, did anything else happen for them to complain about you?

[Vintagecrap]

I'm not sure what you are implying?

[Lauren83]

I'm asking a question? Did anything else happen to cause the complaints? As I genuinely have had non in all my years and you get 3 in one day? So I am was asking did anything else happen? I'm interested.

[Pico2]

I would consider complaining if I thought I was served by someone too ill to be at work. It wouldn't be a complaint about that member of staff, so much as that the management were keeping someone at work when they shouldn't be. It indicates poor management to not be able to cover staff sickness.