WIBU to take time off sick this week?

[redhatnoknickers]

I'm just coming to the end of 10 days annual leave and have been ill for the last 4 with what I am sure is flu, not a cold. Won't bore you with symptoms but even a shower is exhausting and I've barely moved since being ill. I work with elderly people and am scheduled to work all week, including 9 hours on Boxing Day, doing shifts from very early to very late. This is my first year in the job and I'm worried that if I take any time off sick I won't be believed as it's Christmas week and I have young children, someone else would have to cover (which I would feel guilty about), and the sickness policy at work will involve a a return to work interview with HR where I will need clear evidence of illness. I'm not sure that my GP will be best pleased if I waste their time this week asking for a sick note when they are likely to be busy and appointments are like gold dust at the best of times. On the other hand I feel genuinely ill and don't want to give this to my clients. WIBU to take time off or should I try and keep going?

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Your manager sounds like a dick. And so typical they conveniently forget all the extra shifts you've done and that you've covered other colleagues shifts when needed. Well time for them to cover some of yours whilst you're ill.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, not just so's you can rush back to work but just cos being ill is shite

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I would be looking for a new job once better

[Fuckmath]

Your colleague sound an arse. at comparing you to someone being in with pneumonia. Really? when I had pneumonia I have never felt so ill in my life, was completely incapacitated and was on a drip for about 3 weeks. So I don't think the person in work with "pneumonia" actually had pneumonia. They would not be able to work.

I don't think you have done anything wrong or should be made to feel guilty.

[Ujjayi]

Sounds like your manager will try any method to apply pressure on you to return. OP you are unwell. I would be fuming if my elderly relative became sick because staff are forced to work when ill.

At the very least, you should be off for a further 24 hours since you only stopped vomiting yesterday.

You have a good attendance record so the manager can strop all they like. You are too sick to work.

When you feel able, I recommend buying some Floradix. It's an iron-rich tonic & will help strengthen your immune system.

[Namechangeyetagaintohide]

Your boss cannot enforce that.

Also I hope you asked what senior management would be made aware of ? That you are sick so took the day off sick ?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Your manager is being out of order and cannot force you to get a sick note before you have self certified for 5 days.

[naty1]

Try to sleep as much as poss. Nightnurse is great as it knocks you out.

[redhatnoknickers]

Thank you MrsItsNow. I have taken today off as I still feel unwell, though no longer vomiting thank goodness. Still got a temp but not so high, exhausted, coughing, joint pains etc etc. My manager was less than sympathetic saying "well (colleague) has pneumonia and she's still working" and let me know that senior management would be 'made aware'. I have an excellent sickness record and do a lot of extra shifts and cover for others so I'm not too worried but I do feel under pressure and am certainly expected to work tomorrow. GP wasn't too helpful and said there was no need to come in as it sounded like flu and I should be able to self certificate but my manager says no more leave without a sicknote. Just hoping to dose up and be well for tomorrow. Thank you for your help everyone.

[thedevilinside]

People seem to have forgotten about Swine Flu. It is often milder than normal flu and can cause D & V. www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2892.aspx?CategoryID=5&SubCategoryID=5

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

The more salient point here is people shouldn't nitpick at people who are ill

[IsabeauMichelle]

I think the point was that if you genuinely have flu, you certainly wouldn't want to be on here.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

And you can't compare posting on here whilst ill to working whilst ill. Well you can but it's just daft.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

How you feeling today op? Bit better I hope xx

I think when you've been ill and feeling like utter dog shit for a few days you start wondering if you're ever gonna feel well again and start making contingency plans in case you don't. It's common sense to think what you're going to do about going into work and the impact it will have if you don't.

Yes you're colleagues will have to step up but that can't be helped. Shit happens and they'll have to deal with it. Not like you want to be ill over Christmas is it.

[FrogIsATwatInASantaHat]

I had sepsis in the summer and still managed to MN

[EustaciaBenson]

Op if you have the flu and work with elderly people you should not go in. If you rush back when you are still ill you may end up feeling worse. How about calling in sick tomorrow when it might be easier to get cover and explain that you would prefer to call in sick now than risk being ill still on boxing day when cover is harder to get. You dont need a sick note, and the last time I had flu and asked for one the dr refused as I hadnt been off 5 days, although you might get one if you explain you were already ill last week.

If you have d and v have you been trying to drink some of the electrolyte things, being low on them can make you feel more ill than you should be

According to the nhs website you are usually infectious for 5-6 days after catching the flu, as you have only had it four days you may still pass it on. Old people are more likely to end up with chest complications from flu, I think the people urging you to go in are wrong in your case.

[wobblyweebles]

See your GP. They can help you decide if you're well enough to work or not. That's part of their job.

[wobblyweebles]

See your GP. They can help you decide if you're well enough to work or not. That's part of their job.

[Saz12]

If you're not in a fit state to go to work then you can't go. With luck you'll be recovered by Christmas day, and it's surely much easier to get cover for 22 /23 /24 than for The Day itself?

It's pretty unlikely that you'll be ill on 25th anyway - you've be unwell for 4 days, you've another 3 days to go, so you should be well over the worst by then.

IMO it's not a dilemma -if you're well enough to go to work, then go, if you're genuinely not, then don't.

[Lomega]

hope you feel better soon OP, genuine flu is awful!

I would go to the Dr if you still feel ill, at least then if work question your absence you'll have taken all the right steps. Whenever I take time off work for illness I go to my GP (or phone them for advice if it's a stomach bug to avoid infecting other people!)

[Babyroobs]

I think another problem ( well it is on my ward) is that people who will normally do extra shifts at short notice to cover sick colleauges won't do this at Christmas time. Last week I worked 30+ extra hours to cover colleuges off sick, but certainly won't be next week as I need to spend much needed time with my family and am already working Boxing dayand the weekend after xmas.

[MammaTJ]

I wasn't having a dig, I was genuinely interested. Turns out the OP didn't know she should/could have the flu jab! My GP surgery does mine but afterwards I found I could have it done on placement. I will next year (on placement in GP surgery then).

[Mandatorymongoose]

My GP is the same and I missed our flu clinics because I was in uni rather than placement (now on a ward full of lurgy both from staff and clients and have a bloody awful cough).

OP if you're not well don't go in, it won't do anyone any good.

I think the big problem with Christmas is that people who would normally drag themselves in if their legs fell off suddenly decide that they probably need a week off for a headache. While they might be unwell, it's not something that would normally need time off. Flu should always require time off though.

We've already had a few people phone in sick this week.

[Redglitter]

That seems madness them not giving the flu jab for work reasons if you work with vulnerable people. I can understand if it's just cos someone doesn't want to be off work but for someone in the OPs situation that seems crazy.

[Babyroobs]

I work in a healthcare setting and the problem is that those who ring in sick all the time ( and at Christmas) when everyone knows they are not genuinely sick make it very difficult for those who are genuinely sick. Op if your sick record is good and you genuinely feel too ill to work then ring in sick. In my workplace , the usual ones who ring in sick a couple of days a month every month are already ringing in sick for Christmas, the same ones who ring in sick whenever they are rostered on duty on a friday nightshift/ need more time to prepare for their holidays / need to look after their grandkids etc.

[Married2012]

Also work with the elderly, we currently have a v&d virus there & it really would be kinder to stay home if you are that ill, IMO. I'd be contacting GP & employer to warn them that I was ill & would be back as soon as I was able but they may need to cover shifts & leave it up to them to decide how they want to act