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?

[greenbananas]

redhat, I haven't read the whole thread, only your posts. sounds to me like you are now admitting being really ill and taking the appropriate steps?

If your honest-to-goodness conscience says you are truly ill, then you should not be infecting elderly and vulnerable people. the culture is not your problem. If your managers don't like it, then they are to blame, not you.

I provide breastfeeding support one day a week in a health visitor clinic. I am well trained, but I am a volunteer. If I or my accompanying toddler are poorly, I ring and say I can't come. okay, so there are loads of mums who need support, but they won't appreciate me giving their tiny babies a cold or possible chest infection.

This is all about the service users, yes?

hope you feel better soon

[NCIS]

I vomit immediately after taking paracetamol, that is also quite common, it's one of the reasons we give paracetamol IV sometimes in pre hospital care. Most workplaces with vulnerable people will operate the 48 rule regardless as they are never sure of the cause of vomiting so are better safe than sorry although I'd like to think they would regard flu like symptoms as unfit for work due to the risk to the clients.

[Redglitter]

Why can't you get your flu jab from your doctor?

[NCIS]

Our GP's won't give you the flu jab for work reasons,only if you fit the vulnerable person criteria.

[naty1]

No nurofen either ncis?

[NCIS]

Any tablet would come straight back up again normally, I could sometimes get away with it if I laid absolutely still for at least half an hour afterwards.
Actually Nurofen should not be taken on an empty stomach anyway but I have tried it to no avail.

[Mulderandskully]

It's too late now for the flu jab
But for next year OP it's not very expensive in asda, tesco etc. My GP won't do them for work reasons either

[TheFairyCaravan]

I wouldn't go to work with those symptoms. It's unfortunate that it's Christmas week that you're ill, but not your fault. It would be irresponsible to go in to the home of a vulnerable old person whilst unwell.

It is quite common to vomit or have an upset stomach with the 'flu. Hope you get better soon.

[naty1]

Mulder do you mean because op is already ill? Or its not available still this yr?
As theres a good chance its not the flu of the yr but the jab might protect against one later in the yr.
but as op hasnt had it no chance of protection.
If it was the flu of the yr then the vilnerable people would hopefully have had jab. Though i understand a lot dont take it up.
Ncis i used soluble paracetamol when i had gf, though i think the taste would make it even more likely to gag.
I did think that with nurofen (but if it wasnt norovirus then i wouldnt assume empty stomach as you can eat relatively with flu.)
Glad i dont have that when i get a temp as im a bit emitophobic (sp). Not even in pg and only once from drinking.
I would be resorting to cold flannels. Especially as i get a temp with every cold.

[HollyJollyDillydolly]

I know when I'm coming down with tonsillitis as I vomit first, before my throat even becomes sore. I'm not sure why, it's happened since I was about 8 and I'm 33 now.

If it's likely you have some sort of contagious virus due to your job it's best to stay off. Elderly can get very poorly. Hope you feel better soon.

[Mummybashy3111]

I've just been off work for 2 weeks with the flu! My ds had it the first week and the person who cares for him had actually given it to him and was to unwell to care for him the first week and surprise surprise I got it the second week. I'm also pregnant and work long hours also with elderly. I would not be going into work if you think you have something you could possibly pass on. It really really annoys me that people think you should go in when in such a state. Not to mention how appreciative they would be if they got it!! Who cares what people think if you're ill there is nothing you can do about it apart from get better. You will only make yourself worse by forcing yourself up if you are genuinely ill and you can always make it up to people that have to cover when you go back. Oh and just for the record we both had the flu jab but still go it.

[Hedgehogparty]

I work in healthcare and have had 2 days off sick over the last two weeks.
Don't know if I'm believed or not but combination of asthma and chest infection leaves me exhausted.seems like most people I know have had coughs colds or infections - is it particularly bad year?

[Mulderandskully]

Yes I just meant she's ill now so flu jab reprimanding doesn't really help

[Smartleatherbag]

If you are ill, stay off. Crikey there's some heartless, suspicious bastards on this thread!! Covering sick leave is a pain but it's part of working life. I'm happy to cover my ill colleagues and they are good enough to reciprocate. As a result we have a very low absence rate as we keep our germs to ourselves!

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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).

[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.

[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!)

[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.

[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.

[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.