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AIBU?

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Original poster

To send this email to work?

84 replies

Pleasehelpaicknessss · 02/08/2017 08:40

"I am emailing to let you know that unfortunately I am feeling very unwell, after coming down with food poisoning symptoms late ast night. I am currently trying to book a doctor's appointment for later this morning and will do my best to come in later today if things improve at all; in the meantime, I am happy to work from home"

OP posts:
IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 02/08/2017 08:53

If you're sick you're sick, don't offer to work from home-it's fine to have the day off sick if you genuinely are but for the love of god don't go to the doctors...if its food poisoning then there's nothing they can do and if it's not then you'll pass on whatever bug you've got to god knows how many people. Doctors is totally unnecessary

redfairy · 02/08/2017 08:53

Most places I have worked insist in phoning in not email. I wouldn't be offering to work from home either. You're either sick...or you're not.
Hope you feel better soon.Flowers

coddiwomple · 02/08/2017 08:53

What's your company policy? Why can't you call?

I would send an email at work, but only if I email at 4am "sorry, not well / kids unwell, won't be in today", but I don't have to justify my ins and out at work. If I am up anyway, I would just call.

I dislike the "unwell working from home" too. If you work on a specific project, or have a specific task, then fine to do it asap if you can and forward, but if you can do your full working day then you should be in the office.

I am not sure what I would think about your email, it really depends how you are at work.

FrogsSitonLogs · 02/08/2017 08:53

Why would you see a doctor with food poisoning? They can't do anything.

Emmageddon · 02/08/2017 08:54

Get well soon Flowers
Food poisoning is horrid.

Phone in, don't email, and don't offer to work from home.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 02/08/2017 08:56

For goodness sake give them the courtesy of calling them. An email saying you are going to be off sick just makes you look like you are pulling a fast one. Also unless you are absolutely convinced it is food poisoning just say you have a stomach bug. Food poisoning is another alarm bell for people pulling a fast one, true food poisoning is rare.

Trollspoopglitter · 02/08/2017 08:57

I hate people who are sick but come into work spreading their bloody germs... There is definitely a category of "ill but can still concentrate on work and sit in front of laptop for few hours at a time" and that's the "ill and working from home" lot.

Not all food poisoning is severe, so it's ridiculous to suggest it can't be food poisoning because OP isn't parked on the toilet the entire time.

Lottie987 · 02/08/2017 08:58

Why on earth would you not phone and speak to your manager ? No body likes calling in sick, if they employ you they deserve an actual phone call. Email would not be acceptable where I work.

Sparklingbrook · 02/08/2017 08:59

There's too much information in the email. The working from home/coming in implies you might not be as ill as you say. If you really had food poisoning you would be struggling to even write the email.

Just ring them.

simon50 · 02/08/2017 08:59

I would phone and say stomach bug that way they won't want you spreading it round the office.

happymumof4crazykids · 02/08/2017 09:00

Phone in and explain and don't go to the drs there is nothing they can do or will do for a stomach bug. You are just possibly infecting others if you do Confused

RandomDent · 02/08/2017 09:01

Ring. "D&V sorry, see you Monday". That's all. (I'm a manager)

Ameliablue · 02/08/2017 09:01

I'd phone rather than email. Don't offer to work from home, if you are feeling ill you probably won't do a good job. Don't offer to come in later, if you have diarrhea or vomiting you ought to stay off for at least 24 hours and preferably 48.

Namechangearoo · 02/08/2017 09:02

If I was your boss I'd be unimpressed with that email. If you're sick enough to stay home, you're too sick to work from home.

In addition - if you really had food poisoning, you wouldn't be fit for anything. It sounds like you (I'm sure unintentionally) are exaggerating.

When I had proper food poisoning I was confined to the floor of the bathroom with a pillow and a blanket for 3 days straight. It's really not the same as just throwing up a few times and having diarrhoea.

Besides, if you have D&V then you shouldn't be hurrying back in either - wait 24 hours after your last episode.

c3pu · 02/08/2017 09:03

My workplace is happy to accept emails for sickness/absence, but if you're in any doubt just phone in.

Namechangearoo · 02/08/2017 09:03

(Also, as happymum says, there is no need to go to your GP for that unless it's already lasted days - you might end up passing it to someone vulnerable).

caffeinestream · 02/08/2017 09:03

Calling when there is no sick pay is ridiculous though.

Why? Most places don't pay sick pay, it doesn't mean you can just ignore the absence policy and not show up.

If I was off sick and either emailed in or just didn't show, I'd be given a written warning or if I was in my probationary period, probably told not to come back.

c3pu · 02/08/2017 09:05

Also, my workplace recently cut their number of sick days, and suggested working from home as an alternative if you don't feel up to coming into the office...

Basically it depends on what the policy is. If you don't know what your workplace policy is, you need to brush up ASAP.

aramintafatbottom · 02/08/2017 09:05

Id call in. You don't need a doctor's appointment for food poisoning surely? Also please don't go to work if you genuinely have food poisoning. I can't imagine why you would even consider it!

pollyhampton · 02/08/2017 09:06

I am not allowed to choose to work from home if I am ill, I have to take it as sick leave. It stops people pretending to be ill so they can have a day at home!

Chathamhouserules · 02/08/2017 09:07

Try to phone. Only email if you can't speak to your manager. Don't put so much info in the email. Don't say you'll try and see Dr it makes it sound like you're not being truthful as food poisoning doesn't require gp.

user1492287253 · 02/08/2017 09:08

ring in
say you have sick bug.
say you understand no sick pay
say you will call again tomorrow

Sleepthief84 · 02/08/2017 09:09

It depends on company policy and your relationship with your manager. As you're new, I would expect a phone call. In my previous life I ran a department and had a strict phone call only policy. I just banned emails and texts because people were taking the mick. I wouldn't have been impressed by your email.

The only exception I made was pre-arranged with a staff member who had anxiety and depression and if she had a bad day then thought of having to call in made her ten times worse. I let her text or email me, but asked her to give me a ring later in the day if she felt better/more up to it so she could let me know when to expect her back, how she was etc. But she worked for me for quite a while and she wasn't a pisstaker. She was mentally unwell and I didn't want to make things more difficult for her. A reasonable adjustment was needed in her case, I think.

Give them the courtesy of a phone call, it takes two minutes! And I agree with the others, if you're too poorly to be at work then you shouldn't be working at all. I hope you feel better soon.

rollonthesummer · 02/08/2017 09:09

Why can't you phone? We have to ring if we are unwell

GinIsIn · 02/08/2017 09:11

Don't go in, or offer to! If you've got a D&V bug then don't spread it around! You also don't need a doctor.