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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to go to work tomorrow

61 replies

LEMtheoriginal · 17/08/2017 23:22

I have got some sort of tummy bug. This is day 2 and no improvement really.

Had to bolt to the toilet at work yesterday during a meeting. I had told my line manager I had been sick already and did she want me to go home. But we were short staffed and it was "if you absolutely must" sort of comments. Weird because I'd assume vomiting = go home and don't spread the lurgy. But I managed until 3 doing a sitting down job but had to leave when puked so much I wet myself.

Today was my day off but I'm still sick. I think maybe food poisoning. No more vomiting but diarreaoh that is now just liquid and I feel terrible. So much for 24hr bug.

I really can't face work tomorrow but we have been taken over by a corporate and they are strict on absence. There has to be a back to work interview and I'm worried I won't be believed as sickness bugs are usually 24hour. They are scathing about people having time off sick and you are generally expected to soldier on but I really feel awful.

OP posts:
ForalltheSaints · 18/08/2017 06:52

Seek a doctor's appointment if you can get one.

Original poster
LEMtheoriginal · 18/08/2017 07:02

Whatever for? I have a) food poisoning b) a virus. Can't see the gain in taking up an appointment.

OP posts:
parrotseatemall · 18/08/2017 07:28

I don't know about your workplace but a lot around here like to see a doctor's certificate for sick leave. That may be why the suggestion.

Original poster
LEMtheoriginal · 18/08/2017 07:32

My gp won't provide one. It's self certification up to a certain number of days.

That might explain why you can never get an appointment though.

OP posts:
Agnus86 · 18/08/2017 07:34

Maybe book docs as proof but then this could start arguement its wasting docs time. My work are strict but fair. Hope you feel betyer soon x

lougle · 18/08/2017 07:37

You don't need a doctor's appointment. You do need to be sensible and accept that you shouldn't be going to work today, then be brave and make that phonecall. Once it's done, the anxiety will subside and you'll be able to put it into perspective. 📲

Papafran · 18/08/2017 07:43

Seek a doctor's appointment if you can get one

No, no, no, no Forall. That's not good advice. The NHS tells you NOT to go to the GP unless you have complications or it lasts for more than a week. There will be elderly and sick people in the surgery and you risk spreading your bug. There isn't anything they can do anyway apart from tell you to rest and take fluid. You can also take some over the counter diarrhea tablets. But don't go to the GP.

ethelfleda · 18/08/2017 07:44

Ahhh sounds awful and I hope you feel better soon!
Don't go in to work - you're ill. You need to rest to get better.
Plus, if it is contagious your colleagues won't thank you for it. What if any of your colleagues (or their immediate families) have impaired immune systems for whatever reason? They'll end up much worse than you are now.

I'm currently pregnant and a colleague came in to work with norovirus a few weeks ago I wasn't pleased... but luckily I didn't catch it!

CurbsideProphet · 18/08/2017 07:49

Please stay home. I'm being selfish and thinking about myself really, but I have a health condition that means sickness/tummy bugs can be serious. In a previous job I became unwell after several members of staff came in with various tummy bugs. I was off work for two weeks and the employer was so cross with me.

PacificDogwod · 18/08/2017 07:50

48 hrs symptom free is right.

Do stay at home even if you have no overt D+V today - you'll be weak and washed out anyway and may well still be shedding whatever bug made you ill in the first place.

Self-certification is required for 7 days.

Your chemist can give you some Dioralyte and Imodium if you still have diarrhoea (I'd get the generic equivalents).

Your sickness leave seems exceptionally ungenerous Hmm

Hope you feel better soon Thanks

Ankleswingers · 18/08/2017 07:55

Please- stay home. Surely common sense prevails.

You are unwell with sickness and diarrhoea.

You stay home 48 hours hours from
When you were last unwell.

This is why these bugs spread like wildfire.

Imbeingunreasonable · 18/08/2017 08:00

I would ring the docs and try to get a sick note. If there's any repercussions from your employment you have proof of a valid illness.

Imbeingunreasonable · 18/08/2017 08:02

Not sure if it's been mentioned but when a preschooler has sickness and diarrhoea, they aren't allowed back into a childcare setting until 48hours after the last case of vomiting of diarrhoea. I'm sure it would be the same for work. Don't go in.

Imbeingunreasonable · 18/08/2017 08:02

Oops it's been mentioned- ankleswingers has it right

TrinityTaylor · 18/08/2017 08:05

I threw up twice at work this one morning this week and my boss was like "if you absolutely must then go" whilst I sat there sweating with bloodshot eyes from vomiting. It's like they just can't bring themselves to be sympathetic. I was admitted to hospital last year and her reply to my text telling her was "will you be back Monday"? Ffs 😂

PacificDogwod · 18/08/2017 08:05

I would ring the docs and try to get a sick note. If there's any repercussions from your employment you have proof of a valid illness.

By law, a self-certificate is sufficient for the first 7 calendar days of illness.
Before that a private note may be issued, at a cost to the patient.

On a medical certificate the signing doctor confirms that they have 'assessed' the patient and that they are medically unfit to work.
Please do not ring for sicklines when no doctor has seen you (and there is not A+E or hospital letter).
A medical certificate is a legal document and there are rules attached to how it is issues.

If a place of work has a problem with an employees sickness absence, they can request a report from the GP (with the patient's consent).

PacificDogwod · 18/08/2017 08:07

This is why these bugs spread like wildfire.

True.
They also spread because most people will be infections days before they actually become unwell, so often things are passed on quite innocently (chickenpox is a prime example - most infectious about 5 days before the rash breaks out).

Bugs are bastards Grin

TrinityTaylor · 18/08/2017 08:09

@curbsideprophet I always think of people like you when I'm Ill, mentioned it once when my dd had a terrible bug I was sure I would get "should I stay off for the next couple of days so I don't bring it in"? My boss literally laughed. It's like anything she hasn't directly experienced is not valid!

StickThatInYourPipe · 18/08/2017 08:11

Hi OP I work for a company a bit like this. Don't go in - you will likely be judged on instances and not how long those instances last (obviously without gojng over into needing a sick note etc)

If you go in today and then off sick tomorrow because you stretched yourself, this will count as two instances but if you stay off today and tomorrow it will only count as one.

I hope you feel better soon

StickThatInYourPipe · 18/08/2017 08:14

Sorry OP judged probably was not the word I was looking for there, more like monitored.

Original poster
LEMtheoriginal · 18/08/2017 08:19

Arrrgghh I have 15 minutes - tummy rumbling like a drain but otherwise not to bad. Showered but still laying die. Not vomited since Wed night but did last night today who knows. Heeelllp

OP posts:
Original poster
LEMtheoriginal · 18/08/2017 08:20

Diarreaoh

OP posts:
frostyfingers · 18/08/2017 08:21

Ring the surgery maybe, not for an appointment but to confirm the 48 hour rule then you can ring work and say you're taking the doctor's advice and staying home. Poor you, hope you feel better soon.

Ollivander84 · 18/08/2017 08:21

You would be daft to go in. Stay off

MiraiDevant · 18/08/2017 08:23

Stay home. Get well. This is clear cut if you are so unwell.

Sympathy is neither here nor there. Many people would "expect" sympathy for themselves yet complain if their on-line shop was delivered late /hair appointment was cancelled/childminder closed for a day/ train was delayed.

Companies should put things in place to cover sickness but it isn't always possible without putting up prices for it - and people won't pay

If you are freelance/ zero hours you are likely to lose money if you are sick.