to think being certified off work sick doesn't mean you can't leave the house

[Swansandducks]

A colleague has been out of work on a cert for the past two weeks. Someone saw her yesterday apparently collecting her niece from a ballet class and is now going around saying our colleague is 'throwing a sickie'.

AIBU to find this annoying? The woman in question has had a very bad chest infection and is due back in work on Monday. Surely it is normal that on the last few days of her illness she is capable of going out and about for an hour or two a day, which is very different to facing a long commute and a full day at work?

What I'm trying to say is that sometimes people might use the excuse of a physical illness when really they're struggling mentally.
I don't think people who are happy at work and are in the whole of their health generally just pull a sickie. Whether it's physical or not, she's clearly not well enough to go to work, so yes, your fellow employees are being dicks.

Unless you are privy to that person's medical records or are able to sit in on medical appointments or are a fully qualified GP or specialist able to examine the patient, then none of us can truly know the extent of someone else's illness or how it affects them. I would suggest that this is pointed out to your colleague who is questioning the sick leave. It sounds as if your colleague is the type to throw 'sickies' and then goes off to have fun and is therefore judging everyone else by their own standards. Some illnesses are episodic. Some illnesses are chronic. Some illnesses require more than a couple of days in bed to recover from. That short errand might have wiped your other colleague out for the day. It may have been the first time they have been out in days. You just don't know and neither does your colleague who is stirring. You have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes etc...

What do people have do to prove themselves anyway and to get the benefit if the doubt?

If they have firm for piss taking why are they still there? If their references were shit and face book search proved to be very telling then why hire them in the first place?

Either you trust your staff , they do a good job and don't appear to be a cause for concern 're their previous illness record or you don't. And if u don't then get rid.

My colleague is off sick with stress and has gone to Tenerife. It makes me so angry as I am covering all her work while she is being paid to take a holiday. Yes, it will make her less stressed but it's not the point.

A holiday is exactly what you need when you're stressed.

I went back in at 'half power' a couple of weeks ago. I made it clear to a couple of colleagues that I wasn't fully capable of the work, and would be there for a shorter amount of time. Since I'm senior, this was accepted perfectly well.

Only the really thick think that there's two states - well, and unwell - and naught inbetween.

That not her fault though is it? Management jeed to sort u a temp or something.

Stress has physical.manifestations. so what if she is on holiday. Nice weather makes u feel better and being away from work will help her. What's the problem.

My colleague is off sick with stress and has gone to Tenerife. It makes me so angry as I am covering all her work while she is being paid to take a holiday. Yes, it will make her less stressed but it's not the point.

Umm, surely that is the point? You sound like you've never suffered from stress and all the physical and psychological symptoms that come with it.

What a bloody awful attitude some people have. A small handful of people take the piss at work and everyone is tarred with that brush.
I was off with work related stress. I felt very bad being off but obviously wasn't going to be staying in for that length of time. Its been sorted out [new place of work] and I could count on my one hand how many times I have been off sick. That's in 5 years.

However I do know that there are some people like someone I know that is off with a sore back and has been seen out shopping. So yes, some do but I suppose it depends upon what you are off sick with.

And as for the Teneriffe jibe - the person was off with stress. Getting away from it all is what some people need.

Has anyone thought that this immense worry about management lack of ability to deal witg things like sickness and holidays is what's making people not take time off when they need to for illness and resulting in a these people getting stressed and or even sicker?

Angry at the wrong people here.

And of day we could all he hit by a bus tomorrow And require a 2 week hospital stay they would have to cope. So all this putting it on other staff to solve the problem is lazy and selfish

It makes me so angry as I am covering all her work while she is being paid to take a holiday

That isn't her fault. Blame your managers. Its their fault with their poor management.

I only get annoyed if I have to cover or pick up the slack. But I do think a lot of people take the piss in this regard.

When I'm off with my MS I have been out with colleagues and am always in coffee shops. It's quite clear to them that I can get out but can't work a 12 hour shift.

Has anyone thought that this immense worry about management lack of ability to deal witg things like sickness and holidays is what's making people not take time off when they need to for illness and resulting in a these people getting stressed and or even sicker?

Totally agree. Especially in teaching.

YANBU - being sick does not mean completly bed bound. A nasty infection can mean you are too tired and run down to do a full day's work, but could pop to the shops. TBH there are a lot of conditions and sicknesses which means you can appear okay for a short period of time and then need to rest for a day or so.

My dad (retired now, but he retired early due to medical issues) looks fairly healthy for a 60-something. But he has heart failure, is missing half a lung due to cancer in his early 50s and has arthritis. He may be okay (some days) walking around the supermarket for 20 minutes. And someone who saw him might think all was well, but he'll suffer for it later. Extreme example I know, but you. An be sick and not look it.

What a bloody awful attitude some people have.
However I do know that there are some people like someone I know that is off with a sore back and has been seen out shopping.

In the nicest possible way, you also seem to be judging! I went shopping when I had a bad back because lying in bed wasn't helping and they recommend moving. An hour in the shops is not the same as a full day of work, especially when you have a dynamic job where you have to be "on" like I do. Btw, I'm self-employed so I wasn't screwing anyone over but myself!

@thatmustbenigel and @Flynneshine Do you have ANY idea about mental health issues at all or are you just blinded by your obvious resentment? GP's will often advise people with stress to get away for a bit. It helps enormously. Do you really expect people to stay in the whole time?

If she can pick her niece from dance class she can go to work I agree she’s taking the piss.

Well that tells us exactly how much effort you put in at work, Snappedandfarted. Ie naff all.

Some of us expect to actually work when we reach the workplace.

I was off for many many months with work related stress. My manager would ring me after 6 in the evening so 'see how I was and when I'd be back'. Any contact with work gave me a knot in my stomach and made me puke (literally). I was crying most days and crying after any contact from work. They kept at me and at me. My lovely boyfriend at the time brought me and my daughter to Portugal for a week. HR rang me while there and further stressed me out. They sent me to their doctor. Doctor showed me what they had said about me. I initiated a grievance process with the company. They eventually offered me voluntary redundancy. Cheaper than the pay out they would have had to give me but I took it just to escape them. The stress was horrendous. I was on sleeping pills and antidepressants. I felt so free after accepting the redundancy. They were the worst shower of bastards I've ever worked for. They've since closed down in the oil crash. You cannot comprehend the stress and illness that can ensue from work related stress. Popping pills constantly to try to ease the stress. It was a horrible period of my life.

However I do know that there are some people like someone I know that is off with a sore back and has been seen out shopping.

Came on here to agree with @HouseOnTheLake. I have a bad back and when I'm having an episode of back pain, walking is the single best thing I can do to recover. Sitting at my desk doing my job is one of the worst.

A chest infection is so debilitating and taking care of yourself is essential i.e. you would definitely need time of work, even when - god forbid - you’re on the mend - going back to work too quickly could set you back again drastically. I can not stand this attitude of “well...if they can actually go outside then they are obviously capable of doing a full days work”. I do wonder if the individuals who preach this have ever been ill in there lives...or if they are, have no concern about infecting others.

Polarbear ditto!
I am off work with a broken ankle. I have had the plaster off and am learning to walk again. Since my accident, which was done on a school trip, so work related injury, [ice skating!] I have been to lunch, many coffee shop trips. I cannot drive so have been relying on others. I couldn't weight bear for 5 weeks so unable to work in the school. I have helped out by marking books etc and helping with resources.
I am going to Bruges on Monday for half term - which was booked before my accident. I am due to go back to work after half term but will need to take it easy when I am there.
There was no way I could gave stayed home all day every day. I have had fab friends, family and colleagues who came and cheered me up.
I am sure mental health is important after such an accident.

Its a medical decision that a person is not fit to WORK. Its nether here nor there if they go on holiday or collect a child from somewhere

@houseonthelake I agree, it does sound judgy but their is history so its more than that. On the surface it did sound like that and totally get what you are saying but i have been off and not been housebound and would be horrified it someone thought that of me so apologies!