AIBU to think if you are signed off of work, you cannot go to university?

[LetsLightItUp]

Don't really want to be outing and write a full story. However, in general, if you are signed off of work, surely you can't be in university for the rest of the week?

When I was at uni, I also had a job I did 30 hours per week. It was my second degree, so I didn't get funding and needed the money, but it was difficult to manage everything.
I was working really hard with little time for rest, but managing ok. Then my young brother was diagnosed with cancer and I started having panic attacks out of nowhere.
Doctor signed me off work for a couple of weeks. I still went to uni. It would have stressed me out more to miss it. Uni is different: you can set your own pace and you can choose to head home if you wish.

Gallstone pain, does come on suddenly, without warning, and is incredibly painful. Uni may be less hours, easier to leave if the pain started, is he/she needing to attend important lectures if they can possibly do so etc.

What do you think the person should do why they are signed off then OP, stay in bed at home until surgery?

Perhaps try to show some compassion OP. Not something worth getting worked up about.

I think the only issue is the consequences to others.

If person is being paid for not turning up - therefore employer paying - that's wrong.
If colleagues are having to do the person's work and are suffering additional stress etc - that's wrong
If government is paying benefits when person not in real need- that's not right either.
If person has just reduced their workload, (freelancer etc) that is of course fine.

Most object to unfairness in society. It has to be seen to be fair - so as long as others don't perceive detriment to themselves or unfair advantage to others - it doesn't matter.
As pps have said whether it is possible or not it depends on nature of work and study.

Ok so YABU then OP. I think uni is more possible than work.

DH was told yesterday by a specialist that even if he does end up signed off due to hip issues he must absolutely keep running a few times a week. It’s definitely not always cut and dry

YANBU- what a coincidence! No problems attending Univeristy but can’t make it to work.

Before my gallbladder was removed the attacks I had were unbearable and, in the throes, I was rendered incapable of doing anything - be that work or studying, or anything else except trying to breathe and get comfortable (between bouts of throwing up) for the duration.

However …. it's unkind and, depending on circumstances, rather ridiculous to compare the two situations. It may well be that uni is closer to home than work is meaning you can get back to a place of privacy and comfort sooner. At uni, you can almost always excuse yourself without having to justify it, you'd just go, whereas in many work environments there are a lot more hoops to jump through, more potential for leaving colleagues in the lurch, far more likelihood of people judging how 'ill' you look and so on. I'd have thought that, with a medical certificate, most workplaces would far rather deal with the certainty of someone being signed off sick - so they can make contingency plans accordingly - than cope with the ad hoc disruption of someone who's liable to disappear at any moment. Uni costs being what they are I can understand why someone with a dodgy gallbladder would nonetheless risk going in with fingers crossed they're not going to get an attack that day, particularly if they're at a crucial stage of their course … if it were possible to suspend uni until you were well, without any detriment to learning or cost, I suspect most would choose that option. Just as they're entitled to do so at work.

lectures may only amount to 4 hours a week spread out & they may only have 1 or 2 hours of seminars on top - these may be spread out over several days - you sit still in lectures & if pain suddenly comes on you can always walk out. If you miss a lecture/seminar it is very hard to catch up . Most jobs require consistent work over several hours & some degree of movement. If you miss a lecture/seminar it could affect your whole university course & what if it is a exam or information about course work?

No it’s totally different.
Work has a lot more limitations whereas uni is,
A) much shorter sections 1 class lasts between 1-2 hours.
B) much less effort most classes you just sit and listen to the slides being read/ are in a classroom environment.
C) you have total autonomy - struggling a bit? Fine go home - no one minds or really cares so much less pressure than work.

I work full time in an office (flexible hours) and study full time at uni (approx 6 hours per week). There are illnesses/ situations in which I’d be fine for uni but not work. (It’s not happened yet but I know it could).

They just require very different levels of input from me.

I totally agree with most of the above - it really depends on the circumstances and ability to do either - plus if the person has been signed off (by a doctor) then I'd assume the conversation has been had and a decision has been made - why would you be concerned (or irritated maybe) by this?

I get a slight sense of Jealousy...?? Personally, I wouldn't be jealous of somebody suffering gallstones - it sounds horrendous - and you can just walk out of Uni (with no consequences) if the pain becomes too much - not so with paid employment.

I have a job and uni and placement.

I've been too ill to do a long shift (anemia fainting, nausea) but been fine sitting through lectures.

Depends on if the job is a physical one that could aggravate the condition.

Although I'm quite cynical about it working in HR. I see people constantly taking the piss with time off sick, but well enough to do a number of other activities but not work.

To add, there are arguably some conditions where diagnosis depends heavily upon what the patient tells the doctor, and the doctor must therefore decide to trust, or not, that they are hearing the truth. Not so with gallbladder issues … it's not something you can fake because you're diagnosed after scans and hospital consultations. In spite of already diagnosing myself thanks to Dr Google, I didn't get a formal diagnosis for several months due to waiting times, cancelled appointments etc. My operation took place over a year after I first went to my GP. If someone is awaiting surgery fact is they WILL have been properly diagnosed with a genuine medical issue and there's no chance they'll be swinging the lead.

I tend to agree with the others on here.

Uni work is totally different, there aren't expectation about getting something 'done', you have many breaks, not having to do anything physical, being able to remove yourself from a situation as and when you need to.
Going to a job 9-5 every day is a totally different thing.

@SandyY2K - and you work in HR? I have to say I'm cynical about somebody having the title of working in 'Human Resources' where the term 'taking the piss' is used in terms of an employees health related issues......as long as the correct working guidelines/procedures are followed maybe a bit more compassion??

I know someone who was fired for this. It was public sector so she was on full pay and off sick with 'stress'. Not too stressed to go to university though.

@2cats2many - Perhaps going to university was helping with her stress related issues!? Some people (me!) find studying/reading therapeutic!?

I think the "what can you do if you are off work sick?" question is one that could really do with clarification. I'm a lecturer, and was off for a couple of days with a really lousy cold/chest infection last year. There was no way I could have stood up and talked to students for hours on end, but I did nip to Tesco to get medicine on one of the days I was off. I was so paranoid about being spotted and getting into trouble (or someone starting a thread on Mumsnet about me), despite the fact I looked like grim death. On the flip side, I have seen colleagues who are off sick cruising round Debenhams on a weekday afternoon.

I would say it would be unusual to be signed off the whole time you are waiting to have your gallstones out, unless they were causing continuous pain such that would mean you would struggle to attend university.

Yabu.

I work in a frontline role and broke my arm. I was signed off work as unable to do my job at the time. My boss gave me his blessing to go on my two uni days that I needed to attend that month.

There are lots of situations when it is not appropriate to be at work but going to uni (or out to the pub for a drink) is acceptable.

If the employer has any concerns, then they should ask the employee to have a meeting with Occ Health (they can hire an independent medical professional if needed) to assess and then take further action from there.

@Tadda

People do take the piss. I know it and I've seen it. Just because you wouldn't do it.....doesnt mean others don't.

Off sick with a back pain, then they go horse riding. Over the years I've so much of it.

I remember someone off sick for months and in a review meeting when I said we'd be progressing to the next stage, which could put her employment at risk...the next day she was fit and healthy to return.

Prior to that it was a further 2 months sick cert.

Or the employee who opened and was running burger bar business was while signed off sick.

Above details changed so as not to be identified...but there's so many more cases I've come across, where sickness isn't genuine.

Surprisingly we (in HR) often have sick person's colleague sending screen shots from FB of them out having a blast, or doing some physical activity, which is a t odds with their reason for being off sick

I had my gall bladder removed, I was signed off work for a month. They were fine about it.
They were not so good when I was taking days off here and there. I did my best to get to work but sometimes I was up all night in absolute agony. It comes and goes, I’m sure this person could come in some of the time. Mine was also near bursting when they actually took it out. But it really is horrible to deal with!

If you’ve been signed off for gallstones it’s serious. No GP is going to make that up. It’s very possible that this person is going to uni against medical advice & your employer would definitely not want her to come to work.