To have just ‘taken a day’ today?

[BasinHaircut]

I called in sick today. Not because I actually feel ill, but for reasons I can’t explain just felt like I needed a day off from life.

I have done some work so as not to have to play catch up tomorrow with emails and the like, but otherwise I’ve essentially pulled a sickie (and I feel guilty about it).

I have a husband and a 5yo son and so taking a ‘day off’ at the weekend isn’t an option IYSWIM. And I feel like there is so much to do day to day that sometimes it’s overwhelming.

Now I think about it I could have taken a day’s annual leave but this morning when I just didn’t want to engage in life I didn’t think of that, I thought a sick day was my only option.

Do I sound like I’m going bananas?

My DH who is usually the face of presenteeism took the afternoon off today and is planning on taking tomorrow off too.. He says he just wants to hang out, sleep, pick the DCs up from school, and potter around a bit..

So was he taking leave / TOIL or just throwing a sickie?

Hmm, wonder what the opinion was if the person throwing a sicky was a surgeon. Or a teacher. Or nursery staff. or the person who cleans the loos at work. Are they allowed to not show up because they don’t feel like it? I rely on these people doing their job, so i’m doing mine. Unless genuinely sick, i fullfill my work commitments and plan my leave.

no matter how much we might like to pat ourselves on the back for going 30 years without a sick day

Is this aimed at me? I have had sick days when I’ve Been Sick

No martyrdom required

Having a day off to recharge is fine, but why should the OP insist on getting paid for it?

Rag

Please explain why any worker should feel guilty if they, as you say, are off sick (real sickness).

Why should they?

This is what unpaid leave and holiday is for...

What about employees that can't take annual leave, or afford unpaid leave? My partner has set leave, and we depend on the wage...

Everyone gets 28 days leave a year if not more

FTE

Everyone gets 28 days leave a year if not more

Yes, but not everyone gets to choose when they take it.

Really struggling to understand some of the responses on here. When did taking a day off sick because you can't be bothered to get up become ok?

I’ve taken mental health days. In all honesty, sometimes it’s the only thing that’s kept me going when the SAD and anxiety kick in and the clocks go back. Ignore the naysayers OP - some people are content to be martyrs and push themselves into unreasonable states attention seek at how wonderful they are as they never stop 🤨

If their leave arrangements don’t suit them then they can look for another job

Harder to do of course when your sickness absence is made up of Days You Just Fancied Off In Addition To Your Holidays

half of the responses on here are the reason people dont speak out or ask for help when they are struggling.

you are finding things difficult, you’re a snowflake. my great granny worked 8
jobs and had 17 children and she NEVER needed a mental health day, therefore no one should, she’s representative of the entire population!

you do realise that everyone has their own struggles and difficulties? im sure OP , as an employee of the company, knows the world wasnt going to implode due to her day off. she also stated she caught up on some work at home, isnt like she was
hungover and couldnt be arsed.

JoyceTempleSavage

If only it were that easy - new jobs require different skills, hours, commitments. Not easy when you have been in your job since leaving school at 16, work 45 hours a week over 6 days and have children at home.

A mental health sick day is as valid as a cold/flu physical sick day. If you don't look after your mental health it could spiral quickly! My workplace is very supportive of mental health days, they trust we are adults and can wake a judgement. Don't feel guilty!

I'm clearly out of tune with many on here. If you want a duvet day, then have one. But not on my dime.
If I found out you'd been lying I'd dock you a day's pay as a minimum, maybe fire you. And no, I wouldn't fire someone for being mentally ill, but for lying and taking the piss.

Taking a mental health day prevents people having to take sick leave for weeks due to mental illness.

I'd much rather take a mental health day as a preventative measure against a long term mental illness....

You have a husband problem.

Nature I take your point. One to work towards for your OH perhaps. Better to use the odd day for job hunting for something more suitable than throwing a sickie

I've taken a couple of mental health days over the years. A few years ago I was having a stressful time and feeling generally shit. I got up, got ready for work, went to open the door to leave and just couldn't do it I felt so overwhelmed. Phoned in sick with a 'migraine'

We all have a breaking point and realising when we're reaching it and doing something about it is better than losing the plot

Definitely, but that is off topic.

We're talking taking days for mental health.

I'd love OH to have a salary job, with better employee benefits etc but as it stands it's not the case. There isn't even company sick pay, have to have four days sick before government sick pay kicks in. Luckily they pay for hospital / GP appointment so many days OH needs to take off for physical or mental health goes down as an appointment...

So these people who take “mental health days” do you phone in with that as your reason or do similar to the above post and lie about an illness?

And yet if people posted that they were covering work for a colleague who had done this then people would be up in arms calling them a CF

Red It is not always possible for management to arrange cover at short notice and potentially at additional cost, particularly in underfunded government departments or schools where budgets and staffing are already stretched to the max.

A mental health sick day is as valid as a cold/flu physical sick day

Of course it is; an illness is an illness, whether mental or physical, and if genuinely sick a period off work is sometimes unavoidable

Somehow I don't think some posts are about genuine illness though ... more just fancying a day off and casting round for something to justify it

@Nicknacky I was wondering that too.