AIBU to have the day off sick?

[Geofax]

Need some man advice here as I feel very guilty.

I’m half way through my third week at a new job. I love the job and want to stay there long term - it’s a professional environment and my role has some management responsibilities; just for some background.

I’ve felt a bit under the weather for a few days; but nothing serious. However, I woke up at half one this morning with pretty bad sinus pain. I went to grab some painkillers but found we didn’t have any in; so I tried to just get back to sleep - but no matter what I tried I just couldn’t. It’s now the time that I would normally get up and get ready for work, but I’m in pain, unsteady on my feet and sleep deprived and I just don’t feel like I could safely handle morning rush hour traffic (my job is about an hour commute from home.) so I’ve called in sick.

I’m planning on running to the pharmacy later to grab some meds and then trying to catch up on sleep so I can return to work tomorrow all drugged up.

I feel horrifically guilty though - I’ve not been at this place three weeks yet and I’m calling in sick; I’m worried I’m putting across a bad impression and letting the team down. I’ve tried rationalising that if i wanted to be work-shy I’d have called in sick tomorrow rather than today as Tuesdays are some of my lightest days and Wednesdays my busiest. I’m going to have to do some work from home later anyway so that I don’t fall behind with things.

Did I do the right thing?

I love all the 'well I've not slept for 236 days and I was out the door at 4am to go to work so you should too' type comments...

OP you don't need to be a martyr because some people on the internet try to make you feel guilty for having a day off because they are having to go in themselves. If you're truly too ill to be in work then don't go. Or at least go in a bit later if you're concerned about the drive.

Need some man advice here, just curious, is that a typo?

Take the day, medicate and return tomorrow. It would look very strange to ring in sick and then ring back afterwards.
If you can work from home anyway, that would be a better option in future if you feel too unwell for your commute.

Sleep deprivation?

You mean you are tired today OP?

You could be on your deathbed and Mumsnetters would still pile on to tell you you should go to work.

Rachel0Greep I imagine it was meant to say MN advice

I’d say no. I’d have bought some pain killers on my way IN to work tbh. (Ex nurse of 26 yrs in the nhs here. You needed to be at deaths door to be off sick).

I work for the nhs and like anywhere there's a real mix of staff who take a day off at the first sneeze and those who battle through anything
It's worth noting that with excellent hand hygiene it's unlikely staff with a cold are going to pass it to patients I've had a pretty horrendous cold for three weeks now and have been to the gp twice as it's felt like a chest infection at times- it's not and there's no way I could justify three weeks of work with moderate cold symptoms

I used to be an NHS nurse and people were off sick all the time. Contrary to some comments here.

OP - don’t feel guilty! Your organisation isn’t a sentinent being. It has no thoughts or feelings. I don’t think I’ve ever felt guilty being off sick. It’s just a job.

polarbear, perhaps so, but i am pretty sure times have changed, absence management policy and all that

Some posters don’t seem to understand that there are different degrees of sinus pain.

I’ve had it where painkillers deal with it. I’ve had it where the pain is excruciating ever time I move my head.

Nobody is in the op’s head to know how bad it is for her.

Sleep deprived is a poor excuse. Sinus pain could be anything from mild to extremely painful, only you know if after some pain killers yours is bad enough to have to call in sick.

Either way you will look flaky phoning in sick then changing your mind.

Please don't drive impaired!

Driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk. If you think you are not able to drive safely, don't.

If you don’t think you can be effective and don’t feel safe to drive don’t go in.

Ignore the MN masses who think you should only phone an ambulance if your head’s hanging off and phone in sick if you’re dead. Martyring yourself isn’t impressive.

I wouldn’t be 3 weeks in a new job and taking a sick day for something that doesn’t really warrant it

GaryBaldbiscuit - yes there are sickness absence procedures but that still doesn’t mean I feel guilty for having time off sick!

The way some organisations treat staff is despicable. And a lot of people do hours of unpaid overtime. If somebody is genuinely under the weather they deserve a guilt free day off.

Caprisun, the NHS are very strict. I had an operation and then received a absence warning and 6 month monitoring when I returned. The operation was performed at the hospital I worked at.

Op, if you feel that poorly, stay home. Put yourself first.

I think the fact that you have called back to say you are now going in shows that you really weren't sick enough to warrant a day off and you were hoping that people would make you feel better about pulling a sicky and reassure you that it was the right thing to do- you know it wasn't

Update for those that want one:

I probably shouldn’t have driven into work tbh; it wasn’t the best I’ve ever driven a car... but I’m here now and will be staying here for the rest of the day.

Work were very understanding - lots of people off at the moment with the same or similar including senior managers. The HR lady gave me some paracetamol and my line manager is letting me have a quieter than normal day. They don’t seem bothered at all that I initially emailed in sick and then changed my mind.

As per the sleep deprivation thing: we had a break in about a month ago (just before I started this job) and I haven’t slept properly since; so yes I am sleep deprived not just tired.

The man advice was an auto-corrected mn advice.

All in all I do think I was silly to drive an hour; including down a motorway and across a long windy bridge in poor conditions... but public transport is not an option to where I work and now that I am here I will be well enough to stay; although I will be no where near as productive as normal.

I am looking forward to collapsing into my bed as soon as I get home. The drive home will not be fun but I’ll cope.

Thank you all for your advice and thoughts.

"Realistically how effective will you be today if you go in? Sometimes a day off to rest means yes you lose one day’s work but you are on form for the rest of the week vs. 3-4 days of sub par work because you’re exhausted and I’ll because you’ve tried to ignore your body."

This is sound advice I think. If you're too sick to function in your job then really what is the use of going in. Only you will know of course how you're feeling.

MN isn't a good place to ask this kind of question. There were martyrs on here the other day chastising a woman who didn't think she could get her kids to school because of how ill she was feeling. A lot of responses were along the lines of how they'd got their children to school even when they were vomiting themselves and collapsing at the school gates. Some people seem to like to use any opportunity to make themselves feel superior.

Just saw your update OP. Aww, hope you feel better soon. Sudafed do a really good sinus pain med that was great when I had that a while ago (think it's called Sudafed Sinus pain). Lots of little treats today and take care.

Thank you Rubarb!

I often find that sinus pain improves a lot once you’re up and about - hope you feel better soon!

“Well I went to work with my leg hanging off and haemorrhaging blood but I did my duty to serve my employer. I worked 5 hours overtime and then drove a customer home, such is my dedication!”

That’s the type of thing some people post. I guess they are really into masochism.

Hope you are okay OP!

Just seen your update op, glad you're okay! Take it easy and be careful driving home