To think being unfit for work doesn't mean unfit for anything.

[Carbosug]

A colleague has been certified as unfit for work for the last ten days or so having caught a nasty virus. She's due back in work on Wed. Another colleague saw her in the supermarket yesterday and is chuntering about it being 'disgraceful', 'abusing sick leave' etc.

I've pointed out that pottering around the shops and commuting to a full time job are two very different things but she doesn't seem to get it. AIBU to find this attitude annoying and silly?

And for the ones who are "stressed" you can't get rid of them too easily, but at least legally you don't have to pay them (full salary I mean).

I'm shocked that you can be so dismissive of mental health. And this sounds like you'd be looking for alternative reasons to dismiss someone with poor mental health.

Strangely enough, the places I've working with sensible and understanding managers who recognise the importance of mental health are also the ones who seem to have low levels of staff sickness.

The ones who use inverted commas when talking about stress, on the other hand, often seem to have difficulties with absenteeism.

That's what worries me about biscuit.

the fact that I work in the real world?
Funnily enough, there are a lot less sickies with contractors than with perm staff.

It's easy to see who likes to take sickies on this thread, at least own it! I take sickies too, but I am not pretending I am too sick to work, no need to be such an hypocrite.

Online shopping cost next to nothing in delivery, if you are really unwell you don't need to go to the supermarket.

You could be at the bingo though tbf, if you were off with stress or a broken arm for example, no need to be a hermit, though I was glad to live half an hours drive from work when I was on long term sick, and was able to walk my dog

It's very rare I'm sick, I think the last time I was off work sick was around 4 years ago when I had an operation on my shoulder and I was off for around 2 weeks afterwards. If I needed time off sick and anyone pulled me up for it, they would end up getting a short shrift, be it colleague or boss.
Many years ago, I had opted to work on a weekend, unfortunately I was rushed into hospital suffering a miscarriage at 15 weeks. I got back to work and my manager ( male ) started shouting at me about letting him down and I shouldn't have said I was going to work if I didn't intend to etc. When he finally drew breath, I told him that I had been in hospital with a miscarriage, his reply was ' good, it serves you right ' I actually punched him in the face and walked out.
So no, if I'm sick and anyone who has something to say about it will be given a short shrift.
People get ill, it's a fact of life. It's got nothing to do with anyone else, Its between them, their G.P and their manager.

I actually punched him in the face and walked out.

IMO that was very restrained of you!

What a horrible person!

He was a disgusting sexist chauvinist. Unsurprisingly single.
Would like to add that I am not a violent person, but in was er, emotional that day.

When I had flu I walked to the doctors (10 minutes away) to pick up my sick note at the end of my two weeks off. I got home and collapsed on the sofa and slept for 9 hours.

Does the fact I could make it to the surgery (and I popped into the local shop while I was out) mean I was OK to work? Of course not. I think the fact that you throw sickies biscuits is clouding your judgement on this. Some of us don't.

Biscuit,I hope I'm not on your sickie list.I have never taken a sickie,ever and I've never lied about why I needed time off either (if the children were ill that's what I said) .I've had some lovely employers and some less lovely ,including the manager who on being rung from A and E by DH to tell him I'd be off the next day as I was waiting to be admitted ,bleeding heavily,late miscarriage ,said "but we'll have to cancel a days work..."
No sickies though,just more stress or less stress attached to being ill.

Last year my DP and I got really sick with a cold/flu thing, we were both laid up in bed for 3 days, sleeping for 12 hours a day, could barely move and even going downstairs to get a drink of water made us drip with sweat.
Day 4 or 5 we were still rough but better, although not ready for work. We needed more food/paracetamol so I drove the 2 minutes to tesco, jumped out, grabbed painkillers and soup and drove back. I was exhausted! But we needed the supplies so I had to go, and DP was nauseous so couldn’t face driving. I suppose if any of my colleagues saw me in the aisles they might think I was ‘well’, but the reality was a snotty, sweaty spluttering mess.
Additionally sometimes I’ve been well enough to pop to the pharmacy (15 min walk in total) but not to commute on a busy train, sit in a busy working plan office and concentrate well enough to actually get anything done without making mistakes. Sick doesn’t always mean at death’s door.
If they're out heavy boozing at midday maybe that's a different story!

I was signed off sick once with a slipped disc in my back and my GP actually wrote on my sick note that I wasn't fit for working due to long drive commute / sitting but was ok to do a couple of exercise classes a week / walk locally / attend rehab and physio etc. Just incase anyone did see me out, not that they did.

at least don't expect to be paid to potter around the shops

How ridiculous. If I'm off sick but manage to drag myself to the local shops to buy painkillers, should I really phone in to work and tell them to knock 20 minutes' worth off my pay because I could have been working during those 20 minutes?

I'm signed off on full pay at the moment with anxiety and depression caused by work. Because the triggers are at work I am able to cope outside of work. I'm not afraid to be seeing going about my daily business while I take the steps I need to to get back into a position where I can return to work. I have been borderline suicidal but I expect the gossips at work just see me being off for weeks and assume I am pulling a sickie. Unfortunately I work with a lot of people who think like biscuit does.

It's easy to see who likes to take sickies on this thread, at least own it! I take sickies too, but I am not pretending I am too sick to work, no need to be such an hypocrite.

That makes sense now. You pretend to be sick when you aren't so you assume everyone else is just as bad.

FWIW I've never thrown a sickie. When I've been off work it has always been necessary and I've never lied about it. Tbf, in my job its more effort to set cover work and mark it than to actually go in so I'm not sure what the benefit of throwing a sickie would be!

One or two people on this thread reminded me of the crap manager I once worked for who suddenly announced that he was going to have a crackdown on sickness absence and anyone who'd been off sick for more than a certain length of time in the last six months was going to be summoned to explain themselves. He put out a "name and shame" list, which included one employee with multiple sclerosis, one with cancer, and one who had been off because she'd been badly injured when a car mounted the pavement and knocked her over. We particularly wanted to be flies on the wall in the last interview when the person concerned was asked what she planned to do to avoid similar absences in future.

It's so sad that managers like Biscuit still exist. Decent sick pay is the hallmark of a civilised society - such a shame people want to do away with that.

I haven't had a sick day in 2 years because I've been lucky enough not to catch anything (except for when I was already on annual leave). But when I'm ill, I'm ill. Not taking a sickie.

I'm not surprised that Biscuit assumes everyone else behaves just like she does, though.

It's so sad that managers like Biscuit still exist.

employees who have been kept on full pay for 6 months because they had valid reasons to be away would disagree with you my dear.

The ones who got the sack because they took the piss would agree though!

Not everyone gets sick pay tho.. we get big fat zero

Biscuit's "It's easy to see who likes to take sickies on this thread, at least own it! I take sickies too, but I am not pretending I am too sick to work, no need to be such an hypocrite."

and Angela's reply
That makes sense now. You pretend to be sick when you aren't so you assume everyone else is just as bad. is spot on

I too have never taken a sickie. I have been off work: both times following missed miscarriages (I know - terribly inconsiderate of me ), the 2nd time compounded with major stress (my mum had had a major accident from which ultimately she died but it took 5 years and my boss's boss was a bully) - but fortunately my immediate boss (different one on both occasions, but same company) was very understanding and organised managed returns to work (including going and having lunch with my boss ).

I always took my work seriously - regularly worked 60 hour weeks (working in B2B sales and were expected to sign away our rights under the Working Time Directive ). Before going on holiday, I would usually work until 4am drove dh mad to make sure that everything was well organised so that those covering for me did not have too much to do - and that I could relax on holiday.

When I was young and single, I once had to take a day off work because I had spent the night puking (from food from the company canteen ) and in no way could have dirven the 45 minutes in to work (was still suffering from D&V). I still had to go out in the evening to get something to eat, as I literally didn't have anything in the house - and no-one to go and get it for me.

In biscuits world, if I'd been seen, that would have been proof that it was a sickie

It depends on the illness and the job but if off for something acute like a virus then no I don't think it is good idea to go shopping. Maybe on the final day before going back it would be alright but if the colleague saw her on Sunday and and she isn't coming back for another three days that looks suspicious.

It depends, walking around their local supermarket stocking up on a few things is more than reasonable.

Spotted in their local big supermarket doing the big food shop and browsing the clothes/home section is probablly taking the piss.

Generally most people apply common sense

The ones who got the sack because they took the piss would agree though!

I don't think anyone on this thread would have an issue with employees being disciplined for taking a sick day fraudulently. Your problem, Biscuit, is that you equate crawling out to the shops when you're off sick with taking the piss. Are you really not prepared to admit the possibility that someone may be genuinely too ill to work but also able to leave the house when absolutely necessary? Why?

YANBU! Of course a sick person can nip to the shop. Different if she was off with a virus and then seen out partying for hours. But a visit to the shop? Pathetic.

It's easy to see who likes to take sickies on this thread, at least own it! I take sickies too, but I am not pretending I am too sick to work, no need to be such an hypocrite

Is it?.... I've had a go on here about your attitude.
I've just retired. I had one day off sick in 15 years and a total of 4 days over the past 20 years.
I've worked when I really should be at home sick.
I've worked for bosses with your attitude and it stinks. I've seen people have stress piled on them by idiot bosses.
Despite only having 4 days off in 20 years I absolutely defend the right of anyone to take sick leave when they need it. For some it will be more, for others, less.

Oh yes,...and they can pop to the shops when they are off sick. Fresh air may help more than bloody on line shopping.

Not everyone can have home delivery.
My area isn't covered for home delivery.

You get your own food if you live alone or go without if you've no one to get it for you.

Don't assume everywhere has home delivery just because you do.