Do you ever call in sick when you are not?

[DriedFig]

Just a thought really. I'm sometimes tempted to call in sick, but would feel too guilty. Is an occasional sickie acceptable?

duvet day

I manage my own work and if I take a day off I’ll have to make up my work.

Never, I'm always working long hours anyway so would just mean more work and stress when I did go back.

I've had days when I've been completely overwhelmed and stressed and have faked a migraine rather than admitting I'm close to a breakdown

I have done, a few occasions where I’ve felt quite tired and burned out.

Also only on days where there wasn’t anything really going on - not when I’ve had an important meeting or a big deadline that would’ve caused trouble.

Sometimes you think its throwing a sickie but sometimes your inner soul is actually saying 'i need this'. Not an excuse but sometimes you need it. If its more than once a year you need to check your job etc xx

@MaryIsA

duvet day

I manage my own work and if I take a day off I’ll have to make up my work.

That’s not law though. It’s an entitlement given by a minority of employers. Probably a small minority.

No, I'm a teacher. It's just simpler to go in unless really, really ill. I tend to just go in pupil hours on those days rather than teacher hours.

Maybe once or twice when I was in my early 20s and very hungover. Not since I grew up. Why do you really ask @DriedFig?

No, don't tend to even if I am sick. If I'm off it puts pressure on the rest of the team. It's selfish, immature and unprofessional to pull a sickie. You're paid to do a job not sit around watching Netflix.

I'm hoping the 'struggling in' expectation does change though in a post covid world. Bugs spreading round like wildfire and people battling on when visibly I'll was terrible 😔

And good god no its not law to have 3 duvet days - which as a phrase is up there with holibobs - ridiculous

No. I tend to lie sneezing in bed with my laptop trying to work when I really am ill!

I did when it was horrendous snow and I thought fuck it but never have done before.

I’ve done it a couple of times. One time I was ill but I wasn’t so bad that couldn’t go in if you know what I mean. The other was when they wouldn’t approve my request. I haven’t felt guilty. But considering I work part time, unless I’m going to be productive and go out somewhere there isn’t much point. We have to call in sick and that it stressful in itself. .

Not for a while, but yes.

When I was younger and a lot more thoughtless and selfish, I would do it occasionally.
Now, no. I'm in a job where it matters and where honesty and integrity is an organisation value and to take a sickie would make it all worthless and make me a hypocrite.
Sorry, that was a bit heavy.
To be fair, it was going to be a slack day, and despite loving my job, I just woke up feeling really low, like I couldn't be arsed, so I phoned in early, told the truth saying I just needed a mental health day and they said, "No problem. Do you want to take it as sick leave or holiday?",
So I'd be a numpty to abuse that level of staff welfare.
I took the day as holiday, BTW.

Not now as l don't get paid. But when l had an office job l did a couple of times a year..mainly because l was worn out and l never get sick. No one had to cover my work so l never felt bad.

No, I work in the NHS, we are too busy.

I have once. It was my first date with DP and for some reason we chose a Sunday evening to meet. Basically ended up chatting away for 6 hours in a bar getting rather drunk....he came back to mine.
The next day I woke up feeling horrendous and said “oh god, I really can’t face work today”. For some reason he was on annual leave and said “well why don’t we go for some lunch instead and then go to the cinema?” So we did.

I’m not a rule breaker at all and had never even considered pulling a sickie before and lived in fear that someone would find out for weeks afterwards. It was worth it though

Never.

No.

Most of my sick days are related to mental health though as I have bipolar disorder and it still often seems that this isn't as 'acceptable' as a physical illness.

No

But my career is so important to me it pays for nursery fees, my house, my car. Why would I do that?! I don't get it.

Btw I think it's fine if you are feeling you aren't able to work, both for physical or emotional/mental/anxiety reasons. But not just to bin it off because you can't be arsed.

Never. I'd have to be really unwell to phone in sick. Shame cant be said for a few people at my work who phone in most weeks!!!

I never know how sick you have to be for a day off sick. My mother worked, so I always went to school when sick. I go in to work with heavy colds, dizziness etc. It is expected at work to get a sick cert even for one sick day. By the time I would have queued at the Dr. half the day would be gone. I only stay out if I physically can't put my clothes on. Then when I improve, I have to go to the dr. and say I was sick for e.g 2 days and couldn't drive in.

I take a very poor view of someone taking sick days just for enjoyment. I would not mind someone being stressed/tired and taking an odd sick day. I know that if someone is out at work, the remainder of staff have to answer their phone and deal with their queries.