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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you call in sick?

132 replies

Ihatework2 · 10/10/2021 08:09

Nc for this. Just want to find out what happens to other people as in my workplace (school teacher) we literally have to phone the headteacher on his mobile and speak about our illness in depth and he then tells us to email cover in. Are other workplaces like this too? Would you classify this as an intimidating tactic? Other places I’ve worked in don’t require you to do this. If you’re naturally anxious it will stop you calling in sick.

OP posts:
Youdoyoutoday · 10/10/2021 08:10

I used to text my boss.

MoiraRose4 · 10/10/2021 08:11

That sounds normal to me. You should always phone rather than text or email and you should give a specific reason. This discourages people from skiving off. It’s a sensible policy.

TheMiMit · 10/10/2021 08:11

It is designed to stop you calling in sick. (Not saying that's right btw)

Cuppaand2biscuits · 10/10/2021 08:12

We have to speak to a manager, we work shifts so wouldn't necessarily be our line manager but whoever is on shift.
They have a form they have to fill out so will ask questions about the nature of the illness, when did symptoms start and how long you think you might be off.
When you come back you have to do a return to work interview, usually with your line manager about your illness and how you are feeling now.

rookiemere · 10/10/2021 08:13

we're meant to call but these days I'll text or send a Teams message.
Surely you shouldn't have to arrange your own cover when you're ill, that sounds inhumane.

DontWiltMySpinachPlease · 10/10/2021 08:13

I have to phone, but I never have to go in to any vast amount of detail, normally just a "not feeling well enough to come in today"

Jduh · 10/10/2021 08:13

I work for NHS. When on the wards I would call in. Now in community I text my manager and then follow it up with an email to the team (we are a small team) and then I text my service users who I have appointments with to let them know and keep my work phone on until I get a response.

LoveMyBlanket · 10/10/2021 08:14

I email my boss and HR person. I would definitely feel intimidated if I had to phone and speak to them in depth about it - I have worked places before where it was required to physically phone and not email etc, and it was horrible! I guess with teaching it is more urgent to have a chat to sort out what the kids are doing than in my office job though, what I do can mostly just wait for me to be off a few days.

daisybrown37 · 10/10/2021 08:14

I used to be work in a secondary school. Staff had to call an absence line (my phone) by 7.30am and leave a message. This was picked up by either the Cover Supervisor or me (HR).

They had to set cover work, which the cover supervisors would print off if needed.

Other none schools workplaces, phone call to manager or HR to say we would be off. We were not suppose to text, but my manager would be okay if I did (I was rarely off).

PrivateHall · 10/10/2021 08:15

There was a very similar thread about teaching a couple of days ago that might help you op, something about absence line in the title. This sounds normal enough except for the email bit, are you suggesting that you have to email to organise cover, when you are the person who is sick? Or am I misunderstanding?

daisybrown37 · 10/10/2021 08:16

PS if they could not set cover then the Heads of the department would have to set something - but it was hard for them to do that as they had their own classes to prep for.

Original poster
Ihatework2 · 10/10/2021 08:17

Well it was obvious I was ill from my voice or should I say lack of. I only ended up taking 2 days off but I’m still extremely ill and I just found whole experience like I was making it up. After each call (2 calls) he ended with “we will see you tomorrow morning”! It was so clear I was struggling. I still ended up going in end of week. I’ve probably already my germs to everyone which is awful.

OP posts:
worstofbothworlds · 10/10/2021 08:17

I email or ring the secretaries office voicemail as if I have a 9 am class the students need to know.
If I'm in meetings I email the other attendees.
If I'm not teaching I self certify online.
If I was in hospital DH would ring the secretaries' voicemail.

LadyLolaRuben · 10/10/2021 08:18

Its a reasonable request. Calling to discuss not being in work which you have agreed via a legal contract of employment. In return many get paid sick leave. They just want to know an overview of whats wrong and the likely duration. This is to plan how long cover is needed and if there is anything the employer can do to help you attend work e.g. is it work related and can change something to stop it happening again. They have a duty of care.

"Hi X, really sorry but i think I've come down with X. I feel terrible and unable to work. I can't see me being well enough to work for a few days but I'll keep you posted"

rookiemere · 10/10/2021 08:19

@daisybrown37 I just don't understand how if someone is ill enough not to be able to work, they're expected to provide cover work.

Original poster
Ihatework2 · 10/10/2021 08:19

@PrivateHall please send me link if you can find it

I’m annoyed that my cover work which I set didn’t even get taught to kids! When I went in the kids had done something entirely different. So that was waste of my bloody time n energy

OP posts:
Chanel05 · 10/10/2021 08:20

I have to call in and have made the phone call by 7am. Also a teacher.

gogohm · 10/10/2021 08:21

I text or email, but somewhat irrelevant because I haven't called in sick in 15 years, I have my own office so go to work and tell others to keep out, I'm the only employee

TeaStory · 10/10/2021 08:22

[quote rookiemere]@daisybrown37 I just don't understand how if someone is ill enough not to be able to work, they're expected to provide cover work.[/quote]
Entirely normal for teaching.

InTheLabyrinth · 10/10/2021 08:23

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4368512-Having-to-ring-absence-line-by-8am

This is the thread I think PrivateHall was referring too

Splashinginpuddles15 · 10/10/2021 08:24

I am a teacher . We leave a message . Then we get at least one welfare call during the day . They are a bit intrusive - asking us what medication we have tried and at what time etc . Once when I was sleeping and my phone was on silent the person called my husband - even though I had left a message and e-mailed . Not sure whether that is right though . I am 35 years old !

PrivateHall · 10/10/2021 08:24

[quote Ihatework2]@PrivateHall please send me link if you can find it

I’m annoyed that my cover work which I set didn’t even get taught to kids! When I went in the kids had done something entirely different. So that was waste of my bloody time n energy[/quote]
I hope this helps op

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4368512-Having-to-ring-absence-line-by-8am

daisybrown37 · 10/10/2021 08:25

[quote rookiemere]@daisybrown37 I just don't understand how if someone is ill enough not to be able to work, they're expected to provide cover work.[/quote]
It was hard for me to understand, but they are the only people who know what they had planned to do. Often it is just share the slides they had already planned to use themselves or they had some resources they would quickly access and share with the Cover team.

Lessons would be covered by a Higher Level TA or a supply teacher, so they needed something to go through with the kids. It does seem inhumane, but I never figured out another way before I left!

Original poster
Ihatework2 · 10/10/2021 08:25

Sorry for drip feeding as my head is foggy so I’m probably not being clear. My main issue is the cover work I sent in wasn’t even taught. The kids (secondary) had a cover teacher who taught them told them to just read quietly instead of my cover work I spent my energy on. Should I raise with head or leave it? It’s not a supportive school and people leave all the time without giving notice in. Head pretends it’s a wonderful school and these people have problems in personal life

OP posts:
maddening · 10/10/2021 08:26

Call in before start of work and explain illness and let manager know what needs covering.

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