How do you call in sick?

[Ihatework2]

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.

I always ask when I start a job how they like to be informed and for the last 6 years each manager has preferred texting. I've always asked my staff to text me. But I don't work in a field where cover is necessary.

We have an online system - if you're poorly when you wake up you log the day as such leave on the system and it automatically notifies your line manager. It gives you a category drop down for the type of illness, e.g., respiratory, and it gives you the option to add more details and an end date, so if it's a migraine but you know you'll be OK tomorrow you can say that (although you can change it if you're not OK the next day). It's a bit weird but works. You can still talk to your manager if you want to and it's expected that you'll rearrange and/or notify colleagues about any meetings or deadlines so nothing gets missed.

Thanks @PrivateHall

My school is actually 7am you have to ring by! Head expects a call around 6am. So already I feel other thread is BU lol

In our office the rule is to phone in and with an idea of the problem.

That is ridiculously early. You might not even be awake at that time to know you are sick lol!

I'm a teacher and have taught in a number of schools. In every school in the UK I have had a cover line to call and leave a message before 7am.
Overseas I had to WhatsApp the Headteacher and Vice Principal in charge of cover as early as possible.

At my workplace noone really cares as it wont affect anyone nut me: i would badically have to reschedule all my commitments. I would just email my line manager out of courtesy with a I am sick so won't be in today sort of.message. he would never ask me what is wrong and will simply wish me to get better soon.

@InTheLabyrinth thank you!

I would need to phone my boss by 9am, if he's not available then I'd have to phone his boss.
When you return (even if it's only 1 day) you have a back to work interview.

My top tip is to prepare generic cover work in a folder on staffshare (or your equivalent) that's ready to go and context-free so that you don't have to think of cover work on the hop when ill.

Also a teacher and yep, ring my head or deputy by 7am to let them know, follow up with emailed cover. Usually you’ve planned anyway so it’s just a case of pulling everything together for someone to follow.

It probably does work to put you off unless you’re really really ill - usually i weigh it up & the hassle of calling & sending cover is more than just struggling through the day.

@rookiemere

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.

But every teacher does organise their own cover...99 times out of 100 we end up just dragging ourselves in as it is easier to do that than sort out cover from home. I get monthly migraines (peri menopause) that last 3 to days, I end up basically teaching with ridiculous amounts of painkillers in me, one hand propping my head up and trying not to vomit. Fortunately teach secondary so the kids understand!

But I would need to log on to rearrange my diary so people aren't expecting me at meetings etc.

having to call in person is normal ime. every job I had so far required it.

including discussing urgent stuff that needs to be covered by a colleague.

never had to discuss my health in detail though. and never had to set specific work, but that might be specific to teaching.

Every job I have you have had to call abs speak to your line manager

I covered teacher sickness in my previous role. Work would not have been emailed through; I would speak to the other teachers in the year group and they would email me the lessons, plus I would use one or two of my own lessons if needed to fill time.

Phoning in sick myself would need to be a phone call to the head, by 8am, though I would always do so by 7.30. Never any intrusive questions though I would of course explain what the problem was. If I was still unwell the next day (never happened) I would have had to phone in again.

@PrivateHall

That is ridiculously early. You might not even be awake at that time to know you are sick lol!

We have to phone Head by 7.15am. Of course you would be up at that time as a teacher. Most secondary school dats start by 8.45, most teachers would be in by 7.45. No way you wouldn't be up by 6-6.30am.

OP, it's normal in teaching, I'm afraid to have to rinh in person and to set work unless you are so ill/hospitalised and then the HoD will sort it. It's not necessarily normal for the work you send not to be done, but not unusual either. It is very annoying.

Should I complain to head that my cover work wasn’t done? I spoke to cover manager when I went in on Friday and she bit my head off a d said “I GAVE IT TO THE SUPPLY”.

We send the boss a WhatsApp

Every job I’ve had I had to call my line manager before start of shift. I’d usually text early so they can start sorting cover, then ring when shift is due to start. I’d be asked for detail on why I was off and when I’ve been a line manager I would want detail to. This is to help plan and also could impact others eg.if covid related would want to know other contacts, if lots of people were off vomiting could be related to food poisoning etc

NHS. I email boss and cc relevant colleagues in.

You've got to call in before 7.30 really, to have any chance of finding someone able to stand up in front of your class, and you'll have to give them something to go through with them. What you describe sounds normal to me, not sure why you'd have a problem with it?

We have to call in, speak to the manager. Tell them exactly what's wrong and get asked questions like have you seen a doctor.

Sounds fairly standard practice.

@Barbie222 what I specifically have a problem with is the fact the work I HAVE arranged whilst extremely ill was not even taught to the kids. Speaking to others this is common.

Teacher, not in UK.
Unofficial- WhatsApp the deputy head that organized daily cover- obviously, this has to be done as early as possible- I have always waited until 7 (classes begin at 8, she is there from about 7.20) then WA her.
Official- have to ring school office asap for same reason- but they only start picking up about 7.45. The only real niggle is that they tend to ask you how long you're going to be off for. My absences are almost always migraine so the answer is easy, but unless you've got something requiring a sick note, which I've never had, how would you know.
Also official- have to send an email.