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.

My workplace is fairly informal. The official policy is to call your manager but most people probably don’t follow that. I tend to just put a message on MS Teams or WhatsApp to my own team and to my manager. Then message anyone I was supposed to meet with that day to reschedule.

Most places I have worked say a phone call. Text or email is not acceptable. So I would call in the morning and then send a WhatsApp to our team chat to let everyone else know.

I work in a secondary school and we have to leave a message on the absence line by 7.30. Teachers have to email work to the cover supervisor.

Our workplace always stated you had to call in. They're controlling arses anyway.

I just used to text. I had one day off in 3 years and lost my bonus that year.

Glad I left that place!

Also a teacher, we have to WhatsApp the deputy head as early as possible so if we wake in the night and know we won’t be in then send a message but must be by 7:30am at the latest. All our work must be on the server by Monday for the week ahead so we don’t need to send anything in.
In my last school we had to email work in and were supposed to phone in but after a very awkward phone call with the head once where she gave me one word response I refused and just sent a text after that - she never said anything.

The rule has always been phone in and speak to your manager. It's pretty basic level step in absence management.
I have both manages teams and been managed where they will say text. However, I stopped this with my team simply to avoid being accused of unfair treatment. If I require one person to call in (Lauren who phones in sick every Monday) I also need anyone else to phone in. However, it's only once at the start of an absence, then text is fine).

@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 think this is unreasonable. What if you had a gynaecological issue for example? I wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing that in depth with a male boss over the phone. He doesn’t sound very trusting of his staff to be honest.

I mean I don’t think your boss is being reasonable

School but TA. Phone Head by 8am or text if no answer. Teachers have to phone by 7.30 to allow time to get a supply in.

Yep, calling in is totally normal. We have to call our manager, and if they aren’t working another appropriate manager by 8.30am.

If it’s a very personal problem, just say that. You’re not obliged to go into detail.

I'm also interested in the setting of cover work. Surely if you're too ill to work you wouldn't be able to set cover work.

I would ring/email manager in the morning but my department is very much sort yourself out so any clients who would need to be seen that day would be seen by a member of staff who was on duty - their job for the day is literally seeing people who rock up on the doorstep or the people who are meant to see those off sick.

When I used to work in retail I would have to phone in before my shift (bare in mind shift would start 6am) and leave a message on the absence line.

It is annoying having to phone in though, especially when you know you won't be in from the night before. As when you're unwell and sometimes unable to sleep having to wake up specifically to phone in and chat to someone about your illness is the last thing you want to do.

I've got to call my line manager when the office opens. I'm supposed to call every day I'm off to give an update. My current manager is ok regarding this but my previous manager was never sick herself and had no sympathy for people calling sick. I used to go to work sick so I wouldn't have to call her and hope that she would notice and send me home (before covid).

We have to text our SLT group PLUS leave a message on the office answerphone. Same rules for teaching and support staff. Teachers always have all lesson plans available so that class TA can takeover smoothly.

We are then supposed to call and speak to member of SLT before end of day to update on how we are doing.

(Retail) we have to call sick, I can usually get away with a text as I’ve worked there so long the manager knows if I’m sick it must be serious as I’ve on,y been sick 3 times in 12 years and one of them times I was pregnant ( as opposed to the youngsters who do it all the time especially when they’ve been out the night before, he prefers them to call) we never have to arrange our own cover though...

I've worked in several public sector departments and government ministries, all absence policies say to call not text or email. In reality I would text my line manager as early as possible or the night before and he'd then call me around 9 or am me to call him at a specific time depending on his commitments. We need to check in every day but whilst this is meant to be by phone it's usually a mixture of phone and text, eg call in sick Monday if obviously too ill to be in for a few days would just say check in again weds, if not sure it would be a daily text with a call after a few days. I would have to email a list of things that need cover with a brief explanation of each, usually I would speak to my counterpart to keep her up to date with any ongoing matters as she will cover my team . My practitioners I can access their workload management tool and see what appointments/meetings they have but would need a synopsis of anything urgent risk/safeguarding related in an email or on the phone while they were calling in sick. They all tend to do the same text early and just say call back when you can, they know I have a young child so will be up early.

School here,
We have to Text the head between 6-7am, ring and let the school office know too.
I also text my class teacher too.

Not sure about teaching. But in the NHS I’ve had various methods, the strangest was in a big teaching hospital when we had to call occupational health, speak to a nurse who then informed our line manager.

Current smaller trust just require us to text the work mobile or phone the office landline before 8am (most people text as the landline has no voicemail option). And on the first day of sickness we’re meant to phone the ward too, but not everyone does as it often goes unanswered, or is answered by night staff who may or may not remember to pass on the message, or if you ring later it interrupts handover so that doesn’t go down well either.

Also a teacher and I have to ring the Deputy Head (she sorts the cover) between 6:30 and 7 to let her know. I usually give a brief overview of why I’m not coming in - been sick, migraine, etc. I don’t really mind doing this. She’s usually incredibly sympathetic and tells us to come back when we’re feeling better. I have to ring in each day that I’m ill.

I don’t organise who covers my class for the day but I do need to email in what I’d like them to do. It’s already planned and sorted so I just need to attach things and give a brief overview. This is manageable mostly but, when I have a migraine, the screen is almost impossible to look at.

[quote Ihatework2]@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.[/quote]
Then take it up with the cover manager.

I call a main scheduling line, so that they know I'm not going to turning up and that's just purely so they can immediately arrange cover.

Then there will be a welfare call from my line manager which you aren't obliged to answer. Then there is a return to work form to complete when I return which needs signing by my line manager. It's usually just a quick chat to check in ok and if I need any support.

Also have to do a return to work which asks for the details. Those saying you don't have to give them how can your employer address if it's safe/suitable for you to return or whether you need an occ health referral if you refuse to tell them what's wrong?

We give the reason for sickness unless it’s very confidential (eg I’m currently off sick with HG and don’t want the whole unit knowing I’m pregnant this early) so I let my manager know by sending her a personal text and email along with my sick note, and just said ‘off sick with gynae issue, sorry’ on the work phone. Nobody asks what the gynae issue is!

Teacher here. Yes I have to do the same. My head texts me through the day to see how I am- ie will I be back tomorrow. 9:30pm shes still text me to see whether in next day! 🙄 then have to ring her and absence by 7:15am and send all work to the office....

Should have added that I also have to fill in a form when I return to work, stating the day(s) I was off and a brief reason why. This is then kept on file. If the time off starts to build up, a meeting will be arranged with the school business manager and occupational health.