Aibu to ring in sick today

[Krisjongun1]

I haven’t had a full day off in 3 weeks. Have had insomnia for the past 3 nights too and it’s a physical job, I barely have the strength to get out of bed.
It’s a person-facing role so they really need a staff member there in order to carry out the job but I just feel like death.
The last time I was off sick they told me I still had to come in as they were short-staffed. So I went in, but other employees have all been off of late.
They know I’ve worked 3 weeks straight and clearly aren’t bothered, I need to look after myself sometimes. Shall I phone in? I bet they’ll still tell me I have to come in. I’m not off sick very often

i am not sure about sick leave but you need your days off.
if you are their only hope that is not your problem

I’ve just phoned, they tried to make me come in still due to staff shortages but I said I couldn’t

I bet you are a mobile carer. Call them and say you are not able to work today because you are unwell and absolutely exhausted. Tell them you will not be in tomorrow either. Have your two days off. And in future when you are due your days off refuse to give them up. Be strong.

OP you have had a lot of threads about this in recent weeks.

I know you're finding it hard to say no but nothing is going to change unless you start paying attention to the advice you're given and set boundaries.

Well done OP. Now I hope you thoroughly enjoy your day off. Do NOT let them guilt trip you into giving up your time off. You need it, and you are entitled to it.

@Krisjongun1

I’ve just phoned, they tried to make me come in still due to staff shortages but I said I couldn’t

Thats a good start. Now turn off your phone and go back to bed. Don’t go in until you feel better. No job is worth your mental or physical health.

They will have sick people working and don’t care as long as the work is covered, in previous jobs as I say, if I’ve called in sick on the odd occasion they’ve just told me to get better soon and take the day off.

I could be on death’s door and they’d ask me to still go in

I can guarantee they’ll ring me next Saturday and say ‘but you’re our only hope’

Turn off your phone on Saturday.

@Krisjongun1

I can name 5 employees who hand been off sick in the last 4 weeks, so if they’re allowed to then I should be too

They've learnt to say no.

Call in and don’t back down!

@Krisjongun1

I could be on death’s door and they’d ask me to still go in

Well yes. They can ask. But you would say no sorry I am really at death's door and unable to work. You aren't asking for their permission you are informing them that you are unable to work.

Them being desperate doesn't make you any less ill and by going in then they are going to start to think you aren't really ill.

Yes say no - like you did.
Your sick - they don’t care sadly.
I’d start looking for something else.

When you call in sick you are not asking for permission, you are letting your employer know that you will not be in. It isn't a negotiation.

I'm sorry you're in this situation. I hope you find a new job that doesn't treat you like shit

Their short staffing is not your problem. Stop doing other peoples jobs for no extra money.

Why on earth aren't you looking for another job? I'd be spending the day in bed doing just that. You'd feel so much better OP - you need to do something to help yourself out of this situation that only YOU can fix! Good luck and have a lovely day whatever you do.

You've posted about this job and this issue a lot and you get the same responses!

Do your physical and mental health a favour and either say no and mean no or look for another job

Good luck

I have never understood people like yourself who just go in when they’re asked / told to. The answer is no. End of. Just no. Not no I can’t, not no I won’t. Just no.

It's nonsense to say that you can't call in sick because of a combination of lack of sleep AND such a long run without a day off.

Insomnia + relentless work means anyone would be seriously rest- and sleep-deprived. So you ARE sick.

@Krisjongun1

I could be on death’s door and they’d ask me to still go in

Some work places will ask you to come in even if you've died. Glad you did it

Midwife @Krisjongun1?

Definitely call in sick. They technically owe you 4 days off as you have worked 3 weeks straight. I think you need to be firmer and start saying no when they beg you. It's your time off they are taking. Surely your health is more important than their need for you to cover. They should do the extra shifts themselves if they are that desperate. It's only because you say yes that they keep asking. They clearly don't care about you, so why do you care about them?

Don’t say “no” when they ask you to work your days off.

Say “absolutely not”. Or even better don’t answer the phone.

Nothing is ever going to change if you keep letting them do this.

The longer you carry on working on your rest days and going in when you are sick, the more you will incentivise them to carry on without recruiting and/or going to temp agencies to ensure they have adequate staffing levels.

Thought I recognised your name. You’re on a zero hours contract.

3 days ago you were complaining about this as well. You have the power here, OP. “Absolutely not” to any hours you don’t want to work. And get looking for a different job.