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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call in sick next week too?

128 replies

user4533786 · 08/01/2022 22:52

I have been off work sick this week whilst waiting for PCR results due to having Covid symptoms.
My results took 4 days to come back and were negative. I phoned my manager to tell him my results to which he replied they took ages see you next week then.
I'm still not feeling 100% maybe I will be by Monday, My manager shows no care, I'm CEV so waiting for the results and coping with the symptoms has been hard not just physically but mentally too.
AIBU to phone in sick next week too? I just feel I need some time to prepare myself mentally to go back to my job Confused

OP posts:
Kitkat151 · 09/01/2022 00:46

@maddening

And can you justify using a gp appointment to get that Dr's note? Do you think a Dr would agree that you are unwell?
OP doesn’t need one at moment.....you can self certify for up to 28 days until the end of the month
Kitkat151 · 09/01/2022 00:47

@Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse

Yabu your PCR is negative. You may of had a cold? But after a week you should be feeling well enough to go back to work. However If you do take another week off because you are still unwell, then you will need to supply a fit note.
Not true OP can self certify for 28 days( new guidance)
Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 09/01/2022 00:49

Yes you’re correct

Kitkat151 · 09/01/2022 00:50

@Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse

Yes you’re correct
I know 😉
lap90 · 09/01/2022 00:55

If you're too sick to work, covid or not, then by all means call in sick.

guardiansofthegalaxychocs · 09/01/2022 01:47

You would need to go to the GP if it’s passed a week as you can’t self certify in most companies passed that point.

Are you struggling with your mental health? Might be worth booking an emergency GP appointment and chatting through how you are feeling.

Generally speaking it’s very reasonable to expect employees to be in after a week off sick for a non specified virus. So unless you are certified physically too unwell to work or mentally unable to then your boss will likely be quite annoyed and depending on your organisation could mean anything from unfavourable opinion of the boss to not being paid/verbal warnings etc.

Definitely go to the GP.

Kitkat151 · 09/01/2022 02:08

@guardiansofthegalaxychocs

You would need to go to the GP if it’s passed a week as you can’t self certify in most companies passed that point.

Are you struggling with your mental health? Might be worth booking an emergency GP appointment and chatting through how you are feeling.

Generally speaking it’s very reasonable to expect employees to be in after a week off sick for a non specified virus. So unless you are certified physically too unwell to work or mentally unable to then your boss will likely be quite annoyed and depending on your organisation could mean anything from unfavourable opinion of the boss to not being paid/verbal warnings etc.

Definitely go to the GP.

28 days....for anyone now....it’s come from government.....need to keep yourself informed PP....GPS are too busy vaccinating these days to complete fit notes😀
guardiansofthegalaxychocs · 09/01/2022 02:38

Ah I stand corrected. Thankfully haven’t had to get a fit note for a while.

Think the general principle still stands that if you feel overwhelmed from the idea of going back to work when more less okay physically then getting support for your mental health is a good idea.

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/01/2022 02:47

I need a week off from work as I'm knackered. So much overtime the past 2 weeks. I need to wait till my week off end of February.

caringcarer · 09/01/2022 02:51

You don't have Covid so what care should manager show? You should not need to mentally prepare to return to work after missing 1 week. Do you have mental health problems? If so phone gp if not go back to work. No wonder economy is struggling.

ISpyCobraKai · 09/01/2022 02:56

I understand anxiety, but it's not going to do you any favours at work.
I'd either get yourself in, or go to the Drs about longer term help.

Rainbowqueeen · 09/01/2022 03:06

I assume you have a cold or similar which is why you needed the covid test. I’d take it day by day and assess your symptoms each day.

The title to your thread indicates that you intend to take a whole week off no matter what and has presumably got sone posters backs up. I also find it a little strange that you are able to predict now how long it will take you to feel well enough to go into work

If you are generally anxious then you really need to focus on using the techniques that reduce that anxiety.

Freecuthbert · 09/01/2022 03:11

Who takes a week off to mentally prepare for work? Ridiculous. Unless this will be a drip feed about mental health etc, but none of that is mentioned in the OP. Just go into work. Unless you are genuinely unwell of course, but you say you're just not 100% whatever that means. Why are you even asking Mumsnet? Confused

Itsallok · 09/01/2022 03:39

mentally preparing for work after a week off? Seriously?

grapewine · 09/01/2022 04:03

That's not normal. You should probably address your work situation. Once I had to prepare to go into work, I knew it was time to look for something else.

Westerman · 09/01/2022 04:14

A person's mental health is just as important as their physical health; the two often go together. If you're still feeling unwell enough to be unable to work, then call in sick.

Being extremely clinically vulnerable must be causing many people great anxiety while the pandemic is ongoing. If your condition(s) mean you meet the criteria to be considered disabled, your manager should be taking this into account.

Butchyrestingface · 09/01/2022 04:40

AIBU to phone in sick next week too? I just feel I need some time to prepare myself mentally to go back to my job confused

If people had to 'prepare mentally' for going into work, I suspect many would never darken the office door. Grin

I take it you are not unwell now?

wafflieversatile · 09/01/2022 04:43

You can self very for 28 days currently which means you would struggle to get a FIT note from most GPs.

If you are unwell then you call in sick. If you are well, yo return to work. Simples.

cookiemonster2468 · 09/01/2022 04:50

Only you can decide if you are too unwell to work, be that physically or mentally.

I think some people on here are being quite harsh and not understanding of anxiety/ depression. It's not normal that you feel you have to spend a week "mentally preparing" to go back to work and it sounds like you are struggling with mental health.

Having said that, it's a balance. You have to see if you can find it within you to overcome whatever anxiety you are feeling. Taking more time off isn't necessarily going to put you in a better position as there will still come a time when you have to face Life and go back to work. So you need to weigh up whether you actually need this time or whether you have the mental resilience to go back now.

I think the latter would be better if you're able, but don't beat yourself up if you can't. However, if you can't, you need to decide what you are going to do with that extra week to get yourself into a better place, be that seeking out some therapy, mindfulness, exercise, etc. and I think you should tell your employer the real reason you need extra time off.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 09/01/2022 05:24

Honestly? See how you feel on Monday, and if you're still not fit for work, then call in sick again. But don't do it for the whole week, do it day by day - use the day off to prepare yourself that you WILL go back the following day if you can. But only if you're physically well! No point going back if you're not actually physically healthy, otherwise you'll spread your non-COVID germs to the rest of the people at work and place them in the same position as you.

Wfhquery · 09/01/2022 05:37

@Herestoyoucolinrobinson

Think you'd need a fit note but if you genuinely don't feel well enough to work then it shouldn't be a problem.
You can self certify up to 28 days at minute, rules temporarily changed to ease pressure on gps
KiloWhat · 09/01/2022 06:11

If you are sick then fine. You might need a drs note.

mjf981 · 09/01/2022 06:12

I think if you're physically well, it is now taking the piss to say you're not mentally prepared for work (unless there is some massive back story/drip feed as to you being unhappy at work prior to covid). If I was your manager, I would have a very dim view of this excuse. No doubt an unpopular opinion, but this is my view.

RosesAndHellebores · 09/01/2022 06:19

You get up, have a cuppa and piece of toast, a shower and get dressed. If you keep breakfast down and aren't in pain, you go to work.

KiloWhat · 09/01/2022 06:21

Is it a particularly traumatic job I'm wondering? In which case do you get offered counselling through work?