To not like giving my symptoms to work over the phone when calling in sick?

[Velvetchocolate]

Does anyone else hate this or am I being precious?

Must admit I hadn’t thought of that @JuicySatsuma85, how awful for you.

I hate the process of phoning in sick - I suppose that's because we are socially conditioned not to 'moan' about our health - but I see why it's necessary and it's reasonable for your work to want some idea of the type of illness you have, so they know roughly how long you might be off.

You don't have to be graphic - 'I've got a stomach upset' should suffice rather than describing exactly what your vomit looked like and the texture of your diarrhoea.

As a manager I have to record the reason. There’s no malice. It’s actually really helpful. I have a member of my team with really high sickness but there were patterns and we were able to set up the support she needed. She’s now only been off for 2 days 8 months - huge achievement.

I should add, I hate calling in too but I think it’s deliberately that way so it’s not easy. “Do I feel ill enough to make that call?”

@NeedAHoliday2021

As a manager I have to record the reason. There’s no malice. It’s actually really helpful. I have a member of my team with really high sickness but there were patterns and we were able to set up the support she needed. She’s now only been off for 2 days 8 months - huge achievement.

Your organisation may have a process which means you have to record reason for sickness but your employees are not required, legally, to give you a reason.

As for the example you gave. That can be managed on a case by case basis. You notice an employee has a high sickness rate and then you ask if it’s something you can assist with at all. Rather than requiring every single employees to give symptoms every single time they are sick.

Also to people saying it’s so the managers can plan how long you’ll be off for. They aren’t doctors. You, as the sick adult, can inform them how long you think you’ll be off for. “I’m unwell. I should be fine tomorrow. I’m sick. I’ll likely need 3 days off but I’ll keep in touch.”

I think if they make you describe every symptom you could be extra graphic. Make it awkward

When I call up usually I just tell whoever answered the phone I’m ill and I won’t be in, pre shift so during night/early in morning then we phone and speak to whoever is in charge so usually our senior charge nurse and I don’t mind telling them why I’m Ill I don’t go into detail on the phone but if it’s private we weren’t pushed but had to fill in a form on return however this is all confidential between you and your LM.

@LlamaLucy

No, I agree with you. It’s personal, unnecessary, and could be embarrassing. Why do they want to know?! They’re not going to offer you any treatment, as they’re not Drs.

Also, if it’s to do with pregnancy, you might want it to remain private, that you’re TTC. I know pregnancy is a ‘protected characteristic’, but even so, some industries are ruthless, and women are still discriminated against.

Just lie I suppose, and tell them it’s a tummy bug?!

HR professional here. We have a duty of care to employees, and not just individually. As others have said we may need to manage an outbreak or deal with issues in the canteen if multiple people are off sick with the same thing. If the environment/working practices are causing harm we need to know in order to make changes. And we need to support individuals too. Sorry to be crass but if you’re suicidal there are steps I need to take to get you help.

Just some of the reasons why “I’m ill” doesn’t cut it.

@Masterchief507

In my line of work, they need to know if it's as a result of an injury or incident caused in work. But it doesn't need to be war and peace. With my line manger 'I have the shits' Is sufficient.

I think all employers are obliged to keep track of injuries or incidents caused in work - clearly in some jobs it's more likely than others, but AFAIK that doesn't remove the obligation from anyone.

So, they have to ask and YABU from that point of view.

Oh for Gods sake, someone suicidal is hardly going to not be suicidal because they had to make two phones call before 7am describing their suicidal state!

That’s actually annoyed me.

So someone for instance who had Measles or Chickenpox? It's no-ones business but their own? What if there was an unannounced pregnancy in the office? Surely they need to know?

Well, they aren’t in the office, are they?

But more to the point I am not a doctor and I can’t say what it is without a diagnosis. Only the symptoms. I can say ‘I think it is measles’ but only a doctors note can confirm this.

As a manager I'd feel so bad if someone couldn't tell me what was going on. Say it was for a miscarriage or they were feeling suicidal, I'd want to make sure I could offer support like a referral to our workplace counselling scheme. If someone tells me flu and they don't want to say anymore, that's fine. For me it's not to be nosy or get you to divulge personal info for the craic but to make sure they're getting the right support. If they don't want to talk about it anymore then I won't push it but will make sure they know I can offer support if needed.

There is a serious lack of discretion at my workplace and the office is open plan. My manager isn't based in the department and I've to ring in and give a colleague the information. As soon at they hang up the phone they'll relay that information to the rest of the room.

If it's something really personal I tend to phone in with something vague and then discuss the actual reason at my return to work interview, adding that I disagree with the process regarding phoning in.

We had an incident before where someone phoned in having had a miscarriage (wasn't common knowledge she was pregnant) and this was shared with the entire workforce and on her return she was bombarded with questions.

@Velvetchocolate

Well, they aren’t in the office, are they?

But more to the point I am not a doctor and I can’t say what it is without a diagnosis. Only the symptoms. I can say ‘I think it is measles’ but only a doctors note can confirm this.

I phoned in once with food poisoning and my non medically trained colleague told me it was more likely to be a bug.

No you don't have to give symptoms over the phone and totally UR to expect staff to do this.

At my work (secondary school) staff absence messages are picked up by anyone on admin but on return to work we complete a brief questionnaire with line manager, which asks for brief description of symptoms, did you contact GP/hospital/pharmacy/was it work related? etc.

In my old job it was so the other 4 staff could decide between them if they believed your excuse or not

But @Sedai - it’s not about you.

It’s up to the individual if they feel comfortable enough to share it.

I’m grouchy today but seriously who thinks about how they’d feel upon someone saying they miscarried? I’m able to decide for myself what and if any support I need!

My work needs to record sickness in a specific way - eg Cold/Flu, Viral Illness, Stomach Issues etc. as that's how they track it for occupation health - so 'I'm ill' doesn;t cut it

I have no issue telling work I have a cold or a tummy upset - sorry

It also helps spot patterns.

Where DH used to work they realised (after too long) that the number of staff with migraines on a Thursday - the day after one of the big cleans were done - was much higher than any other day.

Your work has decided that they want to. They don’t , actually, need to.

The only thing I don't like about this, is that all my colleagues seem to know the details the next day. Whenever I have been off sick, the next day someone inevitably will say 'is your migraine better?' 'Do you think it was just a bug or something you ate?'

I don't really mind...but it makes me wonder how the information is shared and what the tone is, are management bitching about us? Gossiping? Is someone filtering information from management to the rest of the building? Can be awkward.

well that is the system they use so my choice is leave work or be a grown up and tell my line manager roughly what is wrong - no need for angst or drama

Do you think the poster above is not being a grown up because she doesn’t feel comfortable disclosing her miscarriage?

I always wonder why people are so unpleasant on here. Not wanting to relay personal info isn’t linked to maturity or otherwise. For me, I just don’t like discussing health matters on the phone, because it feels like I am justifying why I’m off. ‘I’m ill’ should be enough.

@Velvetchocolate

But *@Sedai* - it’s not about you.

It’s up to the individual if they feel comfortable enough to share it.

I’m grouchy today but seriously who thinks about how they’d feel upon someone saying they miscarried? I’m able to decide for myself what and if any support I need!

100 per cent it is about the individual, but I take my duty of care seriously. At the end of the day, you don't HAVE to answer or give me any more information. For every post like this, there's multiple of people who feel they have been neglected and let down by their work when they were ill and in need.