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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU time off work ill

30 replies

Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 12:44

Changed username.
Teacher so setting work is more work then going in. I have an awfully sore throat and crackly ear. Second day off and struggling to get a doctor's appointment to check. Worried about absence as I've had to take time off for my kids having Covid. Since Jan I've had three days off with kids and this is fourth for me.

OP posts:
shouldistop · 16/02/2022 12:48

If you're too unwell to work then you're too unwell. I wouldn't go to the doctors about a sore throat though. Maybe if it was still sore 2 weeks later or you develop other symptoms that are worrying.

Original poster
Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 12:51

It's my ear that's problem as I can't hear well in it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 12:52

Thanks though @shouldistop just hate being off

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shouldistop · 16/02/2022 12:54

I'd try some decongestants but again wouldn't bother with a doctor unless I had something to suggest a bacterial infection like a very high temperature or a lot of pain then antibiotics may be useful. Or it went on for a long time.

ohhooh · 16/02/2022 12:55

How bad is the hearing? Is there somewhere local to you that does hearing tests or similar, they might be able to help? I'm not sure your GP would be much help!

shouldistop · 16/02/2022 12:55

The guilt of being off sick is worse than being sick sometimes but there's nothing you can do.

CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal · 16/02/2022 12:56

I’m not sure what your AIBU is. If you’re not well, you’re not well. The time off for looking after your children should be recorded differently at work, so it sounds as though this is your first instance of sickness. You would only have an issue in my workplace (also school) if this was your third instance of sickness in 12 months.

Original poster
Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 12:58

@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal I think it's my second. I'm not sure. What happens after three?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 16/02/2022 13:07

[quote Wedonttalk]@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal I think it's my second. I'm not sure. What happens after three?[/quote]
You might be put on stage 1 absence targets. Is your school an academy?

Aprilx · 16/02/2022 13:11

@Wedonttalk

It's my ear that's problem as I can't hear well in it.
It is hard enough to get a GP appointment, going for a sore throat and bad ear after one day seems unnecessary and they are not going to help you. Try throat lozenges? Eardrops?

It doesn’t sound like you have had four days off sick, just one? Your previous days presumably were emergency parental leave rather than sick days.

Maireas · 16/02/2022 13:15

You'll be interviewed by the Head or Deputy about your absences. Just explain the situation.
It often helps to explain what you're doing to support your health. It's unlikely that it'll be taken further.

BobHadBitchTits · 16/02/2022 13:28

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Starlightstarbright1 · 16/02/2022 13:30

Have you tried the pharmacist. They are really good.

shouldistop · 16/02/2022 13:31

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ClemDanFango · 16/02/2022 13:35

How unwell do you feel? If you can’t do any of your day to day things because you feel very very unwell then yes you should be at home.
If you can take a painkiller and carry on then I would go in. You might need the sick days for something more serious down the line.

saraclara · 16/02/2022 13:55

@ClemDanFango

How unwell do you feel? If you can’t do any of your day to day things because you feel very very unwell then yes you should be at home. If you can take a painkiller and carry on then I would go in. You might need the sick days for something more serious down the line.
Yep. This is the sort of thing I still went into work with. Like most of my teaching colleagues with families, I went in when I was ill, in order to be able to be off for my kids. I'm afraid that I would sometimes say it was me that was ill, rather than my kids. There was more tolerance for the latter. So going in with a sore throat or similar was the price I paid. I was only off for those illnesses where my whole body was affected - so the sort of big viruses that lay you low completely.
Summerofcontent · 16/02/2022 13:59

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girlmom21 · 16/02/2022 14:03

If you're unwell you're unwell.
Most places aren't counting covid-related absences as they were a legal requirement.
If you don't have any pain in your ear don't waste the doctors time. Just rest.

saraclara · 16/02/2022 14:11

@girlmom21

If you're unwell you're unwell. Most places aren't counting covid-related absences as they were a legal requirement. If you don't have any pain in your ear don't waste the doctors time. Just rest.
But what is 'unwell' in relation to not going to work? If everyone stayed off work when they had a cold, for instance, they'd soon be out of a job.

Sadly, teaching is one of those jobs where you really can't be off with every minor illness. Covering is too difficult, and it's not like a job where you can catch up on your missed work later. The knock-on effect of being absent too often leads to resentment among colleagues very quickly.

girlmom21 · 16/02/2022 14:19

@saraclara If she's not able to do her job she's too unwell to work

We've heard from teachers about how quickly germs get passed around at school - hence why many were so worried about covid - yet try and tell teachers they should go to work ill so they don't inconvenience anyone.

She's a grown woman - she'll know whether she should be at work or home

Original poster
Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 14:26

I can't hear out of my ear. I feel shattered and drifting in and out of sleep with a temperature. A day in the classroom would be too much.

OP posts:
shouldistop · 16/02/2022 14:28

If you have a temperature then you need to isolate and book a PCR test so it would possibly go down as Covid related absence which would look better on your record.

LolaSmiles · 16/02/2022 14:28

If you're not well, you're not well.

There's a reason schools are germ factories and it's because there's a lot of students and staff in them when they're not well enough to be.

Self certify for the first week and then get a doctors note if you need longer.

We've heard from teachers about how quickly germs get passed around at school - hence why many were so worried about covid - yet try and tell teachers they should go to work ill so they don't inconvenience anyone.
I agree with you and am a teacher. Unfortunately many schools make it worse for staff to be off sick than in. I've been guilty at times of going into work and setting exam papers, creative writing and reading work, for the day so that it's 5 lessons of quiet, and then I'd mark through the day, than be off sick and have to think of 5 hours of cover work that is relevant to where students are at, can be easily resourced, can be taught by a non-specialist.
Once I got into trouble from my HoD because whilst sick and in bed I sent cover work that could be printed off and given to the cover teacher. The complaint was that someone in school, who was paid more than me, had to print more than 1 sheet of A4. After that I decided that head of department could sort any of my cover out, and I refused to mark any of the rubbish cover work they set unless it was relevant to the pupils.

girlmom21 · 16/02/2022 14:31

@LolaSmiles it's batshit that you have to sort your own cover work - I've always thought that. There should be something generic and even off-curriculum if necessary that anyone can pick up and get on with.

Original poster
Wedonttalk · 16/02/2022 14:39

PCR was negative. Thanks for all replies.

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