To want to take a sick day when I’m not sick

[Charlottestar]

I’m not sick but I AM very tired. Desperate for a day to myself …

would you

No they don't

@Bettyboop3 …you started your own thread about faking a covid test result only in October !

If you're that tired that you're struggling to cope you're bordering on ill anyway. Try and make some life changes first but if u can't do this in the near future then yes take a sick day.

@Wereongunoil No, of course the answers wouldn't be the same for a surgeon, lorry driver, or indeed air traffic controller. Because in those jobs, tiredness can kill people. But for most people in most jobs (including my own, but also teaching, IT, finance, government, retail, hospitality and many many more) it is perfectly possible to do a job whilst tired, and if everyone took time off work when they were tired in these sectors, the economy would grind to a halt.

Well I've managed nearly 9 years in this job without a day off sick, so not 'everyone'.

I sound much more unsympathetic to you than is intended OP, and I really do sympathise. I've been there. But you asked whether people felt you should take a sick day when not sick, and as always in AIBU, there's a variety of views!

Tbh @Charlottestar if I were in your situation and asking a friend for help I would probably say I was ill.
Which, in fact, is what you would be telling your colleagues if you phone in sick!

Ignore the lot of them.

Burnout is real and sometimes you just need space to rest and relax without anyone bothering you.

The world will keep on turning if you take a day off.

DH is similar with work. But he is more flexible so if he’s under the weather he can just ‘show up’ for teams meetings and sleep/rest other times (not saying this is the same for you just an observation.)

I'd spot it because thirty years in teaching gives you insight into those that are truly suffering and those that are flakes. I've managed many flakes on their merry way to competency procedures, they give the vast majority of the profession a bad name. If you're full time and a single mum I might still muster up some sympathy as this is a tough time of year and the fact you had half term a week ago is irrelevant, one bad day can push you over the edge. If you're not a single mum and not full time, my vote is firmly YABU.

@Shouldawouldacoulda30

Bettyboop3 …you started your own thread about faking a covid test result only in October !

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I don’t mind your views at all @adviceseeker77 but I don’t think an entire generation should be written off because of them, especially when I am not even of that generation!

I know ta frowned upon on MN and makes you a despicable, workshop liar…but I take at least a day off every year, sometimes two, when I’m tired and mentally need a break, My job is high pressure, and I don’t always have to recover at weekends. We aren’t allowed to take holiday leave at short notice. Sometimes you just need to have a duvet day or a self care day or just SLEEP.

I’ve actually got a pretty good sickness record, and I’m sure that this helps. I don’t get run down or burnt out.

Sure, take it. You don't want to become overly exhausted and burned out or you'll land yourself and your employer in a lot more trouble than if you'd just pulled one sick day. Make up a mild issue and call in, rest and recharge yourself and make sure you go to bed early. As long as you're not taking sick days every other week it'll be fine - and if you were, your employer would absolutely deal with that anyway. Have a nice rest!

work shy liar

Sorry about typos!

People have time off for stress or bad backs because the condition either makes them impossible for them to do their job properly, or because doing their job would make the condition worse/delay their recovery.

They have time off for contagious conditions even if they don’t feel that ill to avoid passing them on to other people.

If you are so tired you can’t function, perhaps because you’ve been up all night dealing with an emergency, then yes. Otherwise, no.

You sound like some of the teachers I worked with who took days off when they'd done so many cover lessons because they thought they deserved it.

I think you said you work pt. What do you do on your days off with your toddler? Can you get more done then so you don't need to - eg service the car - on your rare days off alone? One of mine was very easygoing as a toddler and I just took her to do chores - shopping, etc - and I could get stuff done at home. She would also nap wherever. We obviously did fun toddler things like playgroup and meeting friends at the farm, but as I only worked 3 days, we had 2 days to do stuff together and it was pretty manageable. Obviously hair appointments no. However the other one has ASD and was more of a handful and stopped napping at 18mo, so I was more limited.

It’s dishonesty. It’s theft. Taking money (pay for work) when you haven’t worked.

@Hobbi i don’t believe that.

I have not been teaching as long as you, but still a very long time. I have known colleagues who have continued to come in when battling alcoholism (in one sad case) and going through very acrimonious divorces and bereavements.

We do because there is a culture that you have to show up, it’s what we do. Then someone goes off and are labelled a ‘flake’, and the truth is you cannot know.

I probably will be ill at some point this term and my being part time has nothing to do with it. If I’m ill on a Wednesday then sorry about that but I can’t control it.

Erm, PPA and training days are for working, not resting. It's just not time supervising children.

Supply teachers - which school budgets can ill afford.

Sounds like you are overwhelmed

@Charlottestar Yes, I know and I was being slightly flippant with the Gen Z comment. But there is a stark difference in attitudes to work and entitlement these days from when I was younger (and I'm not even that old).

I actually don't even think pulling sickies is that bad, if it's occasional. But I think people should be honest about what they're doing, as they used to be, rather than branding it a 'mental health day' or 'self care'. Having dealt up close with people who are suffering from some really serious mental health issues, I find it slightly insulting.

I'd just go with over dramatic.

My point is yo u can't say you never get time to yourself when you literally had two "days" to yourself but in retrospect wish you'd done something different with them.

Having said that tho, I think there's a difference in calling in sick when you're totally well and calling in sick when you're run down and over whelmed and it's about protecting your MH. One day off now may well save you a month off later