To think colleague is taking the absolute piss?

[ChristmasTreescars]

Had about 6 weeks off work with long covid, I’ve had to do so much extra work because of it. Now she’s posting all over social media that she’s gone away to Norfolk for a getaway.

Recently a colleague attempted to cause trouble by reporting a sighting of a sick colleague in Tesco. My reply? They won't recover if they're dead from malnutrition.

There are those who are genuinely unwell, they’re off sick. You see them at Sainsbos or wherever and you don’t query it. You cover their work if you need to, they’d do the same for you. They don’t need to worry, we all believe them.

There’s the others though, the slackers. We all know who they are. They think we don’t know but we all do and they are really fucking irritating. The ones who take just the right about of sick leave before it becomes unpaid, then miraculously recover, for example. They are lazy and shit even when they bother their arse to show up.

You're not being a very good friend,are you ?

Oh the irony of your reply😀

I was off sick from work and was 'seen' dropping my son off to school... apparently a few colleagues had a gossip about how I shouldn't be out and about if I was unwell. Thankfully my manager who knows my work ethic said something sassy to them! Long Covid is horrific and I wouldn't wish it upon anybody who genuinely has it. I don't think your colleague would have posted if she was lying about being ill. A change of scenery can do wonders when you're unwell. YABU.

I have long covid, I do work full time and it has a huge impact on my day to day life. Today I had a lovely day in the sales and having lunch with DH. I’ve barely moved out of my living room for the last week, but was up to a day out. I’d be cross if someone queried it.

YABU. If a colleague being off puts too much pressure on the workforce then you need to look towards management to see what they’re doing about it, not bitching about why your colleague is off and imagining what they’re capable of.

I used to roll my eyes at colleagues who, when one of their team phoned in sick would say, in suspicious tones "Well she was perfectly okay last night". As if no-one ever woke up in the morning with a temperature or D&V.

I had a colleague call in with D&V and one member of staff was very quick to say she had been online the night before.

Probably browsing FB while sitting on the toilet, but being ‘online’ doesn’t mean you are well enough to work.

no one in mn likes threads like this as most are on mega money and professionals apparently lol but yes I can see your point and it’s annoying. Especially when your doing extra work to cover this person. I see it all the time at my work, it’s bloody annoying.

It used to be quite normal for people to go to the coast or countryside to convalesce after a long illness.

And it's not really any of your business. She's presumably on certified sick leave and can do whatever she likes.

It is very much not unlimited, and in the part of the public sector I work in it is very heavily regulated. I've known people to lose their job, through lack of capability, due to to having cancer. Quite the opposite of unlimited I'd say.

Yes, the public sector tends to have some "better" conditions than the private but it's absolutely fecked post covid, and definitely not the easy ride that some people/parts of the press seem to think it is.

Presumably, she would have time off at Christmas anyway - but can understand why having to cover her would be a pain.

YABVU.

Long covid means you get absolutely shattered after any sort of mental or physical exertion. Pootling around in Norfolk isn't likely to be mentally or physically strenuous.

I had something similar and being somewhere in nature where I could go walks and build up stamina really helped me recover.

Unless there is a drip feed and she is going to a boot camp in the day and clubbing every night.

Going away and working all day are two entirely different things.

I had 4 months off for something a few years ago, throughout that time I had multiple days/nights out (maybe a weekend away too but I can't remember). The reality was going out probably once a fortnight was very very different from me working a 40 hour week, plus huge commute etc etc. I was off with a physical illness, but I believe that if I never left the house or ever had fun while I was well enough in that time, it would have become a huge issue for my mental health and I would have had longer off.

Going away might be exactly what she needs to get herself ready to get back to work.

Would I be putting it on social media? No. Do I thing she is wrong to go away? Also no.

I never said she was my friend. I have ex and present colleagues on my social media - some I’ve been friends with since 19/20.

But your reply suggested you were friends which is why you had her on socials? Very strange.

anyway the best thing to do is to keep your beak out, stop worrying about other people’s sick leave and speak to your boss about needing cover to pick up the slack like a grown up. Your anger is misplaced.

Sorry OP but you seem to be the sort of person that I really dislike. I am disabled with a condition which varies in severity from day to day. Most days I literally can't get out of bed, and I am on high doses of morphine EVERY day to try to keep the pain under some sort of control, but I do have the odd day where I might appear to be 'normal' for want of a better description. These are few and far between, but if you were my friend on social media, I dare say you'd be coming up with theories about how I'm not disabled, and am working the system! Before you go stirring up trouble for someone, try walking a mile in their shoes, as you really DON'T KNOW what her situation is. She may be taking the piss, or she may not, but it's not your business, so stop being a trouble maker, it's not a nice trait.

I'm off sick and I've been out to the shops. Wouldn't give a rats arse who saw me either, it's none of anyones business.

Maybe you and your merchant bankers should have just kept your noses out.

Ah I see what you did there @EddietheEagle but it was of course retail banking. The moral of the story was lost on you, but the point about not being a dick when you're not actually sick remains.

This types of threads crop up on MN a lot.
Believe it or not, if you are off sick, you are actually allowed to leave your house and do things.
Going to the shops, or even going on a little break, does not mean someone is fit to return to work.
I was off sick, and was hauled into the manager's office because someone saw me in a pub. I used to hear gossip about how so and so was off sick, but was seen in Tesco. Keep your beak out.
The fact you are struggling with the extra work load is nothing to do with your colleague, and is to do with management.

OP, you don't happen to work in a school do you?

Sick people can travel. Sick people can function but might not be able to function in a job roll.i can totally understand this being the case with the symptoms of long covid.it would make any form of needed intelligent thinking impossible! And it's not fun yo experience either.
People living with illness that stops them living a life don't fucking enjoy it you no.having your whole life turned upside down isn't something people usually yippee over.being off sick.not earning.not having your usual routines,strength purpose feels horrid. So often on here it's as if the sufferer is getting something brilliant out of being ill!
So unless yes,they are genuinely faking it.being ill,too I'll to live your life is actually pretty shit.

Long Covid is shit to have

she has been signed off, many take holidays when signed off as a way of recuperating

if you are having issues covering the work speak to your employer