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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

ill, boss not replying to email

95 replies

blephly · 06/03/2023 10:01

Should I send a follow up? A text?

Pretty crap but we normally wfh, today was going to be an in person meeting then dinner. Me, my boss and then some junior collegues.

Boss mainly set it up as she wanted people to meet in person, and I was going to go through a project I'd been doing as the main event, so feel really guilty. Not sure if she has too much to specifically discuss.

I have raging tonsillitis which is so bad it's making me gag and can barely speak. Going in is impossible. Emailed at 7am, no reply from boss. Meeting is at 10:30 and have real anxiety there's going to be an awkward 10 mins where people think I just haven't shown up.

Should I chase up boss? She has previously mentioned how she can't keep up with email, so not sure if she's not replying to save time, or becasue she hasn't seen it. I do normally always get a reply from her.

OP posts:

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 06/03/2023 11:24

Could you let one of the other junior attendees know you can't make it - you don't have to give any details, just that due to unforeseen circumstances you're having to send your apologies for the meeting, so not to wait for you.

Ignore that, just seen your update, glad it's sorted.

Viviennemary · 06/03/2023 11:27

Not surprised. If I was your boss I would be a bit sceptical about this illness. Probably just annoyed at your non attendance. Not too ill to be on MN.

Moveoverdarlin · 06/03/2023 11:28

I’d especially ring in this instance where there is a lunch booking and several other people involved. I can’t believe adults have to go on an Internet forum and ask ‘I’ve got a meeting with my boss, I can’t make it, I’ve emailed but no reply?’ Jesus. Ring. If no answer, leave a message. My 7 year old could figure all this out. Don’t leave it until she responds or at least until you can verify you were trying to get in touch.

OngoingCrisis · 06/03/2023 11:32

There's always the "not too ill to be on MN" responses. Typing a post on your phone is different to having to concentrate at work when you have a fever. I've had bacterial tonsilitis so I understand what it feels like but it didn't mean my hands stopped working to send a couple of texts

Starlightstarbright1 · 06/03/2023 11:36

I have whatsapp when i have been ill.. current job--.. no one has ever suggested i do otherwise.

Glad you got a reply op.. hopefully you will feel better really soon

TeenLifeMum · 06/03/2023 11:36

We send email or text for sickness in my team. Mn seems to think this is odd but it’s my normal. Mind you, I’ve only had 2 days in over a year. I did call once when I had a migraine because I couldn’t open my eyes to type a message.

if there was no response, I would call though.

whoruntheworldgirls · 06/03/2023 11:45

Hope you feel better soon OP.
Where i work email/text to say your off ill is fine, we don't expect a call.

melj1213 · 06/03/2023 11:46

We always have to ring in if we are sick but I will often also give my direct supervisor a message via WhatsApp/FB messenger just to make sure they get the message.

I work in retail so it's the duty manager you talk to and they then pass your message on to your department manager. If I have been up all night being sick and am meant to be in at lunchtime then I will call the duty manager at 5am (we have night shift) before I go to bed to let them know officially; then I send my supervisor a WA message (for them to pick up whenever they get up and into work) so they know asap, just in case the duty manager doesn't pass on my message first thing; then I go to bed and rest. Whenever I wake up later on I then call my supervisor directly just to give an update (whether I'm feeling better/worse, how long I think I'll be off etc) then go back to resting.

If it's something where I can't physically speak then after the initial sick call to the duty manager (even if it was whispered/croaked) I'd stick to messages with my supervisor, but I'd explain why I didn't call in the first message.

boysmum23 · 06/03/2023 11:48

honestly people on this forum can start an argument over anything, some of these replies are just so bitchy.

OP did you manage to sort it in the end, i was about to say give her a quick ring then saw the time so assume its sorted.
Hope your feeling better soon

smldnlove · 06/03/2023 11:52

I have literally never called in sick and work in financial services and have previously worked across a range of industries (civil service, creative agencies, charity sector) so completely agree with OP as a valid question... I’d have followed up with a text as minimum.

CinnamonsWake · 06/03/2023 11:55

Glad it’s sorted OP and hope you feel better soon.

I think the weirdest thing is that your boss saw the original email and didn’t reply! I can’t imagine not spending 30 seconds to reply to say ‘get well soon’ to a colleague even if I was snowed under with emails.

WisteriaLodge · 06/03/2023 12:02

Mialouu · 06/03/2023 11:02

I would definitely phone. You don't know if they've got the email so why wouldn't you phone?

Yes and it also shows that emailing in sick is a crap way of doing things, you never know if they've read it, too much dicking about chasing it up, it's so much simpler to phone in and speak to someone, job done.

Coffeaddict · 06/03/2023 12:03

I can also email in sick so your not alone OP

Frabbits · 06/03/2023 12:08

Viviennemary · 06/03/2023 11:27

Not surprised. If I was your boss I would be a bit sceptical about this illness. Probably just annoyed at your non attendance. Not too ill to be on MN.

How shit easy is your job if you think that putting a post on MN is as hard as a normal working day?

KevinsChilli · 06/03/2023 12:19

I assumed calling in sick was an 'old fashioned' thing in some companies now, what with WFH and having comms via Teams/texts/emails etc. Certainly these days myself and people I manage it's usually a Team's message to 'call in sick' rather than an actual phone call.

Sage396 · 06/03/2023 12:26

In my company (large multinational tech company), we dont have a process for making phone calls to our managers... I've worked here 6 years and have never spoken to any of my managers by phone, and don't know anyone who has. It's always just a Slack message. So people are just plain wrong saying that phonecalls are the expected and professional method for taking a sick day... This really isn't the case everywhere.

Iamsodonewith2020 · 06/03/2023 12:28

Blimey an email?? In my workplace (school) we have to call the headteacher AND. our head of year by 7.30am if we are sick, and thsts every day we are sick!!!!

whatadayforadaydream · 06/03/2023 12:30

Don't follow it up if your boss normally checks emails consistently. Chances are she's seen but is either busy or mildly annoyed.

FrostyFifi · 06/03/2023 12:33

Could you let one of the other junior attendees know you can't make it

From OPs post, she herself is not junior.

FrostyFifi · 06/03/2023 12:35

This thread is another interesting illustration of how many on MN thinks everything in the world works exactly per their experience of it, and they get very cross if that view is challenged.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 06/03/2023 12:36

FrostyFifi · 06/03/2023 12:33

Could you let one of the other junior attendees know you can't make it

From OPs post, she herself is not junior.

It's sorted now, obviously, but if OP is senior, it doesn't mean she can't let a junior colleague know she won't be there, to save them waiting - she wouldn't have to go into any detail about why not.

boysmum23 · 06/03/2023 12:39

FrostyFifi · 06/03/2023 12:35

This thread is another interesting illustration of how many on MN thinks everything in the world works exactly per their experience of it, and they get very cross if that view is challenged.

Crazy isn't it

Shinyandnew1 · 06/03/2023 12:39

The whole OP was stressing that she’d not got a reply from her boss and her meeting was in half an hour and asking, ‘ Should I chase up boss?‘.

Most replies said yes she should!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/03/2023 12:41

How does having tonsillitis make you unable to shower?

MalvernHillbilly · 06/03/2023 12:46

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/03/2023 12:41

How does having tonsillitis make you unable to shower?

Severe tonsillitis can make you feel absolutely awful! Unable to eat, high temperature, weak, in pain. At my worst (before having my tonsils whipped out as an adult) I wouldn’t have been well enough to stand for the duration of a shower.
I hope you feel better soon, OP.

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