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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked at how much time off sick some people have?

468 replies

Enfys1982 · 15/06/2023 12:54

I work in a school and since I started in the sector it’s been a bit of eye opener to me how much sick time some people seem to take, and it always seems to be the same people. Days here and there, sometimes weeks on end then they come back for a bit go off again. As I said always the same people.

The last time I was off was last year when I had Covid, and I was only off because then you still legally had to isolate if positive. I actually felt well enough to go in. Before that I genuinely can’t remember when I was off sick. If I feel bad I just dose myself up and get on with it.

AIBU to think it displays a lack of resilience?

OP posts:
HippoStraw · 17/06/2023 15:28

Yes, plus both are probably more than averagely full of people with germs!

HippoStraw · 17/06/2023 15:28

Previous post meant schools and hospitals

OpenDoors72 · 17/06/2023 21:00

NotEverORNever · 17/06/2023 15:26

Sickness rates are usually a barometer for working conditions. Which are shit in the NHS and teaching. This is why they have such high sickness rates

Ok, _I'm playing devils advocate here but are sickness rates also a barometer for work environments where there is generous sickness leave pay and which are heavily unionized?

Pretty much. Banking is high stress, long hours though contract staff are almost never off.

SparklyShark · 17/06/2023 22:48

HRTQueen · 17/06/2023 14:45

I’m equating those that take unnecessary sick leave becuase they are lazy and entitled, their attitude is shown in how they work

the list of excuses is endless yes the are lazy yes they are entitled when they are at work yes that are selfish

how has it become acceptable to be this way they know they can get away with it and they dorn give a shit

this isn’t about those who genuinely struggle it’s about those that absolutely take the piss becuase they can. It’s rife in the NHS

Show quote history

That is a performance issue and not a sick leave absence issue.

They are not the same thing.

SparklyShark · 17/06/2023 22:57

RoobarbandCustud · 17/06/2023 12:02

If you have good health it may be tempting to feel this way, but I had a few months of illness when I could literally only work or rest. I didn't take any time off as you drag yourself in don't you, but I only endured this for 3 months before, thank God, it suddenly got better. As a family with primary age kids we could not have managed any longer - primary school aged kids cooking supper because partner working a late shift, sleeping on the bench in the swimming pool changing room once the kids had gone in for their lesson, setting an alarm to get out of bed mid evening to collect from Brownies etc was not tenable long term. I would have had to go off sick and would have eventually lost my job, we would have lost the house etc I live in dread of recurrence and have huge sympathy for people struck down by fibromyalgia, ME, long Covid etc. Before this happened to me I was a bit sceptical like you.

I think this is probably the best response.

My own disability is not one of those listed but I absolutely relate to the experience you had for those 3 months in terms of energy.

There are serious limits on my life. I care about my work and am proud of the contribution which I make - which is a large one. And honestly that shouldn't come into it. Some people need more time off work than others, that is not always a reflection on their character and/or work ethic.

I have had many weeks and months where I have relinquished most other basic functions in life in order to meet my work commitments.

For many months I have not been able to do much beyond working and sleeping. But I have made compromises that most people clearly do not understand in order to be at work, and do my best because I care about what I do.

I would not wish the experience you had on anyone, and neither would I want anyone to live with the challenges that I do. And many who have a much harder time than me! But, I do think there needs to be a lot more education here.

I came in quite strong against OPs point about reliance. I stand by that.

SparklyShark · 17/06/2023 23:02
  • resilience
SoccerStars · 17/06/2023 23:16

Spreadbed · 15/06/2023 13:34

Obviously there are people who suffer from disabilities and long term illness, which is something else entirely and yes they should not be judged for being off sick.

However I used to have view of the illness reports in an old job a few years ago, and the number of people (always the same few) who were frequently off with ‘cold’ ‘sore throat’ ‘didn’t sleep well’ as the reasons was so much higher and more often than I realised. I don’t think it’s lack of resilience for these people, they simply do it because they can get away with it.

“Didn’t sleep well” might be insomnia btw. As someone who has struggled with sleep over the years and thankfully WFH so I can nap or lie down during breaks going to work feeling sleep deprived is no joke. Obviously can’t say for sure if Those people struggled to sleep but it’s a possibility and we just don’t know.

SoccerStars · 17/06/2023 23:21

OpenDoors72 · 17/06/2023 21:00

Pretty much. Banking is high stress, long hours though contract staff are almost never off.

Show quote history

Another reason is bullying. I have a lot of friends who are nurses working at different hospitals and quite a few report instances of workplace bullying. I think there was a report about bullying in the NHS out recently. I’ve seen it happen in schools too and various other workplaces as well

HRTQueen · 18/06/2023 00:21

SparklyShark · 17/06/2023 22:48

That is a performance issue and not a sick leave absence issue.

They are not the same thing.

Show quote history

Of course it’s an a absence issues when they take a number of days off sick

their attitude to work shows with their poor work ethic

I can’t understand and I don’t why poor work ethic and laziness is defended so much but it
is MN

NannyOggsWhiskyStash · 18/06/2023 00:29

I think the op is talking about blatant skivers. Although if someone is so sick that they are continually off, would they not be better giving the job up or changing jobs? It's also quite annoying to have to pick up other people's work for months on end. I came across this a lot in the NHS unfortunately and it was always the same people.

lieselotte · 20/06/2023 20:43

bluetongue · 17/06/2023 11:58

Oh and the attitude that a single day off is probably dodgy is completely wrong. I try not to take time off sick but I do get migraines and usually a day off is enough. There will also be times when I’m not 100% and will make it in most days but there might be a day or two when I do need a day off. Would workplaces rather everyone take a whole week off every time they are unwell at all?

Yes this is a stupid attitude for HR teams to take.

Along with the idea that if you are ill on a Monday or a Friday you are swinging the lead. Illness doesn't recognise days of the week I'm afraid, and we are not all hungover on a Monday. If anyone in my HR team said that to me on a Monday they'd get a earful and wish they hadn't.

mayorofcasterbridge · 27/06/2023 17:57

lieselotte · 20/06/2023 20:43

Yes this is a stupid attitude for HR teams to take.

Along with the idea that if you are ill on a Monday or a Friday you are swinging the lead. Illness doesn't recognise days of the week I'm afraid, and we are not all hungover on a Monday. If anyone in my HR team said that to me on a Monday they'd get a earful and wish they hadn't.

Show quote history

I doubt any HR person with half a brain would make anything of the odd Monday or Friday off.

The issue is where there is a pattern of taking an extra weekend day. For someone with say, substance abuse issues, there can be a pattern of sick leave on Mondays after a binge at the weekend.

HotWithNoRain · 27/06/2023 21:27

@mayorofcasterbridge
I doubt any HR person with half a brain would make anything of the odd Monday or Friday off

I think it's from pre Covid so may be out of date but I think it's over a third of sick days are taken on Mondays.

Florenz · 27/06/2023 21:35

Disgusted to hear that Northern Ireland police have 550 officers off sick on any one day. There's 6700 officers in the force so that's nearly 10% absenteeism. Shocking.

GymBergerac · 27/06/2023 21:43

Well generally I'm super fit and well. Probably less than five days sick in thirty odd years full time employment.
Sadly aged 54 my body has had a bit of a wobble and I'm having monthly issues where I struggle to leave the bathroom for more than a few minutes. Luckily my manager is understanding, concerned and tolerant.
And if my sickness levels go up then so what? So people are playing games but a huge number of folks have issues that nobody knows about.

Teder · 27/06/2023 22:26

Florenz · 27/06/2023 21:35

Disgusted to hear that Northern Ireland police have 550 officers off sick on any one day. There's 6700 officers in the force so that's nearly 10% absenteeism. Shocking.

A little bit of critical thinking goes a long way.

I do not work for the police force but I am aware they are subject to a much higher probability of assaults and injuries than, for example; an accountant who works at a desk for the day.

Florenz · 27/06/2023 23:11

The public foots the bill for all this absenteeism. I think at least some of the police are swinging the lead.

Spinewars23 · 27/06/2023 23:28

Ah, remember the mums nets brigade telling me back ache didn’t mean a thing in their little world.

Saw surgery lights Friday 27th January at 1pm when put to sleep (mumsnet medical’) came round about 6pm thinking my throat had been slit. Oh it had been!

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