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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Calling in sick for work

23 replies

SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:29

More of a wwyd than an aibu.

In my workplace currently there are two wards in one unit. The big boss has decided he wants the two wards to be more integrated so every member of staff has to go on secondment to the other ward for a few weeks. Absolutely no one wants to, or thinks this is a good idea as the unit was split for good reason many years ago.

On the 20th, it was supposed to be my first day of secondment, but sods law, I had a rip roaring chest infection (and asthma) so called in sick as I couldn't even speak in full sentences. Gp sent me to a&e who kept me in overnight and sent me home with two weeks of steroids and antibiotics has I had consolidation on my chest x ray. All in all it took me nearly two weeks to feel well enough to go back, so I went back on Friday last week.

Then on Sunday, have woken up with a very painful dose of tonsillitis. I'm going to the walk in centre today as I still have a temp and quite a bit of pain after taking ibuprofen and paracetamol together. That being said I feel less atrocious than I did yesterday (I still have rigors though)

I'm off today but supposed to be doing the first of three 12 hour shifts tomorrow. It's going to look very suspicious if I call in but I'm just convinced I'll be well enough

Wwyd?

OP posts:
Papillon23 · 04/12/2023 07:32

Ah gosh I don't have any good answers OP.

What are the patients on the wards like? I.e. is tonsillitis going to kill anyone? Could you go in to show willing (if they're anything like my work they would send you home as soon as you got there)? Does your boss know you don't want to do the secondment?

sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 07:33

what’s your absence rate like aside from the two weeks you mention?

sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 07:34

and because something didn’t work “years ago” doesn’t mean that it is not worth trying again

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:36

I'm actually not overly bothered about the secondment, I'm quite happy to work anywhere. It's an acute medicine unit so yes some patients are very very poorly - think neutropenic sepsis from cancer. Some are fine, think a bit of cellulitis needing 24 hours of iv antibiotics. Some have covid, some have heart failure, stroke etc. It's like an a&e overflow, but we only take medical patients not surgical

OP posts:
Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:37

@sugarandsweetener this is my thinking, but big boss is not on the floor and we don't have a great deal of contact with him, so is likely to assume I'm of the same opinion as most of the rest of the staff

OP posts:
sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 07:38

SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:37

@sugarandsweetener this is my thinking, but big boss is not on the floor and we don't have a great deal of contact with him, so is likely to assume I'm of the same opinion as most of the rest of the staff

Absolutely no one wants to, or thinks this is a good idea as the unit was split for good reason many years ago.

does rather indicate you think the same 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:41

Well yes obviously I would rather stay on the ward I applied to work in and know but I'm quite aware that we can be seconded to any ward in the hospital if pressures demand it, and it's a chance to learn a new set of skills. My ward has enhanced care beds (like mini itu) but no triage, the other has triage and sdec but no enhanced care beds

OP posts:
coffeestrongblacknosugar · 04/12/2023 07:42

go in if you feel well enough, if not well enough you can come home sick. There are so many bugs going around just now - and I have had very similar to you recently. 3 weeks on my voice and sinus are still not 100% fixed.

Wishing you better soon. Acute Medicine is full on, especially at this time of year so you need to be fit to work.

Floopani · 04/12/2023 07:45

The secondment issue is a red herring. You're clearly too ill to work 3 12 hour shifts, and you will have evidence of treatment and prescriptions. Plus it doesn't sound like you should have patient contact.

Big boss will live, and it's their job to make this change work and support the staff with it. If this absence makes you hit a trigger or something then that is still completely separate to your feelings on this initiative - unless you have form for stroppy 'sickness'.

sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 07:45

SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:41

Well yes obviously I would rather stay on the ward I applied to work in and know but I'm quite aware that we can be seconded to any ward in the hospital if pressures demand it, and it's a chance to learn a new set of skills. My ward has enhanced care beds (like mini itu) but no triage, the other has triage and sdec but no enhanced care beds

sounds like a great opportunity to increase your skill set. I would give it a go but if my throat despite being dosed up to the max was impacting my ability to work - i would ask to leave

hir i would certainly give it a go with a sore throat (has tonsellitis been diagnosed?)

sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 07:47

tonsillitis isn’t infectious

GrannypantsMagee · 04/12/2023 07:48

If you are not well to work, you're not well to work. Healthcare is nuts for presenteeism. If it looks bad, so be it, you're still unwell regardless of timing. If this is for tomorrow though, you don't need to make the call right now, surely? You see how you actually feel later today.

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:51

I'm more than willing to give it a go the one shift I did on Friday was fine. I actually agree with the big boss that it should be more integrated as there is some cliqueyness that could do with being nipped in the bud.

I haven't been off sick for around a year and generally come in if I'm sick but well enough to work.

I think I'll go in in the morning and perhaps they will send me home. I still feel like shite today but I'm possibly turning a corner too.

I really dislike calling in sick as I feel like I'm letting the team down because yes, it is very full on, especially at this time of year

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 04/12/2023 07:52

Honestly if you're ill you're ill. It's really simple tbh.

The rest is a red herring. You're over complicating. It sounds like there's a culture of people taking sickies if you immediately fall under suspicion.

Make sure your illness is properly documented - fit note etc. That's it.

Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 04/12/2023 07:53

If you're sick, you're sick. It has nothing to do with the secondment that you do or don't want to do so take the time off. It doesn't matter what it might look like.

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:53

@sugarandsweetener yes it is. I'm not sure if mine is viral or bacterial (hence going to wic) but I get it about twice a year and can spot it a mile off

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sunglassesonthetable · 04/12/2023 07:56

Honestly it's a poor thing if people are working whilst not well. Haven't we learnt anything from Covid?

Ohtobetwentytwo · 04/12/2023 07:56

Agree with pp the secondment is a red herring.

In the nicest way, you probably dont register on Big Boss radar and you have a medical note so you're covered.

They will probably just get you to do the secondment another time. You arent replaceable at work but not at home so if you're I'll youre ill.

sunglassesonthetable · 04/12/2023 07:57

It's even worse to work if what you've got could be infectious.

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 08:00

I agree my line of work is bad presenteeism, we tend to have a not sick until your dead attitude 🙄

OP posts:
sugarandsweetener · 04/12/2023 08:01

SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 07:53

@sugarandsweetener yes it is. I'm not sure if mine is viral or bacterial (hence going to wic) but I get it about twice a year and can spot it a mile off

can return to work 24 hours after taking first antibiotic

Notsurewhatnext · 04/12/2023 08:12

you may feel better tomorrow. what is your general absence like? two absences in such a short time is a lot and sometimes, it cannot be helped but if you had a lot of time off, I would probably go in if your workplace has a tight absence management. after 3 absences annually, mine sets wheels in motion but only you can judge that.

Original poster
SusanSHelit · 04/12/2023 08:27

My last absence will have probably set wheels in motion as it was over 10 days. I'm on levels rather than stages though due to underlying condition (asthma)

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