…to ask whether it looks really bad on me if I take a few days off work?

[GeneralistNotASpecialist]

Hi MNers,

So, the situation is I’ve been in my new job for a month and have had the misfortune of catching what seems to be a horrible cold which has manifested itself since Saturday evening. I’ve gargled salt water, drank plenty of fluids, rested the past day and a half etc. but my throat is still excruciating, nose is blocked and I feel shattered.

A few days into my new job I had to take 2 days off as there was a sloped ceiling above my desk which I wasn’t yet accustomed to and I hit my head pretty hard, my fault obviously but I have had a few concussions in the past so to be on the safe side I took 2 days off to rest as my headache was pretty awful and I had some brain fog.

I’m aware I probably sound like a huge snowflake, I promise I’m not, in past jobs I’ve only had 3 days off in the space of a few years of being with an employer but have clearly been unlucky with my health starting this new role.

Please don’t hold back, I need advice, AIBU to take a day or two off, particularly in the eyes of my new employer whilst in my probation period? Thanks in advance, I just feel awful at the moment but am dreading having to make another sick call but equally I don’t know if I can power through and it’s very obvious in my voice that I’m ill and there’s a big team meeting I was going to shadow and I guess people wouldn’t appreciate me attending and spreading my germs everywhere as I loathe when people do that in my presence.

Go in and then go home when they have all seen how unwell you are?

I wouldn't.

Go in, let them see how ill you are, and let them send you home.

If you’re ill you’re ill

First of all, if you are too unwell to work then you’re too unwell to work, it can’t be helped so if you genuinely don’t feel able to work then it’s as simple as that end of story. That said though although I would like to think employers would be understanding, in reality I suspect for most 4 days sick in 4 weeks would be a red flag and would “mark” your card in terms of probation but if you are otherwise competent I don’t imagine it would be a reason to fail your probation.

This

I'd genuinely go in and then see if you can power through or at least get sent home once you've been ill.

I know you shouldn't have too, but two instances of sick in the first month, when on probation is going to look so so bad.

I took 2 days off to rest as my headache was pretty awful and I had some brain fog. did you seek medical attention?

I think if you're as poorly as that and your employers have been supportive etc. so far, you should take it off. I wouldn't be cross at any of my new starters being ill - there's so many bugs going around. I'd just want them to rest up!

It's always nerve-wracking having to take any time off during probation, but it can't be helped. Plus, as you say, I'm sure they wouldn't want to catch it at the meeting.

Hope you feel better soon.

You can't help being ill.

What absolutely is worse is being a martyr, struggling in and making everyone else ill. Don't do that.

Two lots of sickness in a month would set alarm bells ringing for me.

Sorry OP, on this occasion I think you should go in or wfh. Whatever is normal.

Go in.

"I had to take 2 days off as there was a sloped ceiling above my desk which I wasn’t yet accustomed to and I hit my head pretty hard,"

Why is this your fault? Seems to be a health and safety issue in your office. I sleep in my attic, but I don't expect my office to be in one.

Personally, I’d go in and show my face. If you’re struggling later on, go home.

Yes I'd be making sure this was in the accident book

If you hit your head so hard you needed two days to rest you needed medical attention and your employer should have been made aware immediately.

I would be concerned about the amount of absences yes, but not if you had told me and your work was good otherwise.

2 instances of sickness in the first month does not look good. I would only take time off in the first few months of a new job if I really needed it, I definitely wouldn’t have taken 2 days off because I got my head on the ceiling and had slight concussion, or a cold.

Think you should take lemsip snd power through. 2 episodes of sickness in such a short time will set alarm bells ringing.

Did you seek medical attention for the concussion and report it as an accident at work?

You have a cold. Take some day nurse and go to work.

I would definitely think you are a snowflake if you took time off for a cold. Especially as you haven't been there for years.

Can you work from home? The bug that you have sounds similar to one that has been going around my family and if so you may need a week or more to start feeling better. Also it’s very contagious.
My son felt rough but worked from home but the children have been off from school for a week. My daughter in law is still suffering with a really bad throat & night time cough.

Can’t you wfh and join your meeting on teams?

id take a dim view if one of my team was off twice in a month. More so if there were new.

Exactly this! The sloped ceiling is a health and safety issue. Please make sure this was worn up in the accident book. This was your employers fault nor than yours.
You're ill, take the sick leave and no you don't need to go in to the office to "show" people how ill you are! That's very irresponsible to spread the cold virus around like that.

Do you also make them work under sloped ceilings?

Look, I had someone start recently (last Octoberish) and then had to quickly take time off for covid, a bereavment, then something nasty her daughter brought home from nursery (we all remember those years). She also has a medical issue that means that she needs time off for hospital appointments.

The only thing I cared about was that she kept me in the loop and that she didn't try to work when she wasn't well enough. She's been a fantastic employee when she's been here, and I was more concerned that she was trying to work when she was unwell. This was because she's been totally transparent about her situation.

If you aren't well, you aren't well. No one is handing out attendance prizes.

Thanks everyone for the responses, regardless of your perspectives, I do really appreciate gaging what the general consensus is here.

Just to clarify, I did tell my employer about hitting my head at work on the sloping wall overhead. I didn’t seek medical attention as in the past when I had a concussion they don’t do a scan in A&E unless you are exhibiting stroke-like symptoms, which obviously I wasn’t so they would just do the usual ‘Touch your nose, push me away as hard as you can etc.’ tests and I could do all of those things. If I was unconscious after the knock or had weakness then I would’ve got a medical opinion but this isn’t my first rodeo with head injuries unfortunately so I know how they assess them and it’s very minimal in terms of any investigations.

I will see how I feel in the morning but it was a real struggle to cut a few vegetables just now. I feel very shaky in the last hour and my knees are aching which isn’t normal for me so I’m worried it’s full-blown flu.