…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.

Wfh?

If you have to debate it on here then I'd say you're not that sick. Take paracetamol and even codeine. Go on and soldier on and if they send you home then fine. If you're too ill to work you'd just be in your bed and no guilt or questioning in your mind.

You took 2 days off because you banged your head, yet didn't seek medical attention
Now you have a cold
An employer's nightmare I'm afraid

Why would you judge her rather than the employer that makes her work in dangerous conditions?

I presume she had a bad headache and that's why she didn't go in.

Your workspace doesn’t sound fit for purpose tbh with that sloping ceiling. Do you have a health and safety officer?

Have you had multiple concussions?

I've had many and a small knock to the head is enough to bring back concussion type symptoms. Concussions are cumulative, once you've had a few you're significantly more susceptible so a "banged head" another would be able to shake off could result in weeks off work for me.

There's nothing to be done for a "mild" concussion (which is still a brain injury) and it would be a waste of A&Es time to see me as I know the symptoms well enough to know what is and isn't a concern.

I essentially get migraine symptoms and it's absolutely impossible to do quality work because staring at a screen makes it worse. Concussions REQUIRE rest, pushing through can result in long term damage.

Your first mistake was taking two days off with a banged head. From what you have told us, it wasn't serious. As a manager, I would already be unimpressed.

By all means take a few more days off work with your cold, but don't be surprised if you fail your probation.

For reference, concussions are temporary (short to medium term) brain injuries and symptoms include brain fog and a persistent headache, as the OP described having. It's very likely it was a concussion.

As per the NHS medical advice you do not need to seek medical attention unless there are more concerning symptoms which could suggest a brain bleed or further damage

The first one wasn't your fault tbh. It was employers fault. They need to up their health and safety game.

If you are that ill what on earth are you doing cooking / chopping vegetables??

You can probably gauge by now what sort of a view your employer takes to sick leave. If they are the sort to get irritated by someone taking time off for a cold / headache then I would really try and drag myself in just so you get through probation. If they, on the other hand, are a pretty decent employer/manager and would rather sick employees stay home for a day or 2 to recover then I would do that.

Just to clarify, I did tell my employer about hitting my head at work on the sloping wall overhead.

It’s not clear though, was it registered as a workplace accident? Where I live, and I’m pretty sure it was also the case when I worked in the UK, any time off as a result of a workplace accident is not classed/counted as sick leave. If this is the case, then you have not had any leave to date. Having said that, no, I wouldn’t take time off for a cold in this situation. Medicate up, go in and wear a mask.