How many sick days are you allowed to take?

[Abigail47]

In my last job, they didn't really care that much about sick leave. They would let people take up to about two weeks uncertified sick leave, and if you were certified for sick leave, you could take months of sick leave. They also didn't do return to work meetings for sick periods of less that five days.

I only took about four days sick leave in a year in that last job.

I started a new job seven months ago and I'm in shock.

I've taken four days sick leave in the whole seven month period. Two different periods of two days. I was sick. They were uncertified (as I had moved to a new area and hadn't registered with a local doctor in time) and I didn't get paid.

After each period I was called into an office with a manager and made to do a return to work meeting.
I was told in each meeting that too much sick leave can leave to contract termination.

My colleague just took five days certified sick leave, and on her return they said the same to her, that too much sick leave can lead to contract termination.

Aibu to think that four days sick leave in a whole year is not a lot.

Like we are going to get sick . Everyone does.
In one of my sick periods I totally lost my voice with a chest infection. I couldn't speak at all and I have a customer facing role.

What is sick leave like in your organisation?

I won't work for an employer with draconian attitudes to sick leave now. I'm rarely ill so not a work dodger at all. The only time I've been ill a lot in a job was the only time I worked for an employer where everyone felt they had to work through sickness, there were constant viral type illnesses doing the rounds all winter, it was awful. The staff were treated badly in other ways too.
Employers only behave this way because employees allow it. I'm always surprised on Mumsnet by how many people are supportive of these types of policies.

I've always had to have a return to work meeting after every absence, in the private and public (and charity!) sectors. Currently 7 months pregnant and had one day off last week with a horrible cold, bedbound all weekend and on this one day. Dragged myself in with it as it was getting worse 2 days the previous week due to work (teaching) commitments and came back after one sick day as I was running exams.

Still got warned (reluctantly by my LM) that as I'd also had one other day sick in the last 12 months (rolling) if I had 2 more sickness absences I think it's a work capability meeting.

We're also around hundreds of children with their germs every day who will get very close to you and then tell you their whole family has a vomiting bug, for example.

A previous charity job, if you had 3 sickness absences (eg 1 day each) in 12 months it would result in a disciplinary.

Is it a job where you're able to WFH if you're feeling not well enough to go in but still well enough to do something from home?

@AndCoronets Employers only behave this way because employees allow it. I'm always surprised on Mumsnet by how many people are supportive of these types of policies.

It's because people get fed up of the skivers whose antics result in more work for other, more conscientious, people to pick up.

I've re-read this thread. I can't get over the posts, I'm literally staggered by it. I myself am never ill, neither are my ds's, but if you think you can work with a proper cold you're wrong, because they can be nasty and some literally can't get out of bed.

I simply can't accept that 2 x 2 days is that extreme, agree with @xogossipgirlxo

"Didimum
I don’t think 4 days off in 7 months is a lot. I would barely notice.

Exactly. It’s like having a cold in i.e. November and sickness bug in February. What’s so weird and excessive about it."