To think your work should leave you alone when you're ill?

[Thatsnotmynameee]

I was off sick last week. Rare for me to be off, last time before last week it was 4 months ago and then 6 months before that one. I told them why I was off (standard illness) and when I would be back (few days) my manager rings me at lunchtime that day to "discuss my absence" what is the need for this?? I missed the call because I was asleep (because I was ill and been up most of the night being ill) it just seems like complete overkill. Let people rest ffs.

Couldn't agree more with this. Sorry, but most employers do not give a toss about your wellness. So stop running yourself into the ground for someone who would have your position filled in a week if something happened to you.

Most companies the trigger is 3 or more absences in a rolling year or 10 days or more in 12 months.

The manager could be referring to this. However, I don't think they would automatically think you lying abt the absences but they do need to treat everyone the same.

I actually agree with you OP. It’s not really about whether 3 instances of sick leave is a lot and whether a conversation about sick leave use is justified. The fact is, the conversation will wait until you return to work.

Obviously if someone is off for an extended period, say a month or so, then the manager might need to contact them at some point while they are off. But for a couple of days, no.

I remember once when I had flu, and my manager called me every bloody day. I had left work early so the first day of sick leave was really a half day, then I was off the next, and then the morning after that I got a call like “why aren’t you back at work yet? I really can’t understand why you’re not back yet!” Um, I have flu Sharon. Most people don’t just bounce back from flu after a day and a half.

People should be careful what they wish for Someone with norovirus went into my local Boots pharmacy last week. He shat himself while sitting in the waiting area It went all over the chair and floor.

I would consider that a lot. In my current job, which I've been in for 11 years, I've only needed time off for one bout of illness - Covid.

I've been off more than 3 days since January let alone in a year 😂 although I do have really shitty luck and pick up everything the kids bring home.
I'm currently awake with d&v but I'm due in work at 3pm 😖😖

Our policy is more than three sickness in two years would trigger a review.
I had eleven years without a day off sick and then four incide ts in two years. Two was chest infections/severe colds eleven months a part, one was off with concussion after being knocked off my bike and the final one was a minor operation.

It didn't result in a warning, just standard questions such as did I need any additional support at work, did I need help from occupational health, that kind of thing. There was information on other health services the employer offers. It was supportive. I think it would be different if they noticed a pattern of every Friday and Monday off or only being sick at half term or something
It's been over three years since this happened and I haven't been off sick since.

Just out of interest can anyone top my Dad’s record? 46 years without a single day off sick! He did have one dentist appointment.

He’s late 80s now and still super fit and healthy.

Well you are wrong. I've been off work once in the last 4 years. At my work, 3 absences within 12 months triggers an attendance meeting.

To all of you who are never ill enough to need to take a day off sick from work; you are bloody lucky!!

I'm on my 3rd cancer diagnosis in 13 fucking months. Already had 8 months off for surgery and treatment. In less than a year, I'm off again. Started chemo yesterday. If anyone called me today re: work, I would not be happy at all, as currently feel like shite!

And yep, I will probably go down the IHR route, before anyone tells me I'm being unfair to my colleagues etc ( I work in a school).

We are humans beings, not machines. But slightly jealous of all
you super healthy MNetters.

I was off sick last week. Rare for me to be off, last time before last week it was 4 months ago and then 6 months before that one.

3 periods of sicknessn in a year are excessive under normal circumstances. Not surprised your line manager isn't happy. Have you been signed off? you did not say. Unless you are signed off by a doctor, it's normal to ring in daily.
Read your other responses in this thread - you dont seem to take your job seriously and sound work shy. Maybe find a more fulfilling role? Or do you have any underlying health condition you need to address?

Not just ill... I'll enough to ring in sick for work. You don't skip work for a common head cold. Most adults aren't properly laid up with illness 3x a year.

3 days is also quite a long time to be off for. If you get a water infection or chest infection surely the first day you are ill enough to be off work you head to the pharmacy or docs for medicine, antibiotics generally start working really quickly!

Being off 3 times in 10 months is a lot. Where I used to work you if you were off more than twice within a year you’d get a disciplinary.

Sorry you are having such a rough time, illness like that doesn't count towards sickness policy so wouldn't trigger any disciplinary action, it's the odd day here and there for a cold, migraine, that kind of thing. As it bakes covering shifts awkward.

I don’t believe the last paragraph, as much as it would be nice if it were true. It’s a guise but at the end of the day a company wants its staff to be at work for financial reasons.

maybe the issue is that you did not speak to your manager to start with? Our sickness policy states that you ring your manager by 8.30 am starting why you are unwell and when you expect to be back. If I spoke to a member of staff who had had D&V I would tell then not too come in until 48 hours after last symptoms and ask when last symptoms had been. If they did not return on the expected day, they would be expected to update me as to why. If the 48 hours was at 10am in the morning, I would ask them to start work late and come in if they felt well enough.

Your manager should have left you alone and did a return to work interview on your return. Odd calling you on the day you went off sick. I’d text someone the next day to check in if I hadn’t been told when they’d be back, some places you gave to call daily but it doesn’t sound like that is your workplace policy.

You had a lot of sickness in a short time op. Hope you feeling better soon. Might be worth finding out if there's an underlying reason.

Sorry that you're going through that but no one is talking about that kind of illness, that's a totally different situation

Like everyone I've not worked anywhere that three absences in a year for minor things would be thought of as usual.

What kind of workplace is it OP?

I'm sorry you're going through this @Enigma52 , sounds really tough, and I hope your employer is being supportive. I think OP is receiving the responses they are because they really believe 3 periods of sickness absence in 6 months isn't unusual - which everyone is trying to tell them it is. Obviously there will be people who do have that amount and more for very valid reasons, but the majority of people don't hence OP's claim being rubbish.

Christ, some of these posts are screaming ‘Look at me!’ Look what a good little employee I am, I’ve not had a day off in years despite being ill!’ Nobody cares, it doesn’t make you superior, it’s a bit pathetic really. Your company doesn’t care about you. If you died tomorrow they’d replace you very quickly so stop feeling the need to work yourself to the ground to please them.

People are only human and nobody can predict when they will be ill or how often that will be, it’s pure luck! Three days might be above average but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly excessive, it totally depends on what it’s for, surely? Three times for three cases of the sniffles? Yes, too much, but OP’s reasons don’t seem unreasonable.

I don’t think it’s wrong for your manager to check up on you, but not on the first day. If I was them, I’d ring you the next day first thing to see how you were feeling and take it from there.

And people like you are the reason why norovirus is rampant in the winter. You should be staying at home for 48 hours. Not spreading the virus everywhere! Not all d&v is norovirus, however, the symptoms are the same. Why risk spreading it to others other than selfishness and martyrdom? I say this as someone who has taken three periods off sick in over six years (once covid and two pregnancy related).

People are only human and nobody can predict when they will be ill or how often that will be, it’s pure luck! Three days might be above average but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly excessive, it totally depends on what it’s for, surely? Three times for three cases of the sniffles? Yes, too much, but OP’s reasons don’t seem unreasonable.

Totally agree, we cannot help being ill and OP's reasons don't seem unreasonable at all. People should take time off when ill absolutely and people definitely shouldn't be going into work with D&V etc.
What IS unreasonable is OP's claim that 3 lots of sickness in 10 months isn't rare - it really is (not 3 days - I think that was just for one of the occasions).

@Thatsnotmynameee so that we're clear here. When you said you phoned in sick, did you speak to your manager or was it leaving a message with someone else to pass on?

Sorry, three days was a mistake on my part, I meant three occasions.