To call in sick even though I could probably do my job?

[bloodysuperflu]

I’ve got one of these winter bugs going around. Sniffly nose, sore throat, I’m going hot then cold (I don’t think I have a fever though as I very rarely get them), head feels like it’s full of cotton wool, knackered. It’s not the flu or anything like that, just a winter bug.

I can do my job. But very selfishly I want a day in the warm resting so that I can get rid of this before Christmas. AIBU to play it up a little in the morning and call in?

Unlikely

From what you've described, you've got what our family have had over the last 10 days. Not flu or COVID but a really nasty cold - everything congested and heavy and uncomfortable. Take all the rest you can get, OP, it's a nasty one. Get well soon!

Oh ffs if you’re ill you’re ill. If you go in you’re colleagues are going to potentially go down with it for Christmas.

Of course not, if you are well r Pugh to work go to work.

It sounds like you are sick and also infectious. I dont think you should go in unless its critical. I saw you said that you cant wfh as that can be a good compromise when you maybe cant do a full day but can reschedule some priorities, etc.

I work from home, which is lucky, as i would hate to have to work in an office full of people with viruses. My view is it is much more efficient to have one period of sick leave a year rather than 6 times you are operating at 50% because your office is a laboratory for bugs.

I’m hoping a (somewhat) decent nights sleep will shift it. The sore throat is better this evening after a day of dosing up on ibuprofen. I just feel so drained

Take it off, and the next day too if you feel you would benefit from it.

I employ people - please take the day when you’re ill even though you could technically do it. My team work from home quite flexibly so it’s different but it’s far better to take time now and recover quickly rather than crash and burnout and take much longer.

Just call in sick. The majority of people on this thread don’t work, they are housewives who are astounded that their husband have to pay for you to take a few days off. Perhaps if they supported themselves they would not have to worry. If you pay your NI contributions then go for it. And don’t ever ask the entitled on this App again. Hope you feel better soon x

Do you have kids @bloodysuperflu

What’s your issue?

Again I’ll ask. What’s your issue?

I wasn’t planning to. I asked whether I would be unreasonable to or not because I’m on what I would view as the borderline of where I could go in or not. You’ll be happy to learn I’m going in, feeling absolutely awful.

Also, I did get an early night!

We have a lot of people off in my office with this awful cold, those of us who are well would like to remain that way so are grateful people are not forcing themselves to come in to work.

What is your manager/teams reaction to sickness in general?

I've worked in places where you are presumed to be a liar if you call in sick, no matter the reason or frequency of sickness and it was absolutely ridiculous.

Where I work now, as long as it is not a pattern or often, those who are ill are encouraged to stay at home and recover and we have less sickness overall, presumably because illnesses aren't being spread around so much!

I’d rather go in and get sent home than just call in, because it feels rather silly to be calling in for a cold!

I ate only calippos for two days. I had glandular fever earlier this year and the sore throat for this cold is just as bad. Ignore the weirdos who keep getting their posts deleted; it's ok to rest. If you died, your job would be advertised tomorrow - you don't owe your workplace.

If you go in, you might as well stay in as you’ll likely have infected your entire team for Christmas. In my opinion, the right thing to do is make the call and phone in sick - 1) Because you are ill and allowed to rest and 2) Because youre infectious. If your plan is to stay in bed and sleep to recover, its legitimate sickness.

Ive never thought badly of a colleague who has phoned in sick once or twice a year. I would lose respect for a colleague who came in contagious wanting to be sent home.

You should've stayed off instead of passing it onto others just before Christmas although it doesn't matter what time of year it is though.

OP, I'm exactly the same. I'm useless at taking time off for being sick unless I'm absolutely bedridden and it's just not possible to go in - anything less and I feel like a fraud. I like to feel I at least tried.

I don't know where this comes from but it's not a particularly helpful mindset! Many times, I've ploughed on and just made myself worse by not giving my body the rest it needs.

Please take time off to recover. I made a load of mistakes working through and am now familiar with the term... presenteeism

The training course in person I queried whether I should attend was... cancelled halfway through.

Know how I'll be treating unwellness in the future. Honestly for me its got to the age, you just make mistakes working through and it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.