To call in sick to work when you’re sick

[Linzdashluna]

Last week, I called in sick on Tuesday and Wednesday as I couldn’t get out of bed. I tried on the Wednesday, got up, had a shower with the intention of at least trying and seeing if I perked up, but had to keep getting into bed after each thing I did, I felt dreadful so called in again.

My colleague has Thursday and Fridays off so I didn’t see her again until yesterday and she was making digs at me for being off. Saying things like “I was so poorly last week, but I came in because you just have to get on with it” and “I never have time off because I don’t think it’s fair to the team” I said if she was so ill she should have also called in. She said “no, my mum always said if you can walk, you can work” I ignored her but this morning she’s saying stuff again. She won’t stop complaining about how ill she feels but I don’t know what to say because she won’t call in sick so if you’re deciding to get on with it, do that then and stop moaning about it. She said “last week was awful when you were off because I was so unwell and had to do your work as well. I just think there’s people out there who have it worse” what kind of a take is this??? Are there other people out there who actually think like this? We have sick days and sick pay for a reason. If you’re not well enough to work, use them. I don’t understand the problem

If youre ill, you’re ill. Ignore her she’s being awful.

She’s an idiot. You did the right thing. I would consider bringing it up with your line manager if she keeps giving you grief, she’s acting like a martyr just because she’s too thick to look after herself properly. She probably wasn’t even ill and just wants to moan.

I don't understand the martyrs either. If I feel too ill to work, I don't go to work, I call in. If it's D&V, or flu, you are putting your colleagues at risk of sickness too If you go in.

People who was obviously ill and contagious coming into work does my head in. I’m not talking about calling in sick for every sniffle but if you are ill you are ill and no one will thank you for spreading your germs.

Tell her if sick colleagues didn’t insist on pushing through and acting like a martyr illnesses wouldn’t spread around.

She's an idiot. It's not for her to judge whether you are well enough to work

I'm of the "if you can walk, get washed and dressed, keep a cup of tea down ilk". If that's the case, I'm fine when I get there and I din't tell anyone I feel ill or criticise them for taking time off.

With V&D or influenza I have never been able to go get washed and dressed or keep down a cup of tea. Anyone who claims they can has a cold or tummy ache.

I was exactly the same as that last week and had to call in sick on Wednesday and Thursday. And I am not someone who takes sick days normally - I don’t know when I last took a sick day. Even with Covid I didn’t need sick days (obviously worked from home).

Anyway your colleague sounds like an idiot. Just ignore her.

You should feel sorry for your colleague, she obviously has a poor work life balance and an unhealthy approach to life.
You were too ill to work so you - appropriately and correctly - took sick leave.
Don’t give it another thought and tune out her dreary comments.

The work police are a pita and boring.

Yeah she’s an idiot. You should rest when you’re ill.

At my last company, i went 6 years without having a day off sick and they still made me redundant. No medal full attendance. Take the sick time.

YANBU. I’ve told hacking, spluttering, sneezing and nose streaming colleagues to fuck off home before now as I don’t want to catch what they’ve got. I’d rather do the extra work.

Oh just ignore her or say something like ‘I’d rather stay home than spread my germs around the office’, no one hands out medals for coming in and giving the entire office a bug!

I have no time for people who come in sick spreading their germs around. Take a few days off and save everyone else having to when they come down with your wretched illness.

Definitely ignore her. If she wants to go in (spreading germs) while she's sick then that's uo to her. In my eyes she's harassing you and you have every right to complain to your line manager about her.

I've never called in sick. I find it odd that other people do on a regular basis but I wouldn't say anthing to them.

She is ridiculous.

Honestly I think if I were you, I could be petty about this and match her energy. Next time you are talking to someone else and she is there you could say that you were so sick and it was a virus, must be going around, apparently some people are coming to work while sick and spreading this virus, it harms productivity at work and is very selfish etc etc.

Just ask her if she would like to repeat that in front of HR and she will soon shut up.

I run a company and my rule (for myself) is if I can get in and get on then its business as usual. If I'm contagious then I stay away until I'm not.

As far as I'm concerned my staff are adults and will make the decision as to whether they are too sick to work or not. Unless its a repeated pattern, its no one else's business. Its between you and your manager.

Little important detail is that we don't have any sick pay. Its SSP from day 1. If you are willing to lose money you are either genuinely sick or its an expensive duvet day.

Shut her down. She is out of order
If she doesn't change her attitude speak to a senior staff member/HR about her behaviour.
You don't want to risk snapping and being the one in trouble!

YANBU. I would turn it around on her and start talking about how selfish it is when people who are sick bring their disgusting germs into work and infect other people, that Covid didn’t teach them anything, that they act like martyrs and expect some sort of pat on the back, etc.

Martyrs are so tedious best ignored

Why do you find it odd?
You are blessed with good health and the good fortune to never have caught a bad virus or other contagious diseases during your whole working life. Other people are less fortunate. Surely you understand that?

Used to work with someone like this. I pointed out she was just coming in and spreading her virus. Sure enough everyone ended up being ill and taking time off (as did she)

Your colleague is being deeply inappropriate. You are right @Linzdashluna - if you are ill, you are ill and that is what sick leave and sick pay IS for. Quite apart from the risk to your colleagues' health (and, for some who are clinically vulnerable, passing on germs could have very serious consequences), it is not for her to pass comment on.

She doesn't sound like the sort of person who would respond well to a gentle request along the lines of "I need you to stop talking about health and my sick leave. If you have issues with it, you should take it up with HR/the boss, not me. It’s not something I’m going to discuss with you further.". Are you able to speak to your manager about this?

"Other people have it worse"...? How is she to know that you are not dealing with cancer or another devastating illness? She has no right or business to say these things to you. You are not "other people".

Her mum says "if you can walk you can work". I'd be inclined to reply to that with "oh wow, I'm sorry you had such an unsympathetic and sad upbringing, it's a shame when people have uncaring parents." But that might not help.

The best response is no response probably. But I do think you should let your manager, at a minimum, know that this is happening. If you both were in a team that I manage, I would want to know that these sort of things were being said and to deal with it swiftly. It's unacceptable and I would be clear to Dr. Judgement that this behaviour and the commentary needs to stop immediately. Colleagues who are genuinely unwell need to be supported, not castigated and made to feel worse.

I hope you are feeling better. x