Does anyone else find it hard to call in sick?

[PumpkinPie2016]

I don't have much time off sick at all. Think it's about 3 years since I was last off. Started a new school last year and haven't been off. So, I am far from unreliable or taking the mickey.

I currently have tonsillitis though and was given 10 days of antibiotics from out of hours over the weekend. Went to work today and survived but my god it was hard. The kids were great to be fair but I know my lessons weren't up to scratch really.

Home now and feel shocking with it and honestly thinking I may need to call in sick tomorrow if I feel no better. For some reason though, it fills me with absolute dread 🙈 we have to speak to a member of SLT in person (ie not leave a message) and then fill in a form and meet a member of SLT to discuss on our return. I'm a HoD so no one else to set cover for me, I'd have to sort my own. Then there's picking everything up when I go back.

I know if you are sick, it can't be helped and I absolutely wouldn't judge any colleagues for being sick but when I think about everything I'd have to do and my classes having cover, it honestly feels like less work to just go in and try to survive the day 🤦‍♀️

Does anyone else just find it hard to be off sick?

I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes it just feels easier to be in and struggle through, rather than having to think about everything you need to prepare for cover (plus the fact it may not be taught as you'd like). I too am rarely off as the thought causes me major anxiety. I pretty much have to be vomiting before I will admit defeat.

At the end of the day only you can decide what to do tomorrow. It definitely sounds like it might be better to have a restful duvet day of recovery, but if the thought of being off stresses you out that's also not going to be productive in terms of your recovery. Dose yourself up, get an early night and reassess in the morning (as it's totally understandable to feel sh*t after a full day of teaching when you're poorly, you might actually feel a bit better again after a good night's sleep).

I hope you feel better soon, whatever decision you make.

I know EXACTLY how you feel, the teacher guilt is awful and so wrong.

Hope you feel,better today OP.

At least it isn't just me 😂

Still feeling rough and had a patchy night's sleep but ended up going in anyway 🙄

Teacher guilt is indeed awful!

In fairness, the kids were great and so I had nice lessons at least 🙂

Antibiotics should start to work soon!

Having to fill in a form and meet with SLT afterward (return to work interview) is just standard everywhere isn’t it?

If you are ill you are ill.

I’ve been at my school for years, I was off for a week with covid and prior to that two days with V&D. But I know I have to message all SLT as soon as I am aware I won’t be at work and then talk to one of them once school is open and I know I have to have a return to work interview. The comments on the forms (I deal with staff absences so see them) are things like “Sophie says her throat is much better now, the antibiotics have worked for her and she feels well enough to return” or “Ian admits he is not back to full fitness but feels able to return to work - I told him to let me know if he needed any adjustments to ensure he continues to feel better”. We have to do the forms for all absences including medical appointments and compassionate leave.

Oh please look after yourself and take time off if you need to. The way I look at it is that 1 or 2 days off means you get better quickly and can return to work whereas if you try to power through you could get really run down and end up much iller in the long run. The good thing about setting your own cover is that you know exactly what your classes should have covered and you can pick it up when you get back.

Take care of yourself 💐

@HideTheCroissants at my previous 2 schools it was just ring, leave a message on the answer phone and ring the morning you were coming back to say that (again leave a message).

No form to fill in or SLT meeting on return.

Maybe they were just exceptions and everywhere else is like current school 🤔

I haven't taken any days off this week- just struggling through. I am starting to feel better today so that's a good sign.

Even when I worked in other sectors there was always a form to fill in after any period of sickness (Self Certification). I’ve since worked in maintained schools and a MAT and the sickness procedures have all been similar - though at one it was the SBM who did the return to work. DH is in the civil service and their procedures are nearly identical.

Meant to say OP, glad you’re feeling better. Do you half term next week to look forward to?