I've called in sick, shocked at the response

[Neversick]

I am never off sick, I'll spare you the gory details but I'm really unwell. I did get up and try to push through it, but I can't stay away from the bathroom!

It is a terrible time for me to be away from work and I'd have gone in if I could, but I can't and TBH I wouldn't have thought they'd want me there.

Boss, who is very senior, not some inexperienced manager, has said don't worry about this morning, but if you can manage this afternoon's meeting that would be appreciated.

I do understand it's left them in a spot, but really?

Yes. We used to have to say that to people who called in sick. Migraine, if you feel better come in later, D and v , courier yourself some imodium instants and be in for 12 etc.

Horrible isn't it.

It isn't unusual for people to feel better later in the day. Depends how it was said really.

That's ridiculous OP.

At my work you have to be clear for 48 hours before you go back. Certain managers I've heard are not very sympathetic to staff that call in and try to tell them to get to work.

I'm like you and I'm very rarely sick and would only call in if it was really necessary so I'd go mad if any of them were rude to me if I called in.

I hope you feel better soon

Is it an in person meeting or can you phone/log in?

Hope you feel better.

Suggest they have a commode in the meeting room and you'll be there. Honestly what a tool.

Not a great response but sometimes people do feel better later in the day. May have come across badly (inexperience!) but good intention.

Assuming you can log in from home. I’m not suggesting going anywhere near the office

It's a really big meeting. Not one I want to be in if I'm not on my game tbh and I wouldn't think they'd want me there underperforming and infecting all the important people in the room. It's in person.

Even if symptoms subside, I've been awake for 36 hours and haven't eaten, I'm not going to miraculously feel well enough to travel 1.5 hours each way and do this meeting.

I might have been well enough to go in tomorrow but I probably won't now

Oh great, and pass the bug to everyone at the meeting.

Even if it’s in person, you could still offer to join on Teams? I’ve had meetings where one person is on a laptop on the table. Only if you’re feeling better, of course.

or, you could just have a day or two off as is your right when you are unwell.

As if you don't feel bad enough, without having the pressure heaped on! Say you think it's Norovirus and hopefully your boss will get the message... the commode in the meeting room though 😂 Hope you feel better soon!

Ridiculous to ask if it’s in person. I’d be really cross if a manager dragged someone in to a meeting with me and I found out they’d been off with bad D&V a few hours earlier!
Fair enough if it’s on teams and really important and they’re asking if you think you can manage any of it. I mean, not ideal but not wildly unreasonable I think.

You need to be 48 hours clear of symptoms or you’ll potentially infect the whole meeting

If it were any of my staff my only response would be poor you, look after yourself and we'll see you when you're better. Is that really so unusual?

Were you doing something vitally important at this big meeting like presenting? If so, someone else could use your notes or PowerPoint etc and take over. Otherwise, you can catch up in an email as could probably everyone else there.

Awful response for D&V. I understand it for like a migraine or something but absolutely ridiculous for D&V. I’ve done a meeting via teams before when I had D&V even though it was meant to be in person. Surely they could accommodate that if it’s absolutely necessary you need to be there?

(Not that I’d particularly want/you should have to if ill)

I've been awake for 36 hours and haven't eaten, I'm not going to miraculously feel well enough to travel 1.5 hours each way and do this meeting.

What did your boss say when you told him you definitely wouldn't be in the meeting because of this?

I haven't replied. It's one of those messages you type but shouldn't send!

Yes, I have a key part to play but I've already been through my presentation with boss and prepared papers for everyone, so they have everything they need to pick it up.

I find it kind of offensive to not be trusted to.make my own judgement about whether I'm well enough to do a decent job.

Yep, they’ll have to step up. Sometimes shit happens… no pun intended.

Although I do think you need to tell them you’re definitely not coming in so they’ll be prepared.

No good deed goes unpunished. You don't take time off sick, so now you're unwell they can't accept it and imagine you'll be better in less than a day. Flaky people would probably get more leeway!

Email your boss and say 'just to be clear, I can't imagine I will be well enough later today to work normally so will not be at the meeting'.

He did say come this afterwards if you're better. If you've had little sleep and aren't up to it, go back to bed. They'll cope without you.
Don't martyr yourself by dragging yourself in if you are ill, they won't thank you for it, believe me.

I think I'd be tempted to go in, vomit on the carpet and shit all over the meeting room chairs - that would give them the message.

Reminds me of my first job, I got called to the deputy heads office after lunch for a telling off. what I didn't realise is that I'd stepped in a dog turd heading back to school, I sat there in his office, anxiously rubbing my feet on the carpet whilst he told me off, and thinking he'd let one go.

In fact I'd rubbed dog turd into his office carpet in a really big way - brilliant!