If you're self-employed so no sick pay...

[Mrsnothingthanks]

...do you keep going at all costs?
I'm 45, 5 yo daughter, definitely peri.
But literally have only taken one day off since I started tutoring in January because of course no work = no pay.
Just curious to see how others view it?

I used to be self employed and never took a sick day. I'm employed now and never take a sick day.

Exactly this. Needs to be bubonic plague or a leg hanging off to justify taking a day off sick. I had time off sick in 2011 because of an emergency admission to hospital, followed by surgery. None since.

I've always been self employed (54 now) and rarely have a sick day, despite being quite ill with bad colds/bad back etc over the years. Sometimes I really wish I worked for the public sector. My sister works for the NHS and has at least a day a month off "sick". I often wonder if the NHS didn't get sick pay they wouldn't be as short staffed.

Yes, it’s tough but it also has advantages like ensuring you always make it to school plays,
sports days etc. sick pay, holiday pay,
tax all calculated into fee.

I’ve been self employed most of my working life. You hourly rate should be calculated to pay you enough holiday and sick pay. If it doesn’t, you’re probably not charging enough. Could you put a percentage of your income into a separate pot to cover time off?

I'm an employed GP, I get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay if I'm ill. I've been at my practice for 20 years and have probably taken 3-4 sick days in that time, all because of either no voice or vomiting. Not every employee takes the piss.

I get £32 an hour so not really 😞

DH and I run our own business - work has to be done even when I'm sick or when my Dad died - payroll had to be done, suppliers & HMRC had to be paid etc - I did the minimum I could get away with but the show still had to go on.

I agree with @oldclock

I had the same generous entitlement to sick pay. In over 35 years (I am now retired) I had less than 2 weeks off in total.

5 days were pregnancy related (bleeding at 8 weeks) and I didn’t want to risk my long daily commute by public transport (couldn’t just work at home in those days), 3 days were for planned minor surgery, and 1 was because I fainted at work and cut my head open on a desk as I fell (my colleagues called an ambulance which took me to the nearest A&E, who checked me out and told me not to go back to work).

Not everyone in the public sector takes the piss!

I’ve been self-employed since 2007 and haven’t taken a sick day since 2002.