feeling ill, need time off - but scared will piss my boss off

[halia]

help me out here, I need to make a decision.

I've been fighting off a cold for about 3 weeks now, kept it more or less at bay but it came back on tuesday worse than ever. I'm knackered, freezing cold (despite central heating and balnkets) throat sore and very achy. I am convinced the reason i havnt' been able to shake it is that I havn't been able to rest properly, my new job is very very physical and I work in a horrible building, flickering lights, dim lighting, stuffy rooms, no fresh air in a 7 story building and a very strict "you will take your break at precisly this time" regime.

I desperatly want to take todays shift off so I have a chance of getting well and so I can actually play with DS when he gets home rather than ending up in bed straight after work again and feeling yuck all weekend.

Thing is, I've only been there 10 weeks and in week 7 I had to take 3 days off because I strianed my shoudler lifting something at work. Do you think they'll be really snarky if I take the day off?

help - what would you do

Take the day off - see if you can get a Doctors' note and that will strengthen your case if they do get stroppy. And mention when you ring that you're worried that you'll infect your colleagues - see if you can make it sound like you're doing them a favour by taking the day off.

They have a duty to ensure your health and safety at work - when you strained your shoulder lifting, had you been shown how to do it properly? It sounds a grim place to work.

Thanks Hassled, it is fairly grim, they hadn't shown me how to lift properly and they were really weird when I had my back to work interview when I went back.

I've since been on the manual handlign course they do but it just dealt with the basic standard stuff - didn't touch at all on the specific trolleys we use or the things we lift etc

I've only taken the job because I needed something p/t and local whilst I was studying but its turning out to be difficult. God all I wanted was a nice easy job to bring in a bit of cash (and it is braindead work).

I know I should keep my head down and not complain if I want a decent reference at the end of the day but I hate getting ill due to crappy working conditions.

OH thinks I should go in but he works in an office and has full control over what he does so if he felt ill he could easily arrange to do lighter work or work from home - I'd happily go in if I could do that - I used to be able to in my old job. If I felt coldy I'd rearrange thigns with colelagues so I spent time sitting down doing admin or soemthign less taxing and they took over any outside or heavy work that day, but we're not allowed to do that in this job.

Take the day off.

I have been off work work ill with severe nausea, fatigue and pg complications.

I have a doctors note but work are texting me and requesting when am I returning to work.

Is it legal for work to be harrassing you / sending text messages when you are on sick leave?

Halia take the day off.
VictoriaPlum,ring your line manager or HR and tell them you have a doctor's certificate covering you until X date. Tell them you will make contact again when you're feeling better.