Calling in sick to work - What's your stance?

[PLANETGETLOW]

Haha. No one has ever accused me of not being closed minded

I've always held to management's view on this subject and I've seen way too much abuse in this area.

I guess as being a part of management you can easily spot those that abuse it. I had one employee that used Vacation days on Fridays and Sick Days on Monday's.....it was a trend.

I've heard ALL kinds of excuses. At one of my former employers we required a Dr's note for those that abused it. Trusted and GOOD employees were never an issue.

I've worked at quite a few places and I have NEVER seen an employer financially reward an employee for working through "sick days"

[mslman71]

There is this to consider

Half the people in my office have young children. If no one came in when they had the sniffles nothing would get done and we don't work in an environment where someone else can pick up yer slack. No one here is allowed to be hit by a bus or we will bring them back to life and kill them ourselves.

[darenblack]

I haven't called in to work sick since October 2005. Missed 1 day. And that was 2 employers back. Last company I was there 2.5 years without a sick day and I've worked here 3.5 years and have not yet taken a sick day.

Prior to that my last sick day was January 2001, but I was really sick and missed 3 days.

Almost did today, though...I feel like crap and have had a headache all week. And I almost NEVER get headaches. I didn't want to break my 'streak' though.

I know lots of people call in 'sick' when they aren't even sick. Pissed off, lazy, tired, hungover, need to do personal stuff, etc.

I never do that.

So what about you? Do you take adavantage, use sick days when you need them, or show up every day regardless?

the world needs more guys like you,, tell us how can one become like you!

[pratherian]

The only time I call in sick, an internal organ is being removed.

In the past 8 years I missed 2 days sick as a dog with the flu.

I have worked for my company for 23 years, and the other sick days involved gall bladder removal.
I was ready to go back after a week, they made me wait 3 weeks.
That was during the Bush/Gore hanging chad recount.
Good times right there.

I have also discovered through a lot of trial and error (mostly error) that if I don't drink alcohol, I NEVER get hung over.
Especially when I know I have to work.

Jus sayin

[pratherian]

the world needs more guys like you,, tell us how can one become like you!

I don't speak for FLEX...but the answer is:

One heavy badass rep at a time.

[2nd_chance]

Plus... it's much better to not call in, but come in to work, and then surf the o35 misc all day.

[beachguy498]

I appreciate when co-workers call in sick instead of valiantly spreading their disease all over the office like some sort of saintly martyr.

We just had a run of a bad cold go through the office this year. One lady had the flu and an upper respiratory thing right behind it, she was out 6 days. I had it too, but was functional with no fever. So I toughed it out. Everyone is pretty much over it now. I did miss 2 days already with a spinal injection last week.

Come March, some people will be totally out of PTO time. Some have legit reasons, kids with chronic illnesses, elderly parents to take care of.

Rob

[m314]

I can do my job from home whenever I need to. If I'm sick, I'll send an email to the office saying i'm working from home. I can't remember the last time I was too sick to type on a laptop in bed.

I did end up taking about a month of medical leave last year for a couple surgeries. We have unlimited paid time off, so that was no big deal. Some of my friends here took 2 months vacation time last year. Management supports that if you're a good employee. I'm hoping to take an actual vacation this year that doesn't involve lying in bed recovering from surgery.

[cowboybiker]

Half the people in my office have young children. If no one came in when they had the sniffles nothing would get done and we don't work in an environment where someone else can pick up yer slack. No one here is allowed to be hit by a bus or we will bring them back to life and kill them ourselves.

I just figured for you office rats.
I work construction. Chopped my fingertip off, put it back on with duct tape and finished the day

[2nd_chance]

If you people had a professional looking watch, you wouldn't want to call in sick all the time!

[mslman71]

I just figured for you office rats.
I work construction. Chopped my fingertip off, put it back on with duct tape and finished the day

Did that with an xacto knife once carving out wing ribs for an RC plane, except that there was a small sliver of skin holding it on. I CA'd it back down and it healed up okay. I was surprised.

[Getsum]

I CANNOT STAND when people come to work sick, sick as in fever and all the other symptoms that go along with it. STAY HOME, YOU'RE REALLY NOT THAT IMPORTANT. The business will make it.

If have just a cold or the sniffles (with no fever) I will come in, but if I'm not feeling good, I stay home.

I appreciate when co-workers call in sick instead of valiantly spreading their disease all over the office like some sort of saintly martyr.

^^^These!

[acrawlingchaos]

I actually took the last two days off for sickness (first time in 3 years). Technically, I used vacation time because my managers were getting on my a** (I had carry over from last year).

My employer does not have sick days, only personal time, and they force you to take all of your time off. Win win...

I agree with plantetglow and jello... if you're legit sick, leaking like a sieve and stand the chance of getting others sick... stay out of work and stay out of the gym.

[cowboybiker]

Did that with an xacto knife once carving out wing ribs for an RC plane, except that there was a small sliver of skin holding it on. I CA'd it back down and it healed up okay. I was surprised.

Thats how mine was, just a small piece keeping it on.
It healed up but took almost a year to get sensation back.

[Getsum]

Plus... it's much better to not call in, but come in to work, and then surf the o35 misc all day.

lol, it does make you wonder how people get such high post counts. I always assumed they were stay at home housewives or something!

If you people had a professional looking watch, you wouldn't want to call in sick all the time!

lulz

[mslman71]

Thats how mine was, just a small piece keeping it on.
It healed up but took almost a year to get sensation back.

Sensation never really came back on mine. Maybe I should have used more glue.

I did use sawdust to pack a chainsaw wound once. That was stupid. Do not do it.

[cowboybiker]

Sensation never really came back on mine. Maybe I should have used more glue.

I did use sawdust to pack a chainsaw wound once. That was stupid. Do not do it.

Eschew glue.
Duct tape heals all wounds.

But thanks for the heads up on the sawdust

[-=FLEX=-]

the world needs more guys like you,,

Agreed.

tell us how can one become like you!

Unfortunately you either have it or you don't. Clearly you don't.

So keep going with that sarcasm thing you do so well; it's really working for you!

Plus... it's much better to not call in, but come in to work, and then surf the o35 misc all day.

I've actually had a rather productive day; got some reports done. Cleaned up my desk. Attended a meeting I wasn't invited to just to give my support and ended up getting handed a new project that I'm about to start working on.....

[jellodirt]

If I know something is going on I won't blue falcon my co-workers but on the flip side it doesn't break my heart to call in sick either as long as everything is covered.

There was a gal from my office that called in sick to go call bingo at an Eagle's Club in another town. For whatever reason my boss went there to drink beer.

[geer_matt]

I think it can all depend on what field you are in too. Growing up in Wisconsin I did a lot of construction weather permitting. Most construction workers are laid off sometime from Dec - Feb because of snow and ice the ground is frozen etc. You can usually work through Nov and start back up around March. During those months instead of just collecting unemployment and sitting around I would take a job as a cook/bartender at my buddies sports bar. When you play with peoples food you should not come in if you have a cough or runny nose etc. I am a big believer in absolute sanitation in that situation. If you just sit at your own desk you can probably just let your boss know how you feel and do your best to avoid your co-workers and do your thing. Heck though with networking being what it is today, a lot of folks can probably get away with just remote log in for a few days still get their work done through file servers, and avoid getting their co-workers sick too.

[erinlee01]

Haha. No one has ever accused me of not being closed minded

I've always held to management's view on this subject and I've seen way too much abuse in this area.

Abuse is a whole other topic! There is always going to be someone who abuses the system. I would agree with your assessment in that case!

[geer_matt]

If you people had a professional looking watch, you wouldn't want to call in sick all the time!

lol tell em brother!

[2nd_chance]

ended up getting handed a new project that I'm about to start working on.....

Looks like you should have called in sick after all lol...

[PLANETGETLOW]

Now I'm feeling sick.....may have to call in tomorrow, it is FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sen8or]

Being self employed, there really is no sense in calling in sick, but then again, there is no ability either. In a 7 day a week retail operation and as sole charge owner/operators for 5 of those days, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Prior to this though, my sick leave at my previous jobs almost always went unused, except with both kids had the chicken pox, then me and the mrs shared the stay home duties to look after them

[dazlittle]

I've had 2 days off in 10 years at my current employer both last week.

[Bando]

I guess as being a part of management you can easily spot those that abuse it. I had one employee that used Vacation days on Fridays and Sick Days on Monday's.....it was a trend.

I've heard ALL kinds of excuses. At one of my former employers we required a Dr's note for those that abused it. Trusted and GOOD employees were never an issue.

I've worked at quite a few places and I have NEVER seen an employer financially reward an employee for working through "sick days"

I worked at a place where if you were sick you had to come in and tell your boss and ask for the day off.

[mslman71]

I worked at a place where if you were sick you had to come in and tell your boss and ask for the day off.

[Brad805]

I am guessing we have quite a few non-union workers responding? I am not a fan of sick days except when really necessary. I know quite a few union people that take them because they believe they are due those days, and using them somehow costs them. I gots a problem with that attitude for sure.

[Keltron]

I'm self-employed and one would think that I could take as many days off as I'd like to. However, I work on appointments so if I want to call in sick I have to call in sick to all of my clients for that day. Plus I take a big hit in income if I can't reschedule the session before the end of the month. Each appointment pays me about $75 and I average about 5 per day so one day of calling in sick can mean a $375 loss in income for the month.

Needless to say I've forced myself to come to work many times despite feeling horrible. One time I even wore a painters mask so nobody would bitch and moan. lol