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

[BalhamBeast]

I've taken time off sick in previous jobs but I've been working two and a half years as a primary school PE teacher and haven't taken any sick leave even when I've had colds. Those little kids really like to spread their germs about, too, but it's such a major hassle for everyone else if someone takes time off - it's not only that lesson cover is needed but there's also break duties and after school clubs that get disrupted.
I likely will have to take some compassionate leave this year because my mother's on her last legs (well, on her back as it goes) but I've given them all plenty of warning so they know the situation.

[rnacdaley]

I rarely call in sick. Maybe 1 - 2x per yr. However, I will not call in sick on a Monday or Friday unless I am on my deathbed.

[paolo59]

If I'm sick, I'll call in. I work in a freakin' zoo of bacteria and germ bugs. 65 little rug rats making their way through your classroom on a daily basis, coughing and sneezing, blowing their noses here and there and everywhere. We go through Kleenex like you wouldn't believe! CONTAGION For the past several years we do the 'fist bump' thing at the end of the day when their folks pick them up. They want to shake hands, high five etc. I've put a stop to that. Ha! When I feel like crud, it's a bear to face the little Apaches. If they think they can take you down, they'll do it! LOL

[mslman71]

...it's a bear to face the little Apaches. If they think they can take you down, they'll do it! LOL

Ha. Good to hear someone else use this language. I get some quizzical looks from my friends who have not replicated when I describe the [ongoing] battle scene that is my house as well as the biological, chemical, and siege tactics that take place.

[paolo59]

Ha. Good to hear someone else use this language. I get some quizzical looks from my friends who have not replicated when I describe the [ongoing] battle scene that is my house as well as the biological, chemical, and siege tactics that take place.

I use the term lovingly...but accurately! LOL

[retiredrunner]

Little Apaches... LOL

I've missed three days in the last nine years. If I catch something, I usually get bulldozed the first day but recover relatively quickly. Sick calls are a huge deal at my workplace, and they're a very easy way to get blacklisted, thanks to all the tards who oh so subtly abuse it on a regular basis. Working your overtime day then calling in before the weekend? Really dude?

[CaptChip40]

Interesting responses in this thread. I'd like to see the results of a different (younger) age group, I think the answers if answered honestly would be quite different.
I know my younger employees use sick time as days off for family outings, weekends, sporting events or "mental health" days. Tough to deal with sick time abuse they have a union backing them. (not union bashing, been in one for years, just stating fact.

[Bando]

Was in Smyrna TN as a matter of fact

[dungeonmistress]

When I'm sick (as in too sick to train) I will take time off so I can heal up enough to resume training and also so I don't infect my coworkers. But training first coworkers second and btw I am rarely sick enough to stay home. I also use sick leave hours for dr/dental appts.

[EB68]

18 years on my current job and I have missed 11 days. 4 of them followed a surgery when I broke my wrist, the rest were sick days. I rarely get sick other than an occassional sinus infection.

[Frnkd]

Ive maxed the amount of sick time I can earn 950 hrs. I think the only one that has. Rarely use it. in my 28 years in this company probly called in no more than 3x in any given year.

[Jrob69]

Sick or dying I can work from home. Only time I didnt was after couple fusions, tough to see the laptop with neck brace on.

[djflex]

Honestly, if i hate calling in sick because it just leaves less time to steal from the office....

[chodan9]

If I am contagious or miserable I will stay home. Some folks at work are earn it and burn it types, as soon as they get a day they use it.
One young lady we had at work for a while was notorious for doing that, when she actually had an accident and needed it she didn't have it, some people talked about donating unused days but no one would give up their own for someone who abused the sick leave policy, after that management decided that we could not transfer sick time or vacation time, too much trouble to deal with.
I will also use it when I take my wife for a Dr visit when she cant drive (which is allowed under our policy).

[Nikonguy]

I refuse to burn a perfectly good sick day on being sick.

[mslman71]

Was in Smyrna TN as a matter of fact

Not surprised.

[beachguy498]

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.

We used to have unlimited leave for exempts, some not-so-well people would be out 3-4 months a year. The first 80 hours were no-questions-asked, then you needed a doctor's note. Now we use the 1st 5 days of PTO, then it goes to short term disability. This gives us full pay for up to 6 months.

I'm facing possible back surgery, so I'm sure I'll find out all about it.

Rob

[paolo59]

[QUOTE=djflex;1015251823]Honestly, if i hate calling in sick because it just leaves less time to steal from the office....[/QUOTE

You've got a point there!

[Corbi]

Don't have sick days so I have to use vacation days and I really don't want to waste my vacation on being sick. That being said I had no choice earlier this month, got that damn stomach flu which hung on for damn near 2 weeks but I only missed 3 days of work and one of those I went in but my boss told me to get the hell out and that he had it covered.

[LisaSkinnoble]

I have a work-issued laptop at home and, depending on the task, can work from home. Sometimes though, I need to be in the office. I tend to call in sick if I am socially repugnant - you know the days, when your nose and eyes can't stop running, and you're coughing up a lung. I do call in on those days, if workload permits. But sometimes, I just have to go in - repugnant and all. I keep to myself, and wash my hands all the time.

One time, this past Fall, I just felt really really lousy. I wrote to the Boss and said I'd work from home that day, as I just couldn't fathom the commute. No problem, said she. Well, it turned out that I was so ill, that I slept all day. I managed to get over it in 24 hours and the next day I told my boss that I had not worked from home as planned but had been sick all day.


Trust me, it's not "ego" that makes me go in.

[StressMonkey]

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.

Agree 1000%. Have a new appreciation for this from the time my immune system was compromised.

[DubfromGA]

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?

I work unless I'm physically unable. The only time i've missed in the past few years was when recovering from surgery and once when I had a stomach virus. The doctor actually wanted me out of work for 3 more weeks on the last surgery.

I loathe people that call in under false pretenses.

[commonguy001]

So there are a couple trains of thought on this

1 - Sick days are something I am owed and I'm going to use them.
2 - Sick days are for when you cannot physically function and or could bring your plague on others at work.

Seems like most people I work with fall into the second group including myself.

[Corbi]

Agree 1000%. Have a new appreciation for this from the time my immune system was compromised.

Dr's told me yrs ago mine was compromised when I had my spleen removed, but honestly I rarely get sick.

I loathe people that call in under false pretenses.

We have 1 guy that calls in constantly with all sorts of crap excuses. Missed another 3 days this week and it just gets old after awhile.

[PoincareDisk]

I get 10 sick days a year as a teacher, but I teach AP math so I never want to miss work. It takes a lot of work to prepare stuff for a sub, so I just go unless I am dying (which is rare). My sick days that I don't use roll over. When I retire I get paid for my unused days.

[PLANETGETLOW]

I refuse to burn a perfectly good sick day on being sick.

hahahhahaah!!

Agree 1000%. Have a new appreciation for this from the time my immune system was compromised.

EVERYPLACE I've worked, there's always that "One Person" that is just the try hard. Comes in sick as phock, maybe even with the poops or vomiting just to come in and say "I'm Sick, blahblahblah"......it really irritates me.

[whatevergirl]

When I worked in an office, there were always those who were sicker than sick, contagious, etc...who did not take sick days. Then, there were those who used up their sick days, and then some. lol My 'stance,' is sick days are there if you need 'em. Don't abuse them, but use them if you have to.

I worked for a company a few years back, that gave employees personal days AND sick days. (not equally, you got more sick days than personal) It was nice, because you didn't have to tap into your vacation or sick time, if you just need a day to take care of doc/dentist appointments, or etc...

[Amstat]

I called in sick 15 years ago and never went back. Started my own business. I frankly can't stand making someone else a bunch of dough and having them butt hurt if I need a sick day. No regrets, although technically, I never get a day completely free from my business.

[billrich210]

I work for the state and I get so many sick days it's pathetic, If I don't use them, I make everyone else look bad! ButI have taken about 10 for actual sickness in the last decade

[Nikonguy]

I get 10 sick days a year as a teacher, but I teach AP math so I never want to miss work. It takes a lot of work to prepare stuff for a sub, so I just go unless I am dying (which is rare). My sick days that I don't use roll over. When I retire I get paid for my unused days.

Agreed. I will usually take 2-3 days per year for things I want to do and bank the rest. The last time I actually called in sick (once in 12 years) I went in at 6AM and set up sub assignments for both my courses.