I love that commercial where the woman is obviously very sick and miserable, but she is trying to get ready for work. She hesitates between yes, she will go to work, to no she can't go in, until finally she just crashes fully dressed on her bed in no shape to go anywhere. Well, that is exactly how I felt last week. I was sick with a cold and flu and felt just plain awful. It hit me so suddenly on Sunday night with fits of sneezing that I thought at first it was allergies, but by morning it was a full-blown cold. I did the whole "should I stay or should I go now?" routine, but finally dragged myself out of the apartment and went to work because I had an all-day meeting to attend that I really needed to be at. Or so I thought...
Once I got to work I realized the error of my decision when I started getting chills and realized I had a fever as well. The members of my team of course didn't want to even be near me because of the germs I was spreading and I not only felt sick, but understandably rejected by my co-workers. Finally, my boss announced that they were taking a vote and were voting me off the island. I resisted for a minute and then when I just couldn't keep my head up one more minute, took my leave and went home. Three days later I re-surfaced wondering where the week had gone.
Should we go to work when we are sick? This cold and flu that I picked up had been going around my office for the last three weeks so I wasn't the only one who had come in when I was sick. It is a hard call to make. You don't want to stay home for a minor cold, but you don't want to spread germs either and in my case, it was more than just a cold, but a fever as well. You try to make the right decision as you are pondering in the morning if you can get yourself into work, but ultimately the decision seems to be made based not on wisdom, but on what work you have on your plate and what responsibilities you have to fulfill that day.
I had things to do that day so went into the office, but when all is said and done I ended up not being able to perform my duties and was out of commission for the next three days and guess what? The office did not fall apart. My work did get done eventually and everything was fine. I did cheat however and peeked remotely after the second day off sick just to keep in contact and put out a few fires, but basically I was on the couch with a big blanket, a box of kleenex and my comfort food when I am sick: gingerale, chicken and rice soup and fruit cocktail. I don't know if they really help or not, but when I was young that is what my mother would give me as she tucked me into bed and took care of me. I miss my mommy when I am sick...sometimes being an adult sucks.
When I finally went in on Thursday I did have a lot of catching up to do, but by Friday felt I was back on track. I think sometimes we feel we need to go in, at least the first day, just to show everyone that we are really sick. Afterall, it was a Monday and you know what Human Resources people say about those who take off on Mondays or Fridays, we might be just extending our weekend. Well, I proved to everyone I was really sick, but unfortunately left behind my germs and two other people have now had to go home sick because of it.
I am not sure if me staying home would have helped or not, but if you are sick, STAY HOME! You are not doing your office, or yourself any good and when you think about it, what are you going to accomplish if you are feeling so bad. Best to stay home and get better.
I realize some people don't get paid when they are off sick and I feel for them. It must be horrible to have to drag yourself in and push yourself when you really should be in bed. I do get paid sick leave however so am thankful that I have the option.
Am I going to work tomorrow? I think so, but maybe I will get up and start again with the question "should I stay or should I go now?
Showing posts with label calling in sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calling in sick. Show all posts
18 January 2009
10 April 2008
Calling in Sick...or NOT!
There is a wireless phone advertisement on the different ways you can call in sick using their product. It's a multiple choice question on whether you should text message, use e-mail or use voicemail to let your office know you are taking a sick day. The underlying message is you are not really sick, but want to creatively get a day off and here are some choices on how to do it.
Calling in sick has always been an issue in offices and managers have looked for solutions. I have worked in offices where they use "personal days" as opposed to "sick days" and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Personal days are my favourite because you can use them for any personal reason, whether you are sick, need a mental health day off or need to stay home because your children are off school. I like them because you are not required to give an excuse. You are given so many days in a year and can use them or not use them. Having personal days are actually an incentive to not take the day off. The decision is left with the employee whether they use the day or not. The bonus in not using them is at the end of the year you get paid for any days you did not use in the year.
Other people prefer having sick days allotted to them each year. I remember when I first joined the workforce the unwritten rule was "you use them or you lose them". You are given so many days in a year, but they do not carry over into the next year so if you don't use them you lose them. I find the incentive is to take the sick days off rather than not.
A co-worker told me they felt personal days discriminated against those who are not as healthy as others. The healthy ones who can maintain a perfect attendance record and not use their sick days will be rewarded at the end of the year by getting the personal day allotment paid out to them, while those who have medical problems and have to use their personal days will not get that benefit. I think they have a valid point. Yes, there is a big problem with those who abuse sick leave, but there are people who get sick more often than others because of age, needing to stay home with sick children or any number of legitimate health-related reasons.
Another disadvantage to personal days is if someone is trying to maintain that perfect attendance to get the pay-out at the end of the year, they may come into work when they are sick with colds and flus and spread the germs to other workers.
But how does it look when you call in sick?
Whether you are really sick or are abusing your sick leave, HR now look carefully at those who routinely call in sick on Mondays or Fridays. I think employees who abuse sick leave are onto that one and now the favourite day to take off seems to be Wednesdays, or any day other than Monday or Friday.
Let's face it, we all sometimes take a sick day off when we are not sick, but may just need a break from a high stressful job. The problem with taking a sick day or a personal day is that it is unplanned. Your co-workers are depending on you and when you don't show up it makes it difficult for those who are at work that day because they are now shorthanded.
If you are healthy and don't need to use your sick days, putting "maintained an excellent attendance record" is a great thing to have on your resume under "Accomplishments".
So think twice before picking up the phone, or texting or e-mailing...Are you really sick today?
**************************************
A family friend went on an interview and was asked about his high sick leave use. The company had access to his personnel file as it was an internal transfer opportunity. When he told them he had had a kidney stone problem, they all winced (it was an all male panel) and let the question pass (no pun intended)...
Calling in sick has always been an issue in offices and managers have looked for solutions. I have worked in offices where they use "personal days" as opposed to "sick days" and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Personal days are my favourite because you can use them for any personal reason, whether you are sick, need a mental health day off or need to stay home because your children are off school. I like them because you are not required to give an excuse. You are given so many days in a year and can use them or not use them. Having personal days are actually an incentive to not take the day off. The decision is left with the employee whether they use the day or not. The bonus in not using them is at the end of the year you get paid for any days you did not use in the year.
Other people prefer having sick days allotted to them each year. I remember when I first joined the workforce the unwritten rule was "you use them or you lose them". You are given so many days in a year, but they do not carry over into the next year so if you don't use them you lose them. I find the incentive is to take the sick days off rather than not.
A co-worker told me they felt personal days discriminated against those who are not as healthy as others. The healthy ones who can maintain a perfect attendance record and not use their sick days will be rewarded at the end of the year by getting the personal day allotment paid out to them, while those who have medical problems and have to use their personal days will not get that benefit. I think they have a valid point. Yes, there is a big problem with those who abuse sick leave, but there are people who get sick more often than others because of age, needing to stay home with sick children or any number of legitimate health-related reasons.
Another disadvantage to personal days is if someone is trying to maintain that perfect attendance to get the pay-out at the end of the year, they may come into work when they are sick with colds and flus and spread the germs to other workers.
But how does it look when you call in sick?
Whether you are really sick or are abusing your sick leave, HR now look carefully at those who routinely call in sick on Mondays or Fridays. I think employees who abuse sick leave are onto that one and now the favourite day to take off seems to be Wednesdays, or any day other than Monday or Friday.
Let's face it, we all sometimes take a sick day off when we are not sick, but may just need a break from a high stressful job. The problem with taking a sick day or a personal day is that it is unplanned. Your co-workers are depending on you and when you don't show up it makes it difficult for those who are at work that day because they are now shorthanded.
If you are healthy and don't need to use your sick days, putting "maintained an excellent attendance record" is a great thing to have on your resume under "Accomplishments".
So think twice before picking up the phone, or texting or e-mailing...Are you really sick today?
**************************************
A family friend went on an interview and was asked about his high sick leave use. The company had access to his personnel file as it was an internal transfer opportunity. When he told them he had had a kidney stone problem, they all winced (it was an all male panel) and let the question pass (no pun intended)...
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