Do you take many sick days?

ibarelycare

I have to take sick days at my own expense and I rarely take them. Even if I did get paid for them, I still don't think I'd take many, I always feel terrible if I've to take them, and my boss makes me feel even worse. I'd say in the past few years I've taken, on average, 3 a year.

My friend gets 12 paid sick days a year and says it would be stupid not to use them! They only have to show a doctor's not if it gets to 4 days in a row, so she'd often take 2 or 3 days together. She's going for a promotion soon and I told her it could go against her, but she says everyone in there does it!

So do you take the piss with your sick days?



(Awaits angry unemployed posters...)

Cookie_Monster

no I don't, probably taken 4 in the last 2 years.

Are you not entitled by statute to 12 paid sick days a years regardless?

Ginger Nut

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

no I don't, probably taken 4 in the last 2 years.

Are you not entitled by statute to 12 paid sick days a years regardless?

I get 7 paid sick days - must get a doctors cert if more than 2 together. If I'm sick on Friday and Monday i have to get a cert to cover 4 days even though I dont work on Saturday or Sunday. Cant complain I'm rarely out anyway

ibarelycare

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

no I don't, probably taken 4 in the last 2 years.

Are you not entitled by statute to 12 paid sick days a years regardless?

No it's not an obligation for an employer. Most people get sick days included in their contract but not me

Pigeon Slapper

As long as there are pigeons out there needing a chin checking I can never rest.

ibarelycare

Pigeon Slapper wrote: »

As long as there are pigeons out there needing a chin checking I can never rest.

Wow....that's just sad

WindSock

I took 8 last year which is quite high for me. I had to take a week off though as I had some highly contagious flu.

marwelie

Ginger Nut wrote: »

I get 7 paid sick days - must get a doctors cert if more than 2 together. If I'm sick on Friday and Monday i have to get a cert to cover 4 days even though I dont work on Saturday or Sunday. Cant complain I'm rarely out anyway

Same here

I wouldnt take a day off unless I'm absolutely dying though. I wouldnt say I love my job but when I had to sit at home for two days when the snow arrived I thought I was going to go mad. The longest I've been out of work sick is 2 weeks with a kidney infection. Would rather take flexi leave or annual leave (but technically I'm not supposed to do that)

positron

Just checked. I have taken about 5 sick days since 2005.

az2wp0sye65487

No.

In the last 4 years (in my current job) I've taken about 5 or 6. All were genuine sick days.

I got an ear infection at Christmas; I was off work anyway as it was Christmas, but when I was at the doctor's office he asked if I wanted a note for time off... I said no; I was grand, why take the p**s like that, it'll only go against you in the long run.

Giblet

Pigeon Slapper wrote: »

As long as there are pigeons out there needing a chin checking I can never rest.

We already had Face Kicker, that time has gone.

mikeystipey

ibarelycare wrote: »

only have to show a doctor's note if it gets to 4 days in a row

jaysus, thats pretty generous :eek: Even the civil service only allows 2 days in a row uncertified. Are you guys hiring?

Personally, only taken 1 day uncertified in 7 years and 3 days in a row certified

sbsquarepants

I take maybe 2 or 3 a year, but never when i'm sick!
I take them if i'm going somewhere or have something to do, i go to work when i'm sick. Thankfully i've never had anything too serious so i might as well be in work, has the added bonus off making the pretend days look less suspicious!:D

mikom

ibarelycare wrote: »

I have to take sick days at my own expense and I rarely take them. Even if I did get paid for them, I still don't think I'd take many, I always feel terrible if I've to take them, and my boss makes me feel even worse.

Try being self employed, then come back to me...

borderlinemeath

I have taken 3 sick days in 17years of employment.

I had a 24hr bug for one day
I was in a car crash for another
I had a very bad flu for the last.

I suppose it helps when you like your job, I'd rather be in work than sick anyday!

My name is URL

Very seldomly, I work from home now so it's pretty illogical

Alanstrainor

I've taken about 4 in the last year and a half, 2 were as a result of a bad crash on the bike, and another 2 were because of a knee injury i had. Meh, i don't get sick, i just get injured!

r3nu4l

I've taken about 4 in 2 years, 2 in a row last year and two separately in the year previous. I get paid sick leave and don't need a cert unless I'm off for 7 days in a row.

I can't be arsed taking sick days unless I feel I'd be infectious or am just to sick to work, I've too much on anyway

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

sam34

i've never taken a sick day

i just would hate to put colleagues and patients under pressure

the work wont wait til i come abck, my colleagues will ahve to cover. so i wouldnt call in sick unless i was practically dying



i have a sister who is a permanent civil servant, and she abuses sick days terribly

i dont think she ever works a full calendar month

its despicable

UltimateMale

Taking sickies is a bad habit - of which I am guilty of

ibarelycare

mikeystipey wrote: »

jaysus, thats pretty generous :eek: Even the civil service only allows 2 days in a row uncertified. Are you guys hiring?

Personally, only taken 1 day uncertified in 7 years and 3 days in a row certified

That's my friend's job! Officially they're supposed to have a doctor's note after 3 consecutive days but she says they're very laid back about it and only ask for one after 4.

grenache

I have taken 1 sick day in the last 3 years. I like my job.

Minstrel27

I haven't been out sick for 10 months now.usually 2 or 3 days a year though. I cannot afford to be out sick.

General Zod

not had a day out sick in 9 years.

Dunjohn

I think I was out for four days between November and December last year, three days, I think August, but before that, I hadn't taken a sick days in nearly three years. I hated taking sick days. I hated the idea of someone else having to do my work in addition to their own.Dunno what happened to me this winter. I was sick constantly. I went in a few days that I was sick but could manage.

I don't work there anymore, but I only needed to show a cert if it was longer than three consequtive days. I don't know if there was a set number of uncertified days you could take. So, pretty similar to that friend of yours, might even be the same company. It's a generous enough sickness entitlement, I suppose.

Dravokivich

over the last 3 years... I've had no more then 5. 1 of'em last year.

Personally i hate the job, but i've got this whole respect and pride thing for myself showing resposibliity and such... so unless i actually can't make it in, i will make it in.

- Drav!

Kiera

I get 12 a year but i'd have to be very very sick to take any.

RobbieTheRobber

Every year I find that 12 uncertified sick days is no where near enough, I mean I use all those for going drinking and holidays. So, I have then to use certified sick days(when Im sick with minor things) which involves me going to the doctor and paying fifty euro.

Thats when I think well Im paying fifty euro here so I might as well get something out of this like maybe a week or two off.

At this stage Im not sure what symptoms I can give the doctor anymore before miracously recovering two weeks later.


Last year things got so bad i had to take two holidays, one to knock and one to Lourdes, just to get the doctor off me back( he is a religous nut so swallowed the whole God cured me angle)

sweetie

:rolleyes: brilliant, Robbie!

one or two a year - need to show I am human!

RobbieTheRobber

sweetie wrote: »

:rolleyes: brilliant, Robbie!

Did my comment make you feel sick?

sorrywhat

I had 9 last year but they were all genuine. I was out for a week due to a minor operation.

I got sent home for 4 days cos I had a cold during the height of the swine flu...... turned out that it was just a cold!

I cant call in sick for being hungover or cos i dont feel like going to work, I get stressed out even thinkin about it, Id end up coming across all nervous on the phone. Id be found out in a second.

So I just go in to work when Im dying. Of a hangover.

muppetkiller

Up until last year I hadn't taken a single sickday in 10 years. But since November i've been out with the Flu for 4 days ( 2 two day episodes) and I'm going to head home from work now sick as I've got a vomiting bug...Never had one of those before either..must be a sign of me getting old boohoo

admiralofthefleet

ive taken 1 in 4 years

dsmythy

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I have taken 3 sick days in 17years of employment.

I had a 24hr bug for one day
I was in a car crash for another
I had a very bad flu for the last.

I suppose it helps when you like your job, I'd rather be in work than sick anyday!

1 in 5 years myself. If i keep that up I'll still be 2 years behind you

My father manages to beat you though. 1 sick day in 40 years. I've no hope of beating him!

FutureGuy

I get 20 sick days a year. Haven't taken a sick day since I started in February 2008.


Mind your job etc etc

GavRedKing

I've taken 2 in the last year and a half, one was genuine the other wasnt.

SeekUp

There's no limit to the number of sick days that we can take but I've only been out sick once -- and that was after coming in crappy the day before and being sent home early the day after. I might call in a day or two this year though, might as well . . .

NothingMan

Got a bad eye infection in my first few months in my current job. I went in as much as possible but my eye was so swollen I obviously shouldn't have been there. Anyway after 6 months probation they extended my probation to a year because I had so many sick days. Didn't matter that my eyelid was the size of a golf ball.

Strangely enough had my pay review while I was still on probation and got 13% pay rise and told I was now the senior person in my team, despite being the newest there and the youngest by 5 years.

So they made it clear that they don't tolerate messers when it comes to sick leave but if you're genuinely sick it shouldn't effect your progress in the company. Needless to say, there 4 years now and have taken maybe 5 sick days since the original 6.

folan

Ive only taken 3 sick days in my life, but ive been pretty lucky never to have been too sick when i was working! had to take a day when i cut my finger and needed stitches, and 2 for vomitting bugs. Then again, i was out of college for a week with a bug once.

Only thing i ever feel odd about is coming in with a head cold. I hate spluttering about the place, but i never feel bad enough to not come in really. but i know people look at me and jsut say Fe*k off home and leave us from getting one!

pickarooney

sam34 wrote: »

i've never taken a sick day

i just would hate to put colleagues and patients under pressure

the work wont wait til i come abck, my colleagues will ahve to cover. so i wouldnt call in sick unless i was practically dying

Aren't you a doctor? How would that work if you did take a sick day? Would you write yourself a cert? apologies if I'v'e mixed you up with someone!

I don't understand '12 sick days'? What does it mean, they expect you to be sick for exactly 12 days each year?

I very rarely take a sick day, maybe one a year on average, if that. I'm 'allowed' be sick whenever I really am sick, which I though would be normal.

The people who 'get' sick days - are you the same ones who lose holidays when you're snowed in? That seems all kinds of crazy.

Mr. Presentable

Since I am self employed I cannot afford to be sick, so weirdly I never am. Zero days in 6 years.

sillyputty

Ive never taken a sick day - i don't know why - I guess im afraid that if i take a fake one i'll be found out and then nobody would believe me when im being honest.

Plus to ring in sick i have to call the head of the company and he would be able to tell when im a faker

Corruptedmorals

I get 12 paid sick days a year, but you have to ring so many hours before the start of your shift and it's tough to get through sometimes uggh. Anyway, unless you notify personnel with 1 week's notice, shift swapping goes down as a sick day. And they keep telling me they'll change 2008's record but I know it still says 8...4 sick days and 4 shift swaps. None for 2009. One so far this year but I couldn't get in because of the snow. 7 in 2007..and that's only 3 months but I was quite sick. I wouldn't call in sick unless I was dying especially these days when we're so short-staffed.

Magenta

sam34 wrote: »

i've never taken a sick day

i just would hate to put colleagues and patients under pressure

the work wont wait til i come abck, my colleagues will ahve to cover. so i wouldnt call in sick unless i was practically dying

I have to say if there is one thing I hate in the workplace, it's people who come in no matter how contagious they are, and then pass their illness on to me.
No one is irreplaceable- NO ONE, and no one is so important that the company will not last 1 or 2 days without them.
I ****ing hate martyrs who sit there all day sneezing their germs onto me whining "Oh I'm dying but I'm soldiering on, you know?".

sam34

pickarooney wrote: »

Aren't you a doctor? How would that work if you did take a sick day? Would you write yourself a cert? apologies if I'v'e mixed you up with someone.

nope, you've got the right person.:)

if you take a sick day, as a hospital doctor, basically your colleagues are screwed. the patients on the ward are still going to need looking after, the out-patient clinics are still going to run, the operations are still going to go ahead.

the hse will not sanction replacement cover, even when someone is sick for a prolonged period.

so your colleagues end up covering your patients, on top of their own,and it causes a huge burden on them.

and no, you cant write your own sick cert! that would be open to huge abuse. although, having said that, non-consultant-hospitaldoctors have a very low rate of sick days, by far teh lowest of all hospital employees.

sam34

Magenta wrote: »

I have to say if there is one thing I hate in the workplace, it's people who come in no matter how contagious they are, and then pass their illness on to me.
No one is irreplaceable- NO ONE, and no one is so important that the company will not last 1 or 2 days without them.
I ****ing hate martyrs who sit there all day sneezing their germs onto me whining "Oh I'm dying but I'm soldiering on, you know?".

try working as a non-consultant hospital doctor, when you're already working ridiculous hours just to keep the service going, and then a colleague rings in sick. the knock on effect on colleagues is horrendous.

its an unwritten code among NCHDs that they dont call in sick unless theyre really really dying.

and its something the hse exploit... they refuse to arrange locum cover for a sick doctor (even though its in our contract that they will) so anyone who is sick is guilt tripped into coming abck asap as they know their colleagues are being shafted.

Magenta

sam34 wrote: »

nope, you've got the right person.:)

if you take a sick day, as a hospital doctor, basically your colleagues are screwed. the patients on the ward are still going to need looking after, the out-patient clinics are still going to run, the operations are still going to go ahead.

the hse will not sanction replacement cover, even when someone is sick for a prolonged period.

so your colleagues end up covering your patients, on top of their own,and it causes a huge burden on them.

and no, you cant write your own sick cert! that would be open to huge abuse. although, having said that, non-consultant-hospitaldoctors have a very low rate of sick days, by far teh lowest of all hospital employees.

But what if you pass your illness on to your patients? I know the risk should be minimal since you're supposed to be washing your hands and wearing gloves etc but it's not impossible.

Edit- I did not know when I wrote my first post that you were a doctor and I have the utmost respect for the work hospital doctors do. I was more referring to people in run-of-the-mill office jobs.

sam34

Magenta wrote: »

But what if you pass your illness on to your patients? I know the risk should be minimal since you're supposed to be washing your hands and wearing gloves etc but it's not impossible.

Edit- I did not know when I wrote my first post that you were a doctor and I have the utmost respect for the work hospital doctors do. I was more referring to people in run-of-the-mill office jobs.

there's a risk of passing on colds/flu etc

as you say, handwashing etc should lower it

for patients who would be seriously compromised if they picked something up, you'd avoid seeing them , but you'll have to get on with seeing everyone else.

they could just as easily pick up something if they were walking around the streets

its not ideal, but there isnt another feasible answer.

i know you were referring to non-emergency-service jobs, and i agree with you some people act the martyr about being sick, but the opposite end of that are the crowd who take the piss- eg my own sister who recently took 3 days off because she had a mouth ulcer!!!!:eek::rolleyes:

Acoshla

I've been in my job a year and 3 months and have had 11 sick days, all but the last one were legit, I had 10 days off in November due to a severe kidney infection. Although I am the only employee working with the owner the place is so deserted of customers that it doesn't really matter if I never turned up so didn't feel bad at all.

When I work in a real job that I actually gave a damn about I only ever take a sick day if I really am very sick, I hate leaving people in the lurch. Although once I was sent home from a job even though I wanted to stay, I had conjunctivitis and my eyes freaked my boss out so much he said I couldn't serve customers So off to the beach I went to recuperate!

Senna

If i dont feel well enough to go in i wont, but over the last few years there's been a few days when i shouldn't have been in work, but it was such a busy day that i couldn't miss it.
Would normally be off 1-2 days per year, had to take a week off in 2008 with a bad back, but none are paid for or I take them as holidays.