Ringing in Sick

lynsalot

Hey folks,

I'm sorry I'm not sure where to post this. I got tonsillitis while on annual leave about 2 weeks ago but had work to do on my house, so went to doc got tablets and got on with it. Went back to work after the week off. Finished tablets on the monday (first day back) and tues i had a day off for an appointment. I started to feel really sick tues night so went back to doc on wednesday. I had a high temp, flu like symptoms, very bad sore and infected throat, ear pain and busting headache. The doc was rude. Told me I mustn't have taken the tablets. Prescribed another type of antibiotic and said he would only give me two days off work (Like i was chancing my arm yet he did all his tests and they proved I was sick) I spent two days in bed absolutely dying.

I might add here that i went straight to HR on weds morning and they were more than happy to send me off as they knew i wasn't well. Anyway friday came and I was no better - same minus a fever.... rang in sick. Work were ok said ok see ya monday. Rang the doc's office and they were a bit awkward. I felt grand over the weekend but unwell again sunday night. Rang in sick yesterday and this morning i went into work and headed back to the doc again (it's a medical practise btw) and saw a different doc. He said my tonsils were still very badly inflamed and i'd built up a resistance to the antibiotics. He sent me home... I still feel pretty **** to be honest... very sore ears and glands and the headache like before. He said to rest up and head into work tomorrow.

Sorry for the long post, but i'm getting p'd off... my boss didn't say much when I rang but she wasn't best pleased that i headed home. I feel like people don't believe me. in total i've had 5 working days off in 2.5 weeks of having this illness. My job are very very strict on sick leave and i'm really worried it's going to look bad.

A year and half ago I had pretty bad sick leave... I actually had depression and was sent to a doc who diagnosed and treated it and my sick leave's been normal since then... couple of days out of the year. i honestly haven't pulled one sick day since but because of this i'm paranoid and I want to do well in my role this year.

The second doc i saw was horrible. He really patronised me. Told me it was very unusual for tonsillitis to reoccur and did i not take the antibiotics. I told him i had and he looked at me and said "Really? Are u sure?" He got up and then said "Are u working at the moment" I said yes but i've not missed a day yet with the illness and he was shocked. i think he thought i was just looking for time off work.

So i've to head into work tomorrow and I'm still not right. I am starting to feel a bit down about it actually. Btw I'm taking vitamins and drinking pro biotic yoghurts, gargling with salt water and taking painkillers if and when i need to aswell as antibiotics so i'm doing everything i can to get rid of this. i'm also eating lots of veg and citrus fruits for vit C.

Just wanted some responses on this I suppose. If this kinda thing has made you feel this way before or any advice? Thanks

krudler

Dont go in, screw works "very very strict" stance on sick leave, if you're sick you're sick, end of. Stress adds to any illness so getting worked up over it isnt going to help at all, keep looking after yourself and if work do have a problem with it cross that bridge when you have to, but get better first

petes

What krudler said. Stress will get you more down and it will take longer for you to get better.

I know you feel you want to do well in your job but the old cliche still stands. Your health is your wealth.

Get yourself better first and then worry about whats next.

Stop worrying about work.

xzanti

If you have Doctors note then I wouldn't worry, put your feet up and concentrate on getting better.. If your boss was feeling as crap as you do you think they'd worry about missing time? I doubt it.. look after numero uno dude.. Get well soon..

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Exactly. Not sure I agree with the "screw work" idea - getting disciplined or even fired is only going to make things worse.

Get the doctor's cert, show it to them, and you're fine. They can moan and bitch all the like but at the end of the day, you are genuinely sick.

Agent J

Valid Doctors cert ends your problem.

Also fun lesser know fact.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/sick_leave


You can hand in your sick notes for you time sick during your sick leave and get those days back.

Personally, Id keep it as a trump card.if i got grief from HR about it, I would remind them and show this rule and they dont have a swift attitude change you would insist on it.

Midnight Sundance

Go to a different doctor. I'm sure they'll be more understanding. If you aren't happy with the one you have it'l be worth even going to the next town with a doc.

lynsalot

Thanks for the responses guys. Made me feel a lot better. The medical centre I go to is linked to my job... in that they offer corporate services too and my company use them for medicals. I had a family GP at home but the waiting room is out the door and a real nuisance.

I went back to work today even though I wasn't feeling well. The doctor's cert only covered me up til today. I went to the doc yesterday and felt lousy. He said my tonsils were still in a bad way and gave me a new prescription.now because me tonsils are so swollen my ears are sore and my glands are sore. I had to ask for the rest of the day off to go home and rest up. He wrote me out just for the day to return to work today. Seemed strange to me but i felt like a criminal asking for a note in the first place. Does this seem unfair to anyone apart from me?

The doc i saw before that was last wed and he wrote me out to return on friday. I clearly wasn't better by then... or monday so went back to the doc yesterday. just found the entire experience a bit strange. Work haven't said anything yet but they generally wait a day or two and call u in for a back to work meeting, where i'll be telling them no i'm not better!!

lynsalot

Agent J wrote: »

Valid Doctors cert ends your problem.

Also fun lesser know fact.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/sick_leave


You can hand in your sick notes for you time sick during your sick leave and get those days back.

Personally, Id keep it as a trump card.if i got grief from HR about it, I would remind them and show this rule and they dont have a swift attitude change you would insist on it.

Just in relation to this - it doesn't matter if ur sick leave is certified or not. my job use a thing called the bradford factor irrespective of certification. In fact if you're out for more than 2 days u must provide a note from the doc and illness benefit from third day. if u return to work without these u must go back to the doc for them. A friend of mine was called in as she'd had 6 sick days last year and one was uncertified. She was told she wasn't being paid for sick leave for this entire year and she must now go and get a cert for the uncertified leave she took.... makes no sense. She's in the full of her health now so what doctor in their right mind would certify an illness from 6 months ago lol

Agent J

In fact if you're out for more than 2 days u must provide a note from the doc and illness benefit from third day.

Well yeah. Thats pretty standard.(Well debatle between 2 and 3).

But thats consecutive days. If you are out 6 days in 3 X 2 days and they ask you to get a sick cert. Tell them to get stuffed and they are in breach of the law on it.

Cianos

If your workplace and clinic have some kind of corporate affiliation I would go to an alternative doctors. It sounds like the doctors have some kind of agenda with ensuring you don't take days off, influenced by the affiliation with your workplace and their "very very strict" approach to sick leave. A doctor should give 100% impartial advice and favour the patient, not their employers. I'd consider reporting them tbh.

davyjose

lynsalot wrote: »

Just in relation to this - it doesn't matter if ur sick leave is certified or not. my job use a thing called the bradford factor

In fairness the Bradford factor is there to see who is taking the piss. If you're legitimately sick, the bradford factor is your friend.

If you miss 7 monday mornings(dodgy), that's a score of about 350 (the higher, the worse).

If you miss a week in Jan with a cold, and 2 weeks in October with a bad back, for a five day week that's a score of only 60 - even though you've missed twice as many days.

LegacyUser

In my place you would also have been entitled to phone in while on annual leave and replace those days with certified sick leave - but you do have to do it as soon as you're ill, not come back and say you were sick.
The boss may have scheduling headaches due to your illness and therefore may have been a little offhand - I wouldn't take it personally. Do try and forget about that and concentrate on getting well. If you are prone to little spells of depression you can't afford to let this stress you out or you'll end up getting down over it.
We are but a number in work - you're not screwing the system so don't feel guilty