How much sick leave is too much?

UniGirl

Hi everyone! I'm 23 and female.
A bit of background story first.
I currently work full time in a (HORRIBLE , UNDERSTAFFED)call centre for the past 7.5 months. A few weeks into working here I got tonsilitis but went to work anyway, ended up getting more sick and developed this big cyst in my armpit (doctor assumed they were linked). It was very painful on top of the tonsillitis and ended up on antibiotics and having to have a minor surgery to get cyst removed. I ended up taking 4 and a half sick days for this. I was certified too.

I was hired by a recruitment company (separate to the call centre i work). The boss from there called me and everyone who started the job with
Me into a meeting a few weeks after and basically made out anyone who was out sick really was never sick that we just "didnt take our multivitamins". This
Made me so made me so mad. Only 2 of us in the group had actually taken sick days. She's kind of horrible, fake and intimidating.

Now we don't get paid for any sick days even if we supply a doctor cert. So I don't particularly want to take sick days as I need every bit of my wages.

Then in august, I took one sick day due to 'tummy bug.' I wasnt actually sick i was just stressed. I had just been evicted from my apartment. came into work the next day and just couldn't pull myself together. My manager saw me and told me to go home. He was very understanding. I didn't even need to say anything. So I did, and took the next two days off. (Thursday and Friday) So that was 3 in total. I went to the doctor, had a long chat with her and she put me out of work until the following Thursday. So in total that was 6 unpaid sick days. Now that was hard as i knew i wouldn't be paid but I did consciously choose to take those days. I was feeling so overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and felt like everything was just going wrong I knew i wasn't fit for work. Did I mention I absolutely hate my job? To the point where i actually cry sometimes before I go in there. I needed a few days to move my things home to my family house and decide what my next step was. Anyways, on this particular occasion my doctor kindly
Put down my asmtha and stomach bug as reason for my sick leave as I didn't want to speak about my mental state to anyone in work, especially not the horrible manager from my recruitment company.

Anyways, CURRENTLY it's a Saturday night. I don't work weekends. For the past few weeks I've been getting up at 5am everyday to get a bus to work, total travel time Is about 2-2.5 hours. I get home around 9pm-10:30pm depending. I can't find anywhere to live nearer to work so I'm commuting from my family home. This has taken its toll on me. All week I was feeling a bit run down. And now have a full on chest infection and sinus infection. No matter how well I take care of my asmtha, I always, without fail, get a chest infection this time of year. I'm coughing all night, so wheezy i can't breathe properly. Twice in my life my bronchitis has developed into pneumonia. So I have to look after myself whenever I get bronchitis.
But I'm so conflicted. 1. I know I need a few days off to recover but am absolutely scared ****less to call in because they prob think I'm taking the piss at this stage. 2. I know I won't get paid so that's another hit to the paycheck.
But on the other hand I'm like...okay I am sick and I don't care about that job anyway why would i go in if I'm sick? My plan is to get the **** out of there as soon as possible. It's the most horrific job ever. Taking calls nonstop all day from horrible mean customers. So much pressure from managers too.

Sorry for the long rant I'm just looking for someone to shed some light on this. Is there a certain limit of sick days in Ireland? Can I be fired?

Thanks to anyone who reads this whole thing and replies. Greatly appreciated,

ryaner777

First of all stop worrying. Everyone starts or works for a ****ty company like this at some stage of their lives and looks back with a great sense of relief that they are not in that situation any more.

At the moment things are looking up and there is more and more jobs becoming available everyday. Try and find yourself something better and in the mean time just keep reminding yourself that the current situation is only temporary.

Take all the time off you need when you need it. Only you are responsible for your own health. Go to work when you can and keep looking for something better. It will come. You are more valuable then this company is making you feel.

uck51js9zml2yt

You can't help it if you're sick but don't be surprised if the company terminate your contract at some point. They need to be able to rely on their staff.
You really need to find a better job.

njs030

That's an awful lot of time off sick in a short time period and it's unlikely they will keep you on much longer.

Just remember that when you are calling in sick you're forcing more work onto everyone else, so even if you don't like the work perhaps have some thought for your colleagues and don't call in sick unless you actually are.

UniGirl

notjustsweet wrote: »

That's an awful lot of time off sick in a short time period and it's unlikely they will keep you on much longer.

Just remember that when you are calling in sick you're forcing more work onto everyone else, so even if you don't like the work perhaps have some thought for your colleagues and don't call in sick unless you actually are.

The thing about this place is, everyone is in everyday anyway. And no matter if people call in sick or not we do the same amount of work anyway. We always take 40-50 calls per day regardless. But i get where you're coming from. I need to find a new job ASAP because calling in due to stress from the job mainly just isn't right. I've hated jobs before and never ever called in sick.

amtc

Two short term ideas

You're not going to stay there. That amount of travel would make anyone sick plus it becomes unfeasible not seeing any daylight plus you're miserable in the job.

You must have accrued some annual leave? Can you take that rather than sick leave?

Or get a certificate for a longer period of sick leave and apply for Illness benefit. You need to serve six waiting days (which includes a saturday) so you would have qualified for a day's payment last time. Use this time to recuperate and look for jobs.

're the attitude of the employment agency they are only paid when you're in work.
.

Big Bag of Chips

Personally I would just hand in my notice now, and leave as soon as possible. You will find something else. You are damaging your physical and mental health by continuing. The commute is ridiculous for a job you hate. You are living at home, so don't need wages to pay huge rent at the moment. Hand in your notice and look for more suitable employment, preferably closer to home.

Contact recruitment agencies closer to you. Look up job sites. You can tell little white lies about why you left the other job.

I left a job before that I hated, with nowhere to go. I was renting in Dublin at the time. It gave me the incentive to find something else pretty quickly, and whenever asked I said I enjoyed working for the company, I got on well with everyone, but I realised the type of work I was doing wasn't for me and I needed a role that was more varied where I wasn't just sitting at a computer all day.

It's not worth the stress.

LynnGrace

I agree with the two previous posters. Get yourself out of there ASAP. That's no life, it really isn't. You will find something else.

Mind yourself. Your health is more important than anything.

Ursus Horribilis

Is there anything in your job contract which specifies how much sick leave you can take? There is in mine.
I don't know if they can fire you for the sick leave you've taken but you're not doing yourself any favours with that bad record. You'd be unlikely to be offered a new contract once your existing one is up. No employer wants an employee on their books who they can't rely on.

Having said all that, I 100% agree with the people who are advising you to get out of there asap. Call centres are notoriously awful places to work and it makes no sense you're putting such a long commute in on top of that. Would you be open to living at home for a little while and getting a job locally until something better comes up?

mojesius

I've done my stint in call centres during the recession and I can empathise with how you're feeling. The pressure, constant chat beeps, ringing phones and nasty customers really took its toll on my mental health and brought back severe anxiety I had when I was younger. I tried to stay and tough it out, ended up in a bad way (grinded my teeth so bad for months in my sleep that I had to have jaw surgery).

Leave the job, before it affects you more. When you're stressed, tired and down, it makes you more susceptible to physical sickness. I never regretted leaving those jobs but regretted staying for so long.

shesty

Knowing several asthmatics, if you have a chest infection, you need to call in sick.Honestly, most people I know who get chest infections are certified for a good week off, on steroids for the duration.
As for anything else I agree with other posters.New job needed.That commute is ridiculous and unsustainable.

tea and coffee

Can you just hand in your notice?

Ursus Horribilis

shesty wrote: »

Knowing several asthmatics, if you have a chest infection, you need to call in sick. Honestly, most people I know who get chest infections are certified for a good week off, on steroids for the duration.

OP, I have asthma and it's usually well controlled. But when I catch a cold, all bets are off. I've learned the hard way that trying to tough it out never works. I just get sicker and sicker and have to visit the doctor anyway. In my experience, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by holding off on going to the doctor when you're an asthmatic with a chest infection. Nothing. Unless falling even more ill appeals to you. So now when I can feel things going downhill, I go straight to the doctor and get started on the course of corticosteroids and antibiotics. It shortens the time I'm ill and reduces my sick leave.

meeeeh

Op you are there less than a year so they can terminate your employment for no reason. You are also not suited to the job. When a relatively low paid job (I assume since it's call centre) causes you health issues it really isn't worth it.

punisher5112

Op run.... Run very far it will only cause you to become even worse.

Go to doctor and tell them everything and you may well need to go out on stress or similar.

Hand in your notice either way.

power pants

Job isn't suited for you and you're not suited to the job. Stop wasting your time and the company's and hand in your notice and move on

Contessa Raven

Hi OP,

Leave. It's not worth the toll it is taking on your physical and mental health. Trust me.

I have been where you are. Crying the night before going back into work because you dread walking in the door. The pressure to come in even when you're really ill (had a manager once call me while I was in bed with a vomiting bug telling me that it wasn't on that I had taken the day to "lie in bed" )
I stayed in that job for 4 years. The pay was sh!t, the hours were sh!t (13 hour shifts - no time to look for other work/go for interviews) and the managers were sh!t.

In the end I had a really bad anxiety attack that forced me to see my GP who signed me off with stress and anxiety for a month. He strongly recommended I left and took the time to get better and find my feet but stupidly I went back and ended up back at square one. Took another 10 months before I finally found the courage to leave.
I had no other work lined up. My fiancé was also out of work and we spent another year and a half stumbling from week to week. It was really tough. But anytime I felt like picking the phone up and asking for my old job back I thought "But I am SO much healthier and happier in myself" and I just kept looking.

It's scary not having a job and not knowing what the next step is but remember that it's only a temporary state. A job will surface for you but your health is precious. I realised when I was in the above situation that my employer didn't give a rats about my wellbeing. They cared only about the amount of €€€ I could generate on their behalf. They never supported me or asked how I was doing. They wanted me in the door as quickly as possible, that was all.

Listen to your body. It's telling you it's had enough.

Ursus Horribilis

And another thing worth bearing in mind is that if you quit, you've a good reason. That commute is utterly unrealistic. If you decide to stay put, take the sick leave and let them come to you with the P45.

SlowSprint

Hi UniGirl,

really sorry to hear what you are going through.
I am always disappointed when someone posts about torment they are going through and inevitably there are some who respond completely heartlessly.

If a qualified doctor gives you a sick leave cert that manager has no right whatsoever to question it. To suggest that multivitamins would negate the need to take leave is outrageous. She is dangerously close to breach of employment legislation. (A poster seem to excuse it by saying "they are only paid when you are in work" - greed is not an excuse for completely unreasonable refusal to acknowledge genuine illness that a doctor has certified) We don't work in the year 1880 anymore. Workers have basic rights for a reason.
As for the poster that tried to make you feel guilty about your co-workers having to do more work if you are out sick, that is equally out of line.
If you are sick, you should be at home recovering. It is the responsibility of management to roster staff and have enough contingency to cover that event, not you; you are not paid to do management.
You shouldn't feel any guilt for being in an unenviable situation such as this.
When you can, start developing a plan for finding a new job that suits your health and wellbeing much better than this one.

Very best wishes,
SlowSprint.

Emme

OP that place sounds horrible and the long commute on top of it. Have you sat down and thought about whether it is worthwhile to do this job?

From what I can see if they give you your notice they will be doing you a huge favour. Could you do some sort of course instead to help you get your self-confidence back?

UniGirl

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. So many positive, supportive replies that I didn't expect. I've been signed out of work until Thursday.
I'm currently on 4 steroids, 3 antibiotics per day and a preventative inhaler 4 times per day.
I'm glad I called in sick. I think it was a smart decision. My manager in work didn't sound mad at all. Probably a whole other story when my recruitment company finds out!
I'm 100% leaving this place ASAP. I'll probably last til the end of the month.

Again thanks so much to everyone who took the time to reply!

amtc

I was the one who said that the recruitment agency was only paid when op was in work. This was not to excuse it but to explain why the recruitment manager was annoyed.

To the op, get well soon.

LynnGrace

UniGirl wrote: »

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. So many positive, supportive replies that I didn't expect. I've been signed out of work until Thursday.
I'm currently on 4 steroids, 3 antibiotics per day and a preventative inhaler 4 times per day.
I'm glad I called in sick. I think it was a smart decision. My manager in work didn't sound mad at all. Probably a whole other story when my recruitment company finds out!
I'm 100% leaving this place ASAP. I'll probably last til the end of the month.

Again thanks so much to everyone who took the time to reply!

And if you are not better on Thursday, get another cert.
Your health comes first and the current work situation including the long commute is untenable.

Get plenty of rest, take care and best of luck with everything.

MartyMcFly84

Call centres are notorious for the high number of sick days staff take.

I knew someone who worked in the HR dept in a call centre, they spent most of their time investigating false sick leave claims. It was actually incredibly stressful for her also putting up with the aggro and left due to it.

I have done my stink in a call centre also and would not go back, try taking some annual leave to get your thoughts together and looks for different jobs. If you dont 100% need this job sounds like you will do yourself and your employers a favour by leaving. If you hate your job you will not be productive and make yourself miserable.