Calling in sick to work

[Lilsia]

So for some TMI. I am having a bad day for my medical issue(IBS). I usually have mostly good days, but today is not one of them. I called in sick to my part time job and let my boss know because, anyone with any knowledge of this stuff knows how it is impossible to do anything on bad days, that does not revolve around a toilet. I hate how they act like they don't believe you and get ticked off. I rarely call in sick and I don't usually talk about my medical issues because it's not their business. Anyone else have their boss act as if you are lying sack of poop for calling in? And why do grown adults act like this?

 

[MamaLema]

Our workplace is like that too. It doesn’t bother me because if I’m sick, I’m sick and I’m not coming in.

 

[tinkerhon]

So for some TMI. I am having a bad day for my medical issue(IBS). I usually have mostly good days, but today is not one of them. I called in sick to my part time job and let my boss know because, anyone with any knowledge of this stuff knows how it is impossible to do anything on bad days, that does not revolve around a toilet. I hate how they act like they don't believe you and get ticked off. I rarely call in sick and I don't usually talk about my medical issues because it's not their business. Anyone else have their boss act as if you are lying sack of poop for calling in? And why do grown adults act like this?

Oh, trust me... I feel your pain !!! My ex-boss ( I basically quit (and retired) because of things just like this) - She never believed me (or anyone else) - Her feeling was that that if you took were going to be out , it had to be a planned day off- which is really not possible when you have to call in sick !!

I remember having to call HR so many times because of the way she handled calling in sick. I just had to put it in my head that my health was far more important !!!

 

[tvguy]

No issues here. They just thank you for calling in and letting you know. But I'm in California. I had a health scare in April that had the potential to have me off work for 4 months. I called HR........without saying what the issue was....and alerted them. I was told I was under no legal obligation to give advance notice and that I could just call in one day and say I'm going to be out for 4 months. I ended up just taking one day off, and finally learning at the end of June I needed no further treatment.
This a huge difference from 1980 when I went on overnight shift, and thus took a lot of sick calls. In those days managers wanted me to find out what was wrong, and how long they expected to be out. Those kind of questions are illegal now here.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Not now but yes in the past.

 

[Christine]

Not at all. Not ever. But I suppose it really depends on the type of work you do. It's rare that me having an unexpected sick day causes any sort of hardship at the office. I can understand the frustration on the parts of leadership, though, when it does. However, that's not reason to EVER make a person feel bad about it, especially if they are a valued employee and not chronic with something every other day.

 

[White Cat]

Bosses or owners rarely miss work due to illness. So I guess it’s hard for them to believe. One thing is feeling ill and another is being sick. So many call off feeling ill but are in the next day. If a person is going to not feel well they might as well feel that way at work. Another is being sick and under a doctors care.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

And why do grown adults act like this?

Because the people who pretend to be sick when they are actually not, ruin it for everyone else who is telling the truth.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

Not at my current job, but in the past. There was a job I had for over a year before I called out for the first time. I had a migraine and looking at my phone screen to dial hurt so much. I had found someone to cover for me, too. He tried to tell me I would be fired if I didn't come in because it would be a no-call, no-show. I told them that's I'd get the phone records and that seemed to convince them.

DW's job that she just left on Friday was terrible about this. She also has IBS, and went through a bad few weeks a couple years ago. Her boss was awful. She even vomited at work once, but since it was in the bathroom, he didn't believe it, and threatened to fire her if she left. He actually got fired a few days later because it turns out he was embezzling! Her job that starts next week might not be any better, but at least she'll get health insurance and PTO.

 

[Lilsia]

Bosses or owners rarely miss work due to illness. So I guess it’s hard for them to believe. One thing is feeling ill and another is being sick. So many call off feeling ill but are in the next day. If a person is going to not feel well they might as well feel that way at work. Another is being sick and under a doctors care.

One of my managers actually calls in sick quit a bit. Some places also feel like you should come in no matter how you are feeling. But I would hope that they would have learned in the last year that it is not a good idea to do so. Either way, my issue is not something that I can just go in with, no matter how I feel.

 

[RogueX]

I had a migraine that went unbroken for nearly 2 years. I took sick time, but had to work or risk losing my health insurance. People couldn't understand how I could work in that much pain...some finally did when I snarled that I would gladly quit and they could pay my medical bills. My boss was highly impressed with my impression of Beast from Beauty and the Beast.

After that, everyone stopped questioning and doubting.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Bosses or owners rarely miss work due to illness. So I guess it’s hard for them to believe. One thing is feeling ill and another is being sick. So many call off feeling ill but are in the next day. If a person is going to not feel well they might as well feel that way at work. Another is being sick and under a doctors care.

Not a great attitude currently. If I'm not "feeling well" (particularly with any of the COVID symptoms) I'm not going into work. That's how things get spread.

 

[tasha99]

I used to feel pressure when I was younger, but more recently, I just let it go, and I don't go into details. "Hi, I'm calling because I'm sick and won't be able to come in today" is enough information. They don't need a health history.

 

[Dead2009]

My place of employment, now, frowns upon people calling out for any legit reason. When the pandemic hit, if you told them you were just sick and weren't coming in, they had to accept it, no questions asked.

But now, if you're legit sick, they will pull you to the side and question why you called out, even though it's none of their business as to why. If the answer isn't up to their standards, they'll give you a lecture on attendance and how it "hurts the team" and all that nonsense.

 

[ronandannette]

As a boss, it actually makes me feel uncomfortable when an employee tries to tell me what's wrong with them; sometimes the more they talk the less genuine the story sounds. I prefer they just notify me by text if they are taking a sick day. We are all entitled to 7 per year and that's that.

Coincidentally, I have IBS myself and awkward as it was, when the condition first flared 5 years ago, I did discuss it with my boss. It was necessary to do so because it was initially so severe it required accommodations to my job to relieve me of having to do site visits or take meetings away from the office. Over the years I've developed some coping strategies that work well for my situation and it very rarely interferes with work anymore. I do however take a sick day a couple of times a year if my acid reflux has caused a completely sleepless night.

 

[tinkerhon]

One of my managers actually calls in sick quit a bit. Some places also feel like you should come in no matter how you are feeling. But I would hope that they would have learned in the last year that it is not a good idea to do so. Either way, my issue is not something that I can just go in with, no matter how I feel.

Yea, I was going to say the same thing- My manager called in a lot--- but since she was the manager, she was able to say that she didnt feel well, but was "working from home", so she didnt get the day taken from her. Perks of being a boss, I guess.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I rarely call in, and I don't think my boss has ever doubted me. I have just told my boss that I had a fever (which was the truth and I was not even allowed to come in. I ended up missing like a 3 days because of having a fever. I ended up testing negative for Covid that time. The next time, my step-daughter tested positive for Covid, so I was not allowed to come to work until I was tested... and yep I was positive too. I technically only missed one day with Covid. I worked from home for a couple weeks with Covid.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I just send a text and say “I won’t be in today.” I don’t give a reason. I don’t know if they get annoyed. The only time I was asked anything was during covid. My boss did ask if I was sick and if I was did I have covid like symptoms. I told her no (I had an allergic reaction to iodine dye and looked a hot mess) and thst was it. Sometimes you just need a mental health day too. Or have a family emergency. My time is my time to use. I either use it to call out or take a vacation day. I’m not being paid out of the goodness of their heart.

 

[Cheburashka]

One thing is feeling ill and another is being sick. So many call off feeling ill but are in the next day. If a person is going to not feel well they might as well feel that way at work. Another is being sick and under a doctors care.

Good advice on how to become a Covid super-spreader.

 

[Cheburashka]

Calling in is no issue for me, but as an elementary school teacher, I always have to spend a couple of hours preparing substitute plans, every time I miss work for whatever reason. That's tough when you're sick or your child is sick.