Do you take mental health or "knock off" days?

[puffkin]

Just wondering what other peoples opinions are on this subject.

I currently work full time in a corporate accounting dept at a larger company. I am salaried and currently get 2 weeks vacation and 2 personal days which are usually used for WDW trips. We don't get sick time, it is kind of an honor system....if you are sick, you call off as long as it isn't excessive.

I am one of those people who RARELY gets sick. I am freakishly healthy. Therefore I can go years without needing a sick day. In my case...would you feel guilty about calling in sick every now and then (like maybe two days a year?) One side of me feels that it is morally wrong, but then the other side gets irritated because why should I be punished for being healthy? What do you do?

 

[goodeats]

You know those days where you'd rather just stay in bed, I'd call in sick on those days. I see nothing wrong with it.

I'm in the same boat. I limit it to 2 or 3 days a year. Very rarely do I get actually sick.

 

[luvwinnie]

Unfortunately, I need all my sick days because I have a chronic illness.

 

[Christine]

I see nothing wrong with doing that. I think taking "mental health" days are a good thing. Especially in a person such as yourself who does not abuse their allotted leave.

 

[hiwaygal]

Not just yes but HECK YES!!

In some places, if you don't use that time, you lose it. But, more importantly, I just feel that everyone deserves "mental health" time. I would never abuse it, but I see nothing wrong with it.

My employer allows the use of sick days for doctor appointments, sick children, etc, so it's not just for when the employee is actually physically sick.

 

[caitycaity]

I see nothing wrong with doing that. I think taking "mental health" days are a good thing. Especially in a person such as yourself who does not abuse their allotted leave.

definitely.

we do not have a policy about when and for what reasons we can take our sick time and if we don't use it we lose it. i have used it for vacations, mental health days, doctor's appointments, actually being sick, needing to study for school, moving, you name it. i would not feel guilty about the situation you described.

 

[tmt martins]

Well as I have 6 weeks and 6 holidays for time off .

I try not to take any other time off. But if I'm sick I use a sick day as we don't really have a set limit just poor raise for proformence.

Now with that being said If you get up one morning and are just not feeling up to it that day then yes atke off.

You are the only one that can decide on whats right and wrong but the way companies are treating us now a days my tolerance for feeling good and giving back are changing daily.

 

[juligrl]

Nothing wrong with having an MD appt, or a Mental Day appointment with yourself. Wouldn't want to "go postal" on your co-workers!

 

[Trish Bessette]

I have a ton of sick days with my company and I rarely use them.

However, I see nothing wrong with taking a mental health day. Call in and say your sick....sick of work that is

 

[puffkin]

I kind of wish they would just say you get X number of days a year and if you don't use them you lose them. Then I wouldn't feel so bad. I guess people who need a lot of sick time like our more "liberal" policy, but for those of us who don't get sick, it makes it harder to justify taking the day off. This might be a moot point though now that I have a baby...so far he is healthy as an ox, but you never know with kids....

 

[SC Minnie]

We don't have a set number of sick days nor do we have personal days. Only vacation. If you are sick you stay out as long as it doesn't become excessive. I have used 1 sick day in the past year and I was truly sick. Others have used 10+ sick days, I don't really know if they were actually sick or not. I have always been too chicken to call in for a mental health day.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Early in my career, when I had very limited vacation time, I called in "sick" one day to go golfing. That was about the only time I remember doing it, though. Until my current job, I've never worked anywhere with a formal sick day policy -- everywhere else we've had the "if you're sick, don't come to work" policy.

Of course, now that we do have sick time, I've used up a year's worth by being hospitalized earlier this year.

 

[FergieTCat]

I rarely do it, but I will be taking one myself shortly.

 

[sajetto]

Not just yes but HECK YES!!

In some places, if you don't use that time, you lose it. But, more importantly, I just feel that everyone deserves "mental health" time. I would never abuse it, but I see nothing wrong with it. .

I'm right with you girl! There are days that if I didn't take off I'd lose it

 

[mickeyfan2]

If it was me no. I am sure many others are doing it.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I think you should definately take a day for yourself.
You work 50 weeks of the year...a couple of days isn't going to make much difference.

 

[VSL]

If it was me no. I am sure many others are doing it.

I'm with this.

Also, I don't see being very healthy and being able to work as 'punishment' compared to being really ill and feeling very poorly so that you're incapable of working that day.

I think you need more holiday time though - two weeks and two days?! No wonder you feel the need to take some mental health days.

 

[cats7494]

I have taken "mental health" days off by calling in sick. I feel guilty about it though and rarely do it. But - I see nothing wrong with it at all if co-workers do it...as long as it is not a common occurance.

 

[wvjovifan]

Happens all the time where I work...seems to be a younger generation thing. HOWEVER--since I have been here 32 years and they are doing away with my job (actually moving it to VA) and my last day here is Dec 29th, I have a tendency to feel "ill" a little more lately. I've been taking off the whole day for a morning Dr appt, that kind of thing.

 

[AprilShowers]

Man I would LOVE to take a mental health day, but it's kinda hard to call in sick to your HUSBAND!!!!

I think he would figure it out, don't you? LOL!
If someone can help me figure out how to call in sick to DH, let me know!! I desperately need one!