How Can People Call In Sick All The Time???!!!

[cdrn1]

I am a nurse manager in a hospital. The nurses work 12-hour shifts so they only have to work 3 days a week. I have one that called in sick with a headache today (she does not have migraines, which is a different story!) so I ended up having to work her shift and do her work and my work too.
This is her fifth call-off in 5 months. She only has to work 3 days a week. She's 22 and fit. I'm fifty and fat. I haven't called in sick 5 times in ten years!!!!! When a nurse doesn't come to work, the patients ultimately get short-changed if we can't replace her. How can people just be so cavalier about not coming to work!!! It's one thing if you have something contagious , or you're barfing every ten minutes but give me a break. I know I'm no healthier than anyone else and I never call in sick.
Just venting because it made me lose out on the AP discount since I couldn't call this morning; by the time I got home and called there was nothing left for my dates the first week of May (already booked but hoping to apply code).
thanks for listening.

 

[Kae]

I am so with you one guy I work with calls in all the time & I can tell when a day before he does it. He always does after he has to go out of town for a sales call-he is in outside sales. Or he will ask you how you are feeling-cause his throat seems kinda rough & things like that. Last time it was the 2 days after he got cable-he has never had cable.

Kae

 

[mommaU4]

I just had to reply because my DH has encountered this so many times both in his current job and when we were in CA.
There have been times when he was very sick and should have stayed home but didn't want anyone else to have to work extra or to leave them high and dry.

Unfortunately there have been people he works with who call in at the drop of a hat. And even worse they wait until a half an hour before their shift starts!! Now that's just rude. If you are so sick that you cannot come into work, then surely you knew that sooner than 30 minutes before your scheduled time to be there!!!

 

[tjmouse]

I too work in a hospital. We instituted a pretty strict attendance policy. Already fired a couple of nurses and guess what? We ended up hiring them BACK because we are so short on nurses! No work ethic today at all. My dad has not missed a day of work in - get this - ready? - 21 YEARS! (Of course he gets 5 weeks of vacation and 10 personal days because he has been there so long.) But, he taught me to respect my job and the people that work for me. It seems that the majority of people under 30 do not care if they cause anyone else stress - somehow they think everyone "owes" them. It's very sad.

 

[minkydog]

Now I feel bad. I've called off at least 6 times in the last 6 months. In fact, I missed a whole month of work in the fall due to a back injury. then 10 days in January due to severe bronchitis(couldn't breathe). Plus a few instances of migraine and vomiting. I know it puts a burden on my co-workers, but honestly, I'm not shopping at the mall. I really was sick, really, really sick. Or badly hurt.

Sorry you had to cover.

 

[Marseeya]

Some people don't handle illness as well as others.

If I get as much as a cold and don't take care of myself and get rest, I'm going to get really sick and then I'll be up the creek. I had a boss who was able to work when she was on her death bed. She expected everyone to be that way.

Personally, I blame the companies who keep their staffing at such a bare minimum that it overwhelms the workers when one of them takes a day off for illness, vacation, or personal day.

(not that I'm saying that people don't take advantage of sick days, but certainly not everyone does)

 

[crazelion]

I know this happen at my job that I use to work at all the time. But the mangers will not fire them because they can't get nobody to work for them. I end up quitting because I could not take the stress.

I was out whole month because I was really sick they won't me to come end. I could not even get out bed buty they call me to come into work away.

 

[cdrn1]

I too work in a hospital. We instituted a pretty strict attendance policy. Already fired a couple of nurses and guess what? We ended up hiring them BACK because we are so short on nurses! No work ethic today at all. My dad has not missed a day of work in - get this - ready? - 21 YEARS! (Of course he gets 5 weeks of vacation and 10 personal days because he has been there so long.) But, he taught me to respect my job and the people that work for me. It seems that the majority of people under 30 do not care if they cause anyone else stress - somehow they think everyone "owes" them. It's very sad.

Your Dad sounds like my Dad! It's his fault I have this darned work ethic!! 21 Years is pretty impressive!
With the nursing shortage, it's hard to have any leverage; they know we won't fire them unless they are bad nurses. At least the ones you fired and rehired had to start over on seniority and benefits!

 

[cdrn1]

Personally, I blame the companies who keep their staffing at such a bare minimum that it overwhelms the workers when one of them takes a day off for illness, vacation, or personal day.

(not that I'm saying that people don't take advantage of sick days, but certainly not everyone does)

Most of our staff is very flexible and willing to trade to cover each other. They know how important it is to have enough help. They only have to work three days a week, for cryin' out loud. It gripes me when people call in 45 minutes before the shift starts and haven't even bothered to try to trade or cover themselves.
Companies can't afford to staff extra people just in case someone decides they have a headache. Medicare cuts have taken such a big bite out of rural hospitals' bottom lines that most are just barely afloat. Besides, we can't get enough nurses to cover our everyday needs sometimes, let alone an extra cushion for the ones that don't feel like working!

 

[jennobrn01]

I am sorry you missed your reservations because of a work issue. That just stinks. Yet, I think it is cool you covered the shift. I have not ever seen a nursing supervisor, or nurse manager do that.

The nursing profession is still largely female. Thus, calling out from work should be expected to be more frequent. We need not forget that children of these female nurses often factor into call-outs. There should be enough staff within the unit to cover the hole. If not there should be enough staff in the float pool to cover the hole.

In my profession I have seen nurses come in to work with vomiting, diarrhea, and fevers over 101 because of fear. Fear that they will be mocked and ridiculed that their illness is not legitimate. So they come in sick so we all can see that they are indeed legit. But, that hurts us more than if they would've called out because now we are short staffed with little hope of covering the hole.

In our hospital we have a policy that more than 6 call-out's in a year requires the employee to enter into the disciplinary process. Also, if you are to call out you must do so 12 hours before your scheduled shift. This does curb attendance issues, but it can be frustrating as well. Each year many female nurses are at or close to the 6 mark because of calling out with sick children.

It's a profession of high standards indeed. High standards that need to be upheld, and also need to be rewarded with higher pay.

{stepping off soap box}

 

[Hannathy]

We had this problem at the Hospital we worked at combined with we wanted to work less weekends so the Hospital agreed to let us work every third weekend BUT we had to cover if someone called out sick so everyone had an oncall weekend. Boy did the sick call drop off when they knew who would have to come in if they didn't and if they weren't really sick that other person would let them have it. I think in the first year we had 2 yes 2 call outs! Shows how many before were real illnesses. I don't understand it either but I think it has a lot to due with the younger folks don't think the companies have any loyalty to them (and they are right) so why be loyal to them. Being someone who has been made to work a bunch of doubles or maybe 4 hrs if they can convince someone to come in early I understand and extend you my sympathy.

 

[Zoiebear]

I am 32 and look healthy, however looks are deceiving. To the contrary I battle chronic pain, dvt's, asthma, coumadin therapy for life.
That would be frustrating to me, to have to cover someone else, funny thing is I cover my co-workers job daily and she is there, but just too lazy to do her job.
Another pet peeve, is the people who come to work really really sick and contageous and then share it with the office and it goes around in circles spreading back and forth in the office, when the person should have stayed home, but is stubborn or doesnt want to burn sick time, and would rather share their illness. It is so frustrating to me because I cant afford to get sick, my immune system is rather weak
Stacie

 

[mommaU4]

Now I feel bad. I've called off at least 6 times in the last 6 months. In fact, I missed a whole month of work in the fall due to a back injury. then 10 days in January due to severe bronchitis(couldn't breathe). Plus a few instances of migraine and vomiting. I know it puts a burden on my co-workers, but honestly, I'm not shopping at the mall. I really was sick, really, really sick. Or badly hurt.

Sorry you had to cover.

Don't apologize. I don't think your case is what anyone here is upset about. At least not IMO.

A back injury or any illness of a severe nature is different than calling in just before your shift because you have a headache. Or the sniffles. And a normal run of the mill headache is very different than a migraine.

Then there are those who are off on a Sat. and a Sun. and they call in for Fri. or Mon. so they can have a 3 day week-end.

I'm not saying a person should never call in sick but it seems that some do it so often and with no regard as to what it will do to the others who are working that day. It just boils down to common courtesy.

 

[nealymouse]

Years ago (1997) I worked for the Disney Store. We always had an on call person just in case someone called in. Well the call in person had a very sick older parent and asked us all the whole week to PLEASE if possible dont call her in becasue she was so worried about her parent.

Well as luck would have it she was called in because one of the younger girls called out for the night.

The real kicker was later that night the young girl who called in came walking into the Store saying she felt so well that she and her friends decided to shop the mall !!!!!!!

I think that was the 1st time I ever saw a store mgr loose it !!!

I;ll never forget that.........

 

[rigs32]

My Dh also works in a hospital. Someone came into work during the holiday season with the flu. You're around sick people - hello? Not only that, but DH caught that flu and spent our vacation extremely ill - our once a year because we can't afford more than that. Thanks! Not only was the money wasted, but I couldn't even spend that week with DH! Well, I could have sat around while he slept, but I'd get too antsy.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I'm guilty.

When I worked for a company that only paid sick days if we took them, I had 5 sick days I was about to lose. Told my boss, who also detested the policy and used his here and there, and we agreed that I'd call off sick the next three Friday's and the Thursday and Friday following.

I got a few comments about how I no longer worked Fridays, but I just wasn't going to lose those days.

Of course, nobody had to do my job. It just piled up until Monday.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I just want to thank the OP for realizing that Migraines are serious. I have had to be on FMLA due to them. I have lost a lot of time from work because of the seriousness of them at times. Thankfully I've had understanding employers, and when I'm at work I'm an exceptional employee. *chuckles*

 

[MAKmom]

We have our highest paid foreman doing this the last year or so. I know its a drinking problem. He brags he has not been to the DR ever. He's 42 now. 30lbs at least to heavy. We have been warning him. It will break DH heart if he has to let him go. I don't think you can handle the booze as you age like you can when your young. I also think it makes you more vunarable to colds & flu. IMO

 

[summerrluvv]

If you're sick, you're sick. I can't stand when people come to work sick, spreading their germs or complaining about their illness all day. I'd rather they stay home

 

[cdrn1]

I am sorry you missed your reservations because of a work issue. That just stinks. Yet, I think it is cool you covered the shift. I have not ever seen a nursing supervisor, or nurse manager do that

Thanks. For the most part, our staff is just awesome; the nurses who were on today work their butts off and I couldn't let them pick up the extra workload. I try to do that unless I have stuff on my calendar that I can't rearrange. (I have an ulterior motive: they give 110% in return and are very "protective" of me!) Their jobs are hard enough as it is and I totally agree with all your soapbox stuff!
Our staff is pretty small and I pretty much know what's what with all of them. After a while you can tell who's legit and who's not! And I totally understand about sick kids; we had a new mom whose little one had RSV last week and she missed a whole week; totally cool and not a problem. She needed to be at home. And she made lots of phone calls and covered herself for a shift and a half. So, no problem there. It's only a very few that I have a problem with.