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poll re: sick time
So, I have a random question regarding sick time at work. How much sick time do you feel is "too much" sick time to take? Either frequency, or number of days in a row.
I'm thinking about it, because a coworker I work closely with was home sick today with flu-like symptoms (she texted me this morning and told me she felt like she had been hit by a bus. yuck). I have that "might be coming down with something" stuffy headache feeling, so I'll be finishing up some stuff around the house and heading to bed early. I feel that I can't take sick time if I actually do wake up sick tomorrow, mostly because I was out sick on Monday with food poisoning, and last week Thursday with a severe migraine.
For me, I tend to be pretty consistent with "If I'm sick, I stay home", because it pisses me off when someone comes in sick and then infects everyone else. But I also work with early childhood students in a school setting. If I were in an office by myself all day, I might not feel as bad for coming in sick. I earn 4 hours of sick leave per pay period, so I have more sick leave than I currently need saved up, but I'll go in tomorrow healthy or not.
So, what's your cut-off? How often do you call in sick? How many days in a row? Does work environment matter?
(My holy-crap-I-can't-call-out-again reaction may have something to do with the fact that the other woman in my position, my boss, and my boss' boss were all apparently spreading rumors that I was out on Monday due to morning sickness. Biatches. We're not TTC, but I am overweight and carry my extra pounds in my tummy)
Re: poll re: sick time
Gossipy coworkers suck!
I'm no help on the sick leave. I refuse to miss school. I would miss class if I was dying. I would still go to clinical though.
At my weekend job (waitressing) you pretty much can't call in sick because running short screws over at least 8 other people. So if you can't find someone to work your shift for you, you have to go in.
Alexander David
11.25.09
my blog
I tend to give the "side-eye" to people who call in sick at least once a week. I think it also depends on the reason given though. I'll never forget a girl that called in sick a couple of years ago because she "slipped in the shower" but was fine the next day. Also, I think my annoyance with people who call in sick a lot also stems from my job that I left in Sept but worked in for 4.5 years where if someone called in sick, the rest of us had to pick up that person's slack. I wouldn't care as much in the job I'm in now because I don't have to pick up anyone's slack when they call in.
I probably call in sick once every 4-5 months. It's rarely more than one day at a time. I might have called in sick two days in a row twice ever.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say I earn 4 hours of sick leave per pay period, so I have more sick leave than I currently need saved up. In my opinion, you can never have too much sick leave saved up. You never know if something serious might happen and you really will be thankful that you had a lot of sick leave saved up.
Finally, I think it's totally stupid for someone to assume that if you're calling in sick that it must be because of m/s. I don't know if I've ever heard of any pregnant woman calling in sick because of m/s. That's a ridiculous assumption.
You don't get paid sick days??!!
Dani, you're right. I kind of want to avoid that "side-eye" idea of, "wow, Amanda calls in too much." I did just call out earlier this week and one day last week, but before that the last time was sometime early in the fall semester. I don't think I am one of "those people", but I certainly don't want to give off that impression.
I don't have a job where people are necessarily picking up any of my slack. More often, what I needed to do that day will just pile up and I will have more to do when I return.
Re: saving up sick time, it's also true that you can never have a enough. But I also know that someone who is brand-new at a job or doesn't have much sick time available may go to work because they literally have no sick time to take. That's not my current situation. I have quite a bit saved up, because you never know.
And yes, my coworkers are ridiculous.
I should add that I lose any unused time at the end of the year. Last year that was only a few hours since I was having to stay home more when the little guy was sick.
I am the only person who does all the work I do in the office, so if I know a head of time that Xander is sick and there is a chance that I will need to stay home the next day I get everything done that will need to be done so my boss doesn't need to worry about it.
Alexander David
11.25.09
my blog
My policy is if you have a fever, stay home. If you are throwing up, stay home. BUT if you stay at home more then 1 day in a row, you better be coming to work with a doctor's note. I know people call in "sick" because the weather is nice etc, so that's why I ask for a Dr's note after 2 days in a row. I'm pretty strict on that also.
we allow 5 sick days a year, 2 personal, and then vacation varies on how long you have been there.
Honestly if you are sick, you are sick, and no one can really say you are NOT sick. If I had someone call in on a Monday and a Friday, I would absolutely watch that because those are the #1 days people call off. however if it isn't a trend (Every 3rd Monday or whatever) then I would let it slide.
And tell your co-workers to F off.
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"One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are, what you believe in and where you want to go." ---Sheila Murray Bethel
Ever since getting pregnant and having Jacob in daycare, I've been ill -- using all of my sick days! Well, now that I think about it, I used all my sick days at my old job when I threw out my back, too. Maybe I'm just old and need more recuperation than I used to. But I swear, in November (the week after Thanksgiving, no less -- talk about the side-eye!) I called in M-F b/c I had a fever and could barely talk b/c my throat was in pain. Then I got the stomach flu for two days recently. It's like the sh!t doesn't end.
Well, that was a ramble, but to say that I call in when I'm sick. I used to call in even if I were "under the weather," because it would re-charge me. But these days I don't have the luxury to do that. I think I have 2 more sick days left for the next 9 months; and at this rate, I'll be dipping into my vacation days.
Not that it's any of their business, but maybe you should bring in a negative HPT with you one of these mornings. Put it, dripping with pee, on their desk. eeew... no ... maybe not ... or chug a beer right at quitting time, in front of people. Or say something witty back to them that would embarrass them into shutting up? My friend's co-worker kept telling her, "I know you're pg but you're just not telling us" and my friend responded, "I'm not pg, I'm just fat!" -- her coworker didn't talk about it again.
I'd guess she means she won't get paid for any accumulated sick time if she quits or retires or otherwise leaves her job. I would get paid for vacation time if I left my employer, but not for sick time.
And update, because I'm sure you were all waiting on pins and needles. I have a sore throat and headache but no fever. I'm at work. My students have a two hour delay, so that gives me a couple hours to hopefully start feeling a little less like death warmed over.
I get 4 hours a pay period in sick time. I usually use it for doctor's appointments, but there are a few times where I'm sick. Last year I got a horrible sinus cold, like my face felt like I was going to die and I think I missed T-F, but my boss knew I would only call out if I was really that sick.
I don't get mat leave though, so I am banking and banking my time so once I am PG, I can be out for a good while.
Honestly around here if you call out, no one really cares unless you're someone that abuses it per se. They are very good around here about leave in general, which I am very thankful for.
**I will say that if I do mention not feeling well or nauseous I have the few close coworkers that joke if I'm PG, but that's more of a running inside joke with us. I would pissed if someone assumed it.
Wives Unscripted
Ok I was utterly confused. I read it as though you were saying that you wouldn't get paid if you took the sick leave. I didn't realize you meant that you wouldn't get it if you left your job. I don't get my sick leave if I leave the Agency either.
I honestly don't know the last time I called out sick. I rarely get sick and if I do I usually suck it up b/c it's not usually that bad. If I have a fever or throwing up, forget it. Taking sick days when you have a baby is NOT the same anymore so I'd really rather go to work where I can hole up in my office. And, I'm the only one who does my job so I don't want stuff to pile up if I don't have my laptop at home.
I get 18 days of PTO which is sick, personal, vacation all rolled into one. I can roll over a bunch too. ETcorrect: I get 23 days (it increases with seniority and I forgot!)
I appreciate when people are coming down with something and don't come to work to spread it. Although, I do get annoyed when someone calls out sick a lot if I'm relying on them for stuff. And I definitely side-eye those who call out on Fridays and Mondays - lol.
However, I do not have to use the time when I leave for an appointment, even if it is mid-afternoon and will not be going back to the office after.
None of us do. I'm just glad it can be added on to time in service for retirement, although not like the old CSRS system.
Wives Unscripted
Alicia, I think you and have similar benefits as far as time off because we both work for the "government". Each month I work, I get one sick day and one vacation day. So, in a calendar year, I have 12 sick days, 12 vacation days. You can carry over 20 vacation days (over that turns to sick days and gets banked with those) and all of your sick days.
Right now, I have 15 vacation days and 42.5 sick days. At the end of this fiscal year, I will have been here for 5 years and will accrue another 3 vacation/3 sick a year (plus we get 2 weeks at Christmas).
To actually answer the poll - If I feel sick, I stay home and because everyone around here gets the same benefits, if they are sick, they stay home. People do get the side-eye if they miss weekly though but as long as they have the days, no one cares. In my old job, the secretary missed WEEKLY. It really pissed me off because I had to do her job when she wasn't there - on top of mine.
For the federal government vacation works like this:
Sick leave - 4 hours a pay period. You can bank as much as you want and when you retire, some of it counts toward time in service.
Annual leave -
Less than 3 years of service - 4 hours a pay period
3-15 years of service - 6 hours a pay period
15+ years of service - 8 hours a pay period
You are only supposed to carry over 240 hours (6 weeks) of annual leave a year, otherwise you lose it (some people donate it if they can't use it). At my job sometimes though, you can carry over more than that b/c of workload and people having to work when they are supposed to be on "use or lose" leave.
Wives Unscripted
Yup what Shaina said, though we are never allowed to bank use or lose leave, that is why it is um use or lose LOL. We can bank credit hours, but only up to 24, same with comp time but that is only if your boss MAKES you work late. Right now I'm on the 6 hours a pay period which translates to about 18 days which is almost 4 weeks. Although with the amount of credit time I earn because of school and other days I electively come in, I take A LOT of vacations =p Only 9 more years until I get 24 days a year...