Calling in sick to work

luvjon · December 2011

There is such a stigma associated with calling in sick to work. Does anyone else feel guilty calling in sick when you are really, really ill? It's busy time at work and someone called in sick and it was almost like they were being questioned on whether or not they were really sick. Just interesting that it still holds such a negative perception associated with it.

jln14 · December 2011

YES! It is the exact same at my work as well!! We accumulate sick days every year, up until 50 days, and than we begin to lose them. I had made the decision that I was going to take a few more "mental health" days this year and any time that I call in sick or tell them I have doctor's appointments, I feel completely judged but I am sick of just losing days every year because I rarely do call in. I work hard when I am here, putting in extra time and try to do everything possible to make my boss's job easier, please be a little nicer when I actually need a break or am really sick!

Teresa · December 2011

I think it depends on where you work, but mostly, yes, there's still a stigma. It's gotten 'better' since the H1N1 scare, as in, there's less fear of calling in sick when you're actually sick.

I'm lucky to work at a job that I can do at home just as well as at the office, but they still prefer us to be in the office. At my last job I would rather hack it away in the office than have to call my boss for any reason and say I was sick. We practically had to have a doctor's note stating we couldn't be in the office.

NebraskaBride06 · December 2011

People call in sick in my office quite often. The guy next to me even "emails in sick" at least once a week and no one even bats an eye at it. I don't think I've ever had to call in sick, but I did go home sick one day last week. I am one of those that feels guilty about it, so I don't do it unless I'm on my death bed or am really contagious.

sroby · December 2011

Yes, even when my kids are sick I feel guilty calling in.

Amy&Andy · December 2011

Yes. I always feel guilty about it. But then again, when my co-workers call in cause they have a sore throat or a headache, I always judge them. I think it's cause I typically don't ever call in, unless I physically can't get out of bed cause I'm that sick.

jen2713 · December 2011

Yes! I was really sick last month and there was no wau I could have taught or should have been around kids...but I felt so guilty all day. I am home this morning because L has pink eye...and I feel like my principal is going to be annoyed with me...which she won't be, but I still get worked up about it.

LindsaymR · December 2011

I've never woken up and called in sick. Usually I go to work to see if I can make it through and then have gone home either right away or at lunch. I never have been questioned b/c your boss sees how misserable you are. But I always hate having that conversation.

+ShannonB+ · December 2011

I haaaaaaaate calling in sick. At work, they are pretty easy-going about it. They'd much rather a person call in than get everyone else sick. But, between myself and my kids, I feel like I am calling in a lot! And I am guilty of emailing in sick last week. But, my supervisor was out and the supervisor that I would normally report to in her absence was out. So, I emailed HR and the supervisor of the location I was supposed to work at. I was up throwing up AND tending to D, who was throwing up. There was no way I was staying awake to call in and trying to track these people down! :-)

Wilwarin · December 2011

I certainly would prefer someone call in sick than bring their illness to share with the rest of the office, then going home, knowing they were sick and contagious the whole time. How many people would they infect just by walking around and touching things for an hour? Yuck.

SuperCuteBenz · December 2011

Yep. I rarely ever call in, but when I do, I feel extreme guilt. I even feel guilt when DH calls in, because he is the only employee at his job. So, when he calls in there is literally no one to do his job. This was the case at his last employer too, so you can imagine how things were when we had our 2 kiddos. Stressful. Oh, and neither of us gets sick pay, so that adds to the stress.

scpteam20 · December 2011

I work at a very family oriented company, calling in sick when you are actually sick is encouraged, they want you to take care of yourself. I have emailed in sick several times and it's no problem here, it happens quite often with others too. I think it really depends on where you work and if the people you work with resent you because they themselves feel like they can't call in ever.

MissManda · December 2011

I always feel bad calling in because my kids don't react well to a sub. But, if I'm sick, I don't want to give it to everyone else, and if B is sick... I'm the one with PTO, not DH, so I'm the one who stays home! My principal is fine with it as long as you call early enough. She would rather us call in if we even feel "a little crappy" than get to work and be sick and need to go home early (it's hard to get a sub in the middle of the day).

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