How do employers view the odd day off sick?

misspoppy

Hi

Just a note about sickness in general, if you have a long term condition ie diabities, asthma or a condition that is likely to last more than a year this is classed as disabled and under the disabled discrimination act sick leave for a disabling condition cannot be counted in your anual sick leave.

Most people don't realise this as many people don't concider their condition to be a disability. Have a look on http://www.drc-gb.org/employment.aspx for further information.

Jolinar

At our place they use the bradford thingy too. If you took those days at our place as single days it would be frowned on, if it was taken as one or two instances it wouldn't be an issue. They also consider patterns too, so if you had 6 mondays off then again it would count against you but if it's random, no problem.

ckerrd

I have found over the years that it really doesn't matter about policies it is about "the boss" interprets them.
I had a senior manager who took a very dim view of anyone being off for anything. She was replaced with someone who is much more sympathetic.
I have always thought it better for people to stay at home if they are not well, however if I ever found out that someone just pulled a "sickie" then I would have no problems with giving them a written warning.

As I typed this is it reminded me of a chap who phoned in sick to his work, a different office of the same company to where I work, and then went windsurfing. Unfortunately he was swept out to sea and a coastguard helicopter had to be dispatched to rescue him. Made the TV and papers. his boss was not amused. He was out of the company shortly afterwards.

Good luck when the interviews come around

HHH_2

I have staff who work through most illnesses and staff who take the "odd day off here and there" I know who I prefer to promote! I was interviwing last week and the HR rep was very wary of those who had had more than 4 days in a year. also the odd day often means not THAT sick! I've got someone off at the moment and yet others are still working with the same complaint. Sorry to sound so negative but it is certainaly something which would be taken into account. Dose yourself up and go in they will look much more favourably at someone who has at least made the effort! good luck

crawley_girl

My goodness misspoppy, you must be psychic cos I was just about to post something quite similar!

The DDA prevents my employers (and any employer) from discriminating against me(or you) , not that I think they would but you never know, and hopefully enable me to work from home 2 - 3 days per week when I do go back. Also, I am being referred to Occupational Health, which once apon a time would fill me with dread, but now realise that it is more about making my work conditions right for me and not vice versa.

Sorry to ramble...

climbgirl

SkintMonkey wrote:

I wouldve been useless and yes it shows willing, but what would be the point - she would have taken one look at me and sent me home.

Well yes, but then it's their call, not yours. And it shows that you genuinely are ill not just taking the proverbial. Also shows that you're willing, which is exactly what you want to appear if you're applying for a promotion... I know that people at my work who make an effort to work on through a cold are held in a higher regard than those who stay at home at the first sign of a sniffle. Fair or not, that's the way it is.

Any sick days will certainly be tracked and taken into consideration when promotions of redundancies come into effect. I don't think you should be comparing yourself to your colleagues as well - their record makes no difference to yours.

crawley_girl

ckerrd wrote:

As I typed this is it reminded me of a chap who phoned in sick to his work, a different office of the same company to where I work, and then went windsurfing. Unfortunately he was swept out to sea and a coastguard helicopter had to be dispatched to rescue him. Made the TV and papers. his boss was not amused. He was out of the company shortly afterwards.

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

But I guess it depends on why he was off sick in the first place. I remember on some HR training that I went on - absence management - that said just cos someone was off sick, then it doesn't mean that they have to stay in bed. Especially if it is long term. The person needs to be contactable so that the manager can call to see how they are doing, ask when they are planning on returning etc etc. However, if someone has been signed off then they are entitled to go away or on holiday. This is what was said during the training so it is true for the organisation I work for. I would imagine that it wouldn't look great if someone self-certed themselves for a week with the flu and then came back with a tan but there are other illnesses and disabilities and length of time off work varies from person to person.

achtunglady

Where my husband works, they have an attendance bonus at the end of the year, £60 a quarter if no sick days taken, and if you do the whole year its bumped up to £400.
If hes off sick he gets no sick pay either, but he did get some when he had an accident while working, I think the thought of him sueing them changed their mind. He had a badly sprained ankle and was off for 2 weeks, but was unable to drive so couldnt work.

Do you think a workplace will appreciate you going into work and throwing up all over the place?
Also, it depends on whats the matter too, can't be easy going to work if you have a jippy tummy or ibs.

SkintMonkey

I think the point has been well made now.

But I have taken the day off sick, next time I will make sure I go in and at least present my grottyness and get sent home. I made the decision and it is done now.

crawley_girl

Personally, different organisations and managers have different ways of managing absence. So it's all well and good that people have given their opinions but I would imagine that these opinions are based on their places of employment and not necessarily the one that SM works for.

SkintMonkey, you made the decision not to go in cos you didn't feel well. Sounds like you did the right thing to me