School, sickness, work... Arrggghh

purpleshoes_2

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

No, I can't recall having something that can be passed on.

I've not been sick since I was a child. I can't think of a time my parents have been off work ill, my brother had a few days off because he had an operation.

Like I said, we don't do "ill".

It's not being a matyr (I would get full sick pay) it's just been instilled in us that missing work or school is only for very serious things.

So be honest it was/ is incredibly rare for a a school friend or colleague to be off, so it's odd to me when some people seem to be off every few weeks!

You're saying you've been ill for four weeks like it's something normal. It's really not.

Saying you don't "do" ill is a ridiculous statement to make.

Even the healthiest people get unwell sometimes, it's got nothing to do with whether they "do" ill or not.

purpleshoes_2

I was struck down with gastroenteritis 3 times in a year. Once from a meal I had on holiday. The other twice I had no idea where it came from. I was at uni and at work. I could not have crawled to work on my hands and knees each time. I was puking and being ill from the other end, it was horrendous. Every time I thought I was on my way out and I went from feeling well to unwell in the space of 30 seconds.

Its ok for people to say they are never unwell, when you get infected with something like that boy do you know it and you are far better off at home than infecting someone else.

I am currently unwell with the worst cold Ive had in about 2 years thanks to someone turning up to my fitness class this week full of the lurgy.

alias*alibi

Better_Days wrote: »

There was a thread on here earlier called 'don't want to keep the peace anymore' OP(2)

The OP(2) on that thread described how her DD was rather poorly and she had to take time off work at the weekend unexpectedly. A colleague had to cover her shift. OP(2) said that her colleague made a fuss about covering the shift and was in tears because her weekend had been ruined.

OP(2) bought the colleague some chocolates as a thank you for covering the shift. OP(2) was hurt when the colleague just put the chocolates on a top cupboard and ignored them. OP(2) was upset that her collegue didn't ask after her sick child and was of the view that her colleague has a personality disorder.

But, OP(2) described her colleague as single, in her 40's, still lives with her parents, has no social life, doesn't drink or drive, and basically sits in her bedroom at home. If the OP's(2) colleague was aware of the way that she was judged by OP(2) (and I suspect she was) it is not surprising that she didn't want the chocolates and didn't ask after the child. It is not nice to be judged like that. The implication was that it is OK to disrupt the weekend who has such an unimportant life.

And I would say to the OP of this thread that it may well be that your colleagues/manager who don't have children will have experienced this attitude from parents too. I certainly have - as if my time is less valuable because I don't have children.

The problem is I think that to parents their children are the most important thing, quite rightly, and you act accordingly. But your children are not the most important thing to your collegues, and your choice to have children at times affects your collegues choices and workload. I am not suggesting that OP on this thread shares OP(2) apparent beliefs,but perhaps an appreciation of this perspective can help move things forward.

I understand exactly what you are saying; however, that's one of the reasons I stay working for the council on cr&p pay is for this benefit as I have very little support to call on. Obviously there are managers that follow by the book and some that look at the human aspect. I expect it's like that in every company but I do expect to be given a perk of the job that's clearly there to be taken if needed rather than have to argue over it.

I really enjoy my job most of the time hence why I need to find something that works for a good work/life balance. Despite numerous people on this thread saying it, my absence does not impinge on colleagues by adding to their workloads as we each have specialised areas.

purpleshoes_2

I also know a couple of people who have been off work for 6 months plus with post natal depression, to the extent that its crippling. Are people supposed to get up and get on with it no matter how ill they are?

I met a girl on the bus today who does my fitness classes, havent seen her in a couple of months, her partner had a heart attack at the end of January

Hes been off work since then, is he supposed not to "do" ill because its not the done thing to take more than a couple of days off?

Jagraf

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

No, I can't recall having something that can be passed on.

I've not been sick since I was a child. I can't think of a time my parents have been off work ill, my brother had a few days off because he had an operation.

Like I said, we don't do "ill".

It's not being a matyr (I would get full sick pay) it's just been instilled in us that missing work or school is only for very serious things.

So be honest it was/ is incredibly rare for a a school friend or colleague to be off, so it's odd to me when some people seem to be off every few weeks!

You're saying you've been ill for four weeks like it's something normal. It's really not.

I don't think you're helping either 'side' here. There is a fine line between good management practice and people who take too much advantage of a helpful sickness policy. The OP is trying to ask for solutions. Claiming that illness is something that doesn't happen is as laughable as a member of staff saying they didn't finish their report as the dog ate it.

BusPass_2

Small kid about four years old vomited in the local leisure Centre Pool the other night. I shot out of there pretty sharpish.
Pool was evacuated while staff tried to clear it using fishing type nets.
We were told after 20 minutes it was safe to go back in. I had a
'Jaws' moment and stayed in the sauna to where I had retreated.
The 'offender' did not return to the pool.
Not had any health issues so hope no harm was done. Don't know if any of the other swimmers in the pool have had any after effects.

carmina_piranha

BusPass wrote: »

Small kid about four years old vomited in the local leisure Centre Pool the other night. I shot out of there pretty sharpish.
Pool was evacuated while staff tried to clear it using fishing type nets.
We were told after 20 minutes it was safe to go back in. I had a
'Jaws' moment and stayed in the sauna to where I had retreated.
The 'offender' did not return to the pool.
Not had any health issues so hope no harm was done. Don't know if any of the other swimmers in the pool have had any after effects.

At my pool they fish out larger bits, and the filter deals with the rest. My nephew vomited in the pool during his lesson, and half an hour later they said it was okay for my son's lesson to go ahead in that same water. I felt a bit icky about it but was told that the water will have all been through the filter.

carmina_piranha

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

You're saying you've been ill for four weeks like it's something normal. It's really not.

It depends. I have had three chest infections that required antibiotics over the last 6 months, and my cough seems never-ending. Before that I'd been antibiotic-free for around 15 years, this has just been a bad year. Being honest I think the air-con at work might affect my asthma but colleagues have been just as badly hit by nasty colds this year.

Bella73

Rather off topic OP as I've not read all the replies but if your child is getting a lot of headaches...do they need an eye test? I get headaches when my glasses need to be changed. Just an idea.

YORKSHIRELASS

OP I really feel for you and this is actually quite an interesting topic. Its made me realise how lucky I am! My eldest was diagnosed with a serious chronic illness when he was 10 and I gave up my job to care for him. My employers were great but I realised that I couldnt split myself in two and he had to come first.

I have a new part time job now - and he is old enough to be left alone so we make it work but its not always easy. He goes for regular hospital treatment but I always organise it on my day off and I try to do the same with other medical appointments.

Although I work in a very small business they are very supportive. When my son rang up the other day complaining that he felt really ill my boss said to just drop everything and go, even though I was busy.

The flip side of this is that I will work extra hours and have come in on my day off at short notice to help out because it works both ways.

Being a working parent is never easy and I feel for anyone who doesnt have grandparents or other family to help. I would have hated to send my kids to a stranger when they were poorly.