Sick Days

[scduc]

I do not get actual sick days, but I do get 5 weeks vacation. I usually plan 3 of them, leave one week for unforeseen circumstances and the knowing that I will be sick during the year, save the last week for that.

[Heath]

I hate calling out sick because I always feel guilty.  There is never any backlash because I don't abuse sick time.  Last two sick times were for family emergencies.  One day my dad had a stroke and the other my grandma was about to pass away.  I offered to use personal time but my manager insisted I use sick.  He said it was out of my control, health related, and family related.  So I did what I was told =)

[Mother]

all we get is vacation

half a shift every paycheck

if you call out sick it burns a vacation day

if you go to work and they send you home because you coughed on your way to the ambulance you are shit out of luck

if you are clocked in for 1 minute or 6 hrs and go home sick you lose the rest of the day's pay

calling out for a mental health day is very common

there are days when you just can't be at work

[Statler]

as an employer here's my view:

sick days are for when you are too sick to work.  I will pay you a certain number of days per year for that circumstance.  They are not mental health days, they are not riding days, they are not "use them up because I offer them and otherwise you don't get them" days.  They are 'I can't physically be there but I don't lose money" days.

If you want a day off when you're ok it's a vacation day.

It's a perk only in that you get paid even if you can't work.

It got so bad with one person that was a 'use them up or lose them' type that I started requiring doctor proof.    When she couldn't show it the day became a vacation day.  She's no longer here.

If you're a great employee I will always give you more vacation than you actually accrue.  If you're going to be the type that says "I get 5 sick days so I'm going to use them all whether I'm sick or not" then I'm going to be exactly the same type of boss you deserve/expect.


(before people start jumping all over that harsh thinking, my office structure allows me to be quite generous with good employees.  I give attorneys significant paid time for maternity/paternity leave, and was able to give full paid time off for about three months to an attorney going through cancer treatment.   It's the 'use up everything I can get away with' mentality that I find distastefull)

[RAT900]

as an employer here's my view:

sick days are for when you are too sick to work.  I will pay you a certain number of days per year for that circumstance.  They are not mental health days, they are not riding days, they are not "use them up because I offer them and otherwise you don't get them" days.  They are 'I can't physically be there but I don't lose money" days.

If you want a day off when you're ok it's a vacation day.

It's a perk only in that you get paid even if you can't work.

It got so bad with one person that was a 'use them up or lose them' type that I started requiring doctor proof.    When she couldn't show it the day became a vacation day.  She's no longer here.

If you're a great employee I will always give you more vacation than you actually accrue.  If you're going to be the type that says "I get 5 sick days so I'm going to use them all whether I'm sick or not" then I'm going to be exactly the same type of boss you deserve/expect.


(before people start jumping all over that harsh thinking, my office structure allows me to be quite generous with good employees.  I give attorneys significant paid time for maternity/paternity leave, and was able to give full paid time off for about three months to an attorney going through cancer treatment.   It's the 'use up everything I can get away with' mentality that I find distastefull)

I would agree 100% with you.......in your instance.....you recruit professionals, you treat them as such and if they perform to the task or above and beyond,,, you reward that behavior accordingly

Many people work in organizations where the environment is adversarial, and otherwise disrespectful, disingenuous and in a state of imbalance with regard to the give and take.....if the management mindset is one of chiseling benefits, expecting givebacks, expecting long hours without comp...and in a word exploitative...then the old saying applies

you get what you give

[Statler]

Yup... then I'd become friends with a doc or nurse or similar and take all days and get 'notes'   

[Triple J]

If you're a great employee I will always give you more vacation than you actually accrue.  If you're going to be the type that says "I get 5 sick days so I'm going to use them all whether I'm sick or not" then I'm going to be exactly the same type of boss you deserve/expect.


(before people start jumping all over that harsh thinking, my office structure allows me to be quite generous with good employees.  I give attorneys significant paid time for maternity/paternity leave, and was able to give full paid time off for about three months to an attorney going through cancer treatment.   It's the 'use up everything I can get away with' mentality that I find distastefull)

Sounds like a good boss to me.   I don't see how anyone can complain about that.

I take sick time when I'm sick (or doctor visits for me or my son). I also have to be pretty sick. It's an honesty thing...it's how I am now in my career, and it's how I was at the shitty busboy job my first summer after college.

you get what you give

That's a great point.

[Drjones]

I would agree 100% with you.......in your instance.....you recruit professionals, you treat them as such and if they perform to the task or above and beyond,,, you reward that behavior accordingly

Many people work in organizations where the environment is adversarial, and otherwise disrespectful, disingenuous and in a state of imbalance with regard to the give and take.....if the management mindset is one of chiseling benefits, expecting givebacks, expecting long hours without comp...and in a word exploitative...then the old saying applies

you get what you give

If the place of employment is that bad then quit.  There're other businesses in the world to work for.  I live by the mantra of don't give them an excuse meaning that no matter how bad the place is I'm not going to give the supervisor any ammunition to use against me especially any negatives to tell a potential future employer that may prevent my getting the hell out of there.

[happily everafter]

If the place of employment is that bad then quit.  There're other businesses in the world to work for.  I live by the mantra of don't give them an excuse meaning that no matter how bad the place is I'm not going to give the supervisor any ammunition to use against me especially any negatives to tell a potential future employer that may prevent my getting the hell out of there.

i feel that's a blanket statement that can't always be applied. for example, i live in a place that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. it's not that i don't look for other job opportunities, it's that they aren't out there. i think using sick time when i'm not sick is the better alternative than going without a job. in addition to that, i am also an employee that will work anywhere from 2 to 4 hours of o/t without being on the clock atleast once or twice a week. so, i don't feel bad for using it at all

[RAT900]

If the place of employment is that bad then quit.  There're other businesses in the world to work for.  I live by the mantra of don't give them an excuse meaning that no matter how bad the place is I'm not going to give the supervisor any ammunition to use against me especially any negatives to tell a potential future employer that may prevent my getting the hell out of there.

"Just quit" is not an option for many people for a variety of reasons...

I play it straight with all my employers

as I do not want anyone owning my reputation other than me

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

The people who really piss me off are the ones who still come to work who are hacking & coughing their lungs up, spreading their disease through the workplace.

make the beast with two backsen have a sick day, another reason to have a sick day is to not spread your lurgie to other people at work. 

[Drjones]

It is always an option and there are no excuses for staying in a shit job environment that has no signs of improving.  People all over the world are subject to a lot worse than a crappy job environment and do a lot more to get out of their situation, so do not sit there and say "it is not an option."

[hbliam]

I wonder how many people would steal four or five hundred bucks from the bank deposit bag/cash register? Same thing as abusing sick time but takes a bit more balls I guess.   

[happily everafter]

oh lord people.... why is everyone so judgemental? live & let live. the original question was what do you do with YOUR sick days? why has it turned into accusations & judgements? it's a forum for motorcycles for petes sake! it's supposed to be FUN... just sayin...

[Mother]

Because

during the months of November to June

when us Northerners have our bikes packed up and collecting dust

this is not a motorcycle forum

it is a judge others harshly to make yourself feel better forum

there will be no fun had during the off season