Calling out sick

Lovely_RN, MSN · Sep 2, 2008

I feel bad when my co-workers have to work short because of my calling in but the reason I usually call in is because of the brutal working conditions I have to deal with. I'm sorry but it's a choice of call in for one day or just quit because my nerves can't take it anymore.

I also do not feel a strong sense of loyalty to my employer because they have no loyalty to me. After over 20 years of service and loyalty the only thing the DON had to say to my mother when she said she was considering retirement at the end of this year was "When are you leaving so I can find someone else?" No you will be missed, we valued your service to us, No thank you no nothing. Sorry but my employer considers me just another body, easily replaced by the next new grad.

pinksugar · Sep 2, 2008

I wouldn't call out sick so much if my employer paid out my sick time. They will pay out vacation time, but not sick. My sick time is part of my benefits package - part of my salary - and I am entitled to use it. If I don't use it, I lose it. If my hospital's administration would wise up to this they would have fewer call-outs. They are pretty dense so I don't expect them to figure that out, though. :chuckle

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 2, 2008

I am taking a mental health day tomorrow, with no guilt attached. The clinic is usually overstaffed on Wednesdays and no clinic until 1pm, anyhow. They can do without me...or they are going to.

imanedrn · Sep 3, 2008

Thank you for replying. I also feel that by agreeing to my schedule I am committed to work unless truly sick. If I want or need a day off I arrange it ahead of time or find someone to switch with me. Whether it is a management problem or not calling out does negatively affect my unit so I avoid it when possible.

We have to complete our schedule request ONE MONTH in advance. I wish I could plan out the days that I might get sick that far in advance! (I'm one of those who calls in for being physically sick -- the respiratory infection response -- vs. needing the mental health days. I guess I have enough time off not to need them!)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 3, 2008

I work in the privat sector and get 4 weeks paid holiday(vacation) a year.I know in the NHS they get more depending on how long they have worked there.
If we work public holidays we either get an enhanced rate of pay or a ' day in lieu' to be taken at a later date. I've never heard of ' Mental Health 'days.

At my hospital, the mental health days are really sick days that we take to spoil ourselves rotten. :yeah:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2008

I work with someone who uses a sick day every time there's enough hours saved up to pay for a shift. It's like "hey, I have a Call Out of Work Free Card today!!"

I hate that.

I have enough time saved in my bank that if I'm really sick, I really don't have to be there. I also don't have to be there for a LOONGGG time if I'm REALLY sick. But that's because I rarely take off. Like, say....when I'm too sick to come in, which is rare!

I don't quite understand the mindset that says it's ok to use the time as soon as you have it, that's what it's there for. No, it's there for when you are too sick to be at work. Using it as a Stay Home Free day means you're probably shafting someone else, who either has a heavier load because they couldn't fill the spot in time, or someone else needed to stay or come in earlier because you counted out your paycheck beans and realized you could swing just one more call in before being docked.

Oh, wait, I almost forgot my most FAVORITE thing: when the person who uses up all his sick time all the time suddenly finds himself actually SICK, and needing to take several days off--or, when there's a surgery and it's a few weeks off--and there's no time left in their banks. So some kind fool starts up a COLLECTION to help the slacker with his bills...because he has no sick time left! I'm not kidding, this one burns me!