Does your employer give you hell for calling in sick?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ACE.
Does your employer give you hell for calling in sick?

I have good attendance, I use a sick day maybe once every 3-5 months? I had to use it today since I received my 3rd dose of Pfizer and I was unsure of how things will go so I said I cannot make it as my arm really is sore, and that anything can happen. 

The staffing clerk was giving me crap saying I just don't want to come in to work, and that I should plan ahead. but I read my union book, I have 15 union days every calendar year, so why are they giving me crap? Isn't it my right? I cannot be coming to work everyday.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
DK123 said:

I have good attendance, I use a sick day maybe once every 3-5 months? I had to use it today since I received my 3rd dose of Pfizer and I was unsure of how things will go so I said I cannot make it as my arm really is sore, and that anything can happen. 

The staffing clerk was giving me crap saying I just don't want to come in to work, and that I should plan ahead. but I read my union book, I have 15 union days every calendar year, so why are they giving me crap? Isn't it my right? I cannot be coming to work everyday.

Except for scheduling a sick time for surgeries and such I think I've taken about 20 sick days in 20 years. I would not have said I was calling off for a sore arm. I would have just called in sick. Where I live they can't ask you what's wrong. Though my work has said they won't grant time off for mild to moderate vaccine side effects 

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Specializes in CEN.

Agree with happyg8ful. I would never volunteer the reason for calling out, it's none of their business and it can only cause trouble. That being said, my unit is pretty great about calling out. Never had any issues with it. 

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Specializes in ACE.
On 11/16/2021 at 10:47 PM, evastone said:

Agree with happyg8ful. I would never volunteer the reason for calling out, it's none of their business and it can only cause trouble. That being said, my unit is pretty great about calling out. Never had any issues with it. 

Great as in?

I don't mind call outs. Sometimes you just need the day to rest.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I agree with everyone above - never volunteer a reason! It can be tricky with COVID now and having to screen for symptoms, but if pressed I just say it's not COVID related. Most places I've worked are fine about callouts - though I did have a manager text me on a sick day like, "I sure hope you're coming in tomorrow, because I have no one to cover for you!" ?

Also, a vaccine is something you can plan around your days off, so that definitely opens you up to scrutiny. I always get my flu, and now COVID, shots the morning after I've worked my three night shifts and can go home and sleep it off. (My arm was sore after my booster, I had chills, body aches, etc. It was nothing a little Motrin couldn't fix. Just sayin'.)

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Specializes in Mental Health.

You called in sick on the day of because something might happen? I would have given you *** too. LOL 

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Specializes in CEN.
On 11/16/2021 at 11:28 PM, DK123 said:

Great as in?

I don't mind call outs. Sometimes you just need the day to rest.

They always just say OK without asking questions. I've had a couple of managers insist nurses take sick time if a nurse looked ill, stressed, or needed a day off for whatever reason. 

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Specializes in ER.

I just got my booster and I was utterly incapacitated for 2 days with fever, chills, worst headache of my life, horrible body aches. I'm done with that f---ing vaccine forever.?

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Well more “personal” days should be allowed.

During onboarding/recruitment they love to tell you how much time you get off, sick days, etc but this career tends to guilt you for actually using this time.  
 

I personally don’t use a lot of sick days but now I’m in a position that I have hours that don’t roll over.  My advice is take the days you need. There’s been too many days I’ve came in not feeling well and regretted it. 

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I absolutely think every nurse should call in if they are sick.  That should never be questioned in my opinion.  But you know why it is?  Because people call in and say they have a sore arm. ??

OP, don’t tell them why you are calling in.  But seriously this is why people get crap for calling in.  

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Specializes in pediatrics, School LVN.

I got written up for calling in sick. I had requested a day off six months ahead of time. I was denied the day off. I ended up with bronchitis, saw my doctor was on antibiotics and taken off work for a week. I turned my doctor's note in to HR and my supervisor the same day I saw the doctor. My doctor's note started several days before my requested day off and returned me to work a couple days after the requested day off. I was still written up because I called in sick on a denied day off. I did make a note on the write up and insisted they attach a copy of my doctor's note to the write up. I told my supervisor "if I had known I was going to get bronchitis  six months ago I would never have requested the day off." 

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Specializes in school nurse.
49 minutes ago, Glitternurse said:

I got written up for calling in sick. I had requested a day off six months ahead of time. I was denied the day off. I ended up with bronchitis, saw my doctor was on antibiotics and taken off work for a week. I turned my doctor's note in to HR and my supervisor the same day I saw the doctor. My doctor's note started several days before my requested day off and returned me to work a couple days after the requested day off. I was still written up because I called in sick on a denied day off. I did make a note on the write up and insisted they attach a copy of my doctor's note to the write up. I told my supervisor "if I had known I was going to get bronchitis  six months ago I would never have requested the day off." 

What do they want? Nine months' notice for a day-off request?

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