Sick Days

[caren19]

We have a hospital policy that if you are absent more that 5 times in a year, you have to go an entire year w/o an absence- or if you are sick again accumulate incidents culmanating in termination after x amount. I don't think I am sick excessively, but I am at 5. Now, how the heck do I stay well for an entire year? Is this a common policy? Do they really fire you?

I want to stress again, that it takes a lot for me to call out, this year was hard because I was just diagnosed w/irritable bowel syndrome, and the days I missed were mostly r/t IBS b/f I found a med/diet regimine that controlled my symptoms---Just wanted to clarify so nobody thinks I am just slacking off.

[dogwalker]

We have a hospital policy that if you are absent more that 5 times in a year, you have to go an entire year w/o an absence- or if you are sick again accumulate incidents culmanating in termination after x amount. I don't think I am sick excessively, but I am at 5. Now, how the heck do I stay well for an entire year? Is this a common policy? Do they really fire you?

I want to stress again, that it takes a lot for me to call out, this year was hard because I was just diagnosed w/irritable bowel syndrome, and the days I missed were mostly r/t IBS b/f I found a med/diet regimine that controlled my symptoms---Just wanted to clarify so nobody thinks I am just slacking off.

Sounds familiar and quite ironic. We work around sick people 24/7 and yet we are not supposed to be sick! If I were you at this point, I would make sure I had a doctor's note for any future absences. These policies actually encourage people to come to work sick and expose their colleagues and their patients to illnesses that they shouldn't be exposed to. As for the IBS-I had it in my thirties as a floor nurse. Nicotine and etoh are irritants, so try to reduce or eliminate those if you use either or both. Best wishes. I empathize with you. Dogwalker

[fab4fan]

If the OP has been employed full-time for one year (at least 1,250 hrs.), she would be able to qualify for FMLA. FMLA can be used intermittently for chronic illnesses, and your employer cannot hold those absences against you/discipline you as long as your absence was related to the FMLA condition.

Here is some excellent info. on FMLA.

Unfortunately, on our president's agenda is imposing severe limitations on FMLA, if not outright eliminating it. The business community doesn't like FMLA...go figure. :stone

[fergus51]

I wouldn't work in a place that fires employees for being sick. Sick time is a benefit of my employment and if I'm sick, I'll use it. I'm not a child using my sick time to play hookey. Our unit will counsel employees who call in sick more than 5 times in a year, but that's it. No one takes it seriously.