Is it ok for your work to call you after you called in sick?

Nurses General Nursing

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I called in sick last night at 2:25pm for my 7p-7a shift last night. Now, I just checked my cell phone and there's a message from the shift supervisor saying it's imperative that I call her back. She left the message on my cell phone at around 4pm yesterday. I was home and sleeping and as far as I know she did not attempt to call my house since I still do have a land line because my husband would've woken me to tell me. She made no further attempt to contact me last night so I have to guess she probably wanted me to reconsider my sick call as they probably had NO ONE to fill my spot since I work in ICU and you can't just put anyone in ICU. Really, though, that isn't my problem.

Who gave her my cellphone number is beyond me. Must've been one of my coworkers because as far as I know, they do not have it. If they do, then I will have to change it (AGAIN). And as far as I also know, I am not in trouble for anything.

So, do you think it's appropriate for them to call me after I called in sick, within the guidelines of having to call off(for 7pm-it has to be before 3pm) to try to get me to "un-call" off sick?

I mentioned to another coworker that I have an interview at another facility next week. Apparently someone can't keep their mouth shut because one of my friends tells me that I'm in trouble since I called in last night. Guess it goes to show that I'm better off keeping my mouth shut.

It's always best to keep management in their place. Do what is reasonable and expected as an employee... I understand the med/chart inquiry, etc. of course. But, beyond that, having managed myself, I do know that management needs to remain professional, and refrain from the whole sillyness cascade of wanting to feel the need to control. If as management you see yourself becoming neurotic, and ruminating on why, why, what, about an employee, you need to stop, and shut your self down for a while and reconsider what it is you should be doing with your position.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I'm not management but a staff nurse. This place I work is a small community hospital and most of the time we(in ICU) are left to our own vices. Unless someone does something REALLY BAD. Which I have not done. I called out sick 12 weeks ago...so that's probably why I'm in trouble, if you will. I'll get a write up. If anyone mentions an interview well, I'll just deny it since really it is not any of their business.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Try not to get too worked up - you don't even know why she called. I hardly think calling you once and leaving a msg is 'harrassing' you. You sound inordinately angry about this with little information though. If you're already on your way out, try not to get aggravated about something that won't affect you in future. Life's too short.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I have been called. Sometimes in times of staffing emergency a nurse may feel better when offered the right amount of bonus for coming in. But until you talk to your supervisor you don't really know what the call was about.

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.
...Apparently someone can't keep their mouth shut because one of my friends tells me that I'm in trouble since I called in last night. Guess it goes to show that I'm better off keeping my mouth shut.

IMHO, if one doesn't want info spread around, one has to recognize that often, the biggest mouth can be our own. Nobody can repeat anything that I said, if I never let it slip in the first place.

That said, if your official point of contact with your employer is your land line number, I find it odd that she should somehow get your cell number. Again, it was probably someone whom you've trusted with your cell, otherwise, no one else would know it. If you want to pursue it, ask the supervisor who gave her your number. Word to the wise; one is there to work and make money, and not to network or socialize. I know some nurses cannot separate the two, but it is wisest to do so.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

Oh they don't offer bonuses at my place to work. Otherwise, they'd have no problems filling in the holes in the OB dept schedule and I wouldn't be made to be the labor and delivery nurse.

Definitely will be keeping my mouth shut. I don't think I'm on my way out the door. Like I said, I work with a nurse who BIT a fellow RN and she still has HER job. I find it odd to receive a phone call on my cell phone when they didn't call my land line first. And when I had called out sick..calling me 90 minutes after I called in, to me is harassment. Especially since no other place I've ever worked has done this. It's not my fault there is not enough staff in the facility to cover a call-off.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

How long have you been there? What are you other options for employment? Yes I understand the politics of small community hospitals as I am currently working at one. Though I will say I work with a great group of people. I am sorry that you feel that your administration is 'useless." Perhaps it is best that you so move on.

BTW you do know that if you call in every 2-3 months that is a red flag for a manager. Unless you are chronically ill or have small children and they are ill a lot. Most people only truly get sick once or twice a year. But you are an experienced nurse and you should know this, and you also know what a hardship it is when someone calls in sick in a small facility - like at ours we only staff 2 nurses in the ICU, so if one is sick, the other is screwed.

I have to say it seems like you are not telling us the whole story, because you do seem very upset over what at least on the surface seems like a small thing.

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Is it really "harassment" to call you once, leave a message, and not call again That is not harassment. Is it appropriate? I can't judge because I'm not even clear on why they called.

I understand you're really sick of working at that job, but it's hard for me to pull out the important facts when everything sounds so dramatic. Words like "suspicion", "marked", and "stunt" are emotional words. "The nursing supervisor had me thinking I was going to get fired!" -- no, YOU had yourself thinking you'd be fired. Or you think you'll be "fired" for calling out once or twice -- why do you feel insecure about the quality of your work? And you've already spent so much time worrying about when you'll get fired you've got a speech together for the Unemployment office (though they probably won't care what coworker #1 did to #2, all that matters is your situation). Stop worrying about everyone else -- you worry about you.

I am not trying to pick on you or make you feel bad. My hope is to share with you how others might be seeing these kind of statements. If you get this new job but still have the old mindset, it's only a matter of time before you feel singled out again.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.
How long have you been there? What are you other options for employment? Yes I understand the politics of small community hospitals as I am currently working at one. Though I will say I work with a great group of people. I am sorry that you feel that your administration is 'useless." Perhaps it is best that you so move on.

BTW you do know that if you call in every 2-3 months that is a red flag for a manager. Unless you are chronically ill or have small children and they are ill a lot. Most people only truly get sick once or twice a year. But you are an experienced nurse and you should know this, and you also know what a hardship it is when someone calls in sick in a small facility - like at ours we only staff 2 nurses in the ICU, so if one is sick, the other is screwed.

I have to say it seems like you are not telling us the whole story, because you do seem very upset over what at least on the surface seems like a small thing.

I've been here for 4 years. I've got an interview on Tuesday for an LTACH in my area.

I really don't know WHY the nursing supervisor called me on my cell phone. I can only guess based on past behavior. This isn't the first place I've ever worked. The last time I called out sick was when I had a miscarriage and was hemorrhaging back in November.

I know what the hardship is...and I felt bad calling in but when you're running to the toilet every 20 minutes, being at work is not conducive to caring for patients. I just honestly have NEVER had an employer call me after I had called in sick for the day. She wouldn't say what she exactly wanted. As far as I know I AM telling the whole story, whether or not you believe it. I can't expound on things too much as to not give away where I work or who I might be. I've gotten burned before by posting things here on Allnurses dot com 7 yrs ago...so I have to be careful, I'm sure you can understand.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.
Is it really "harassment" to call you once, leave a message, and not call again That is not harassment. Is it appropriate? I can't judge because I'm not even clear on why they called.

I understand you're really sick of working at that job, but it's hard for me to pull out the important facts when everything sounds so dramatic. Words like "suspicion", "marked", and "stunt" are emotional words. "The nursing supervisor had me thinking I was going to get fired!" -- no, YOU had yourself thinking you'd be fired. Or you think you'll be "fired" for calling out once or twice -- why do you feel insecure about the quality of your work? And you've already spent so much time worrying about when you'll get fired you've got a speech together for the Unemployment office (though they probably won't care what coworker #1 did to #2, all that matters is your situation). Stop worrying about everyone else -- you worry about you.

I guess I don't see it the way you do..If I were to get fired from this place, which I don't think I've got anything to worry about, actually the unemployment office would care since it would mean that this hospital does not enforce it's policies in a fair manner which would win me my case. Not that I think it will get to that.

The nursing supervisor called my CELL PHONE without first calling my landline, which is the primary contact number the hospital has for me. They have NEVER called my cell phone in the past. They have also never called me after I had called in sick..which leads me to believe that I could be in trouble for something. Or not. She didn't say anything else in her message but she never called again. Nor did she try calling my landline. Why not wait till today to call me if I'm going to be disciplined or call me in for a meeting today since I am off. I just don't understand how management works which is why I could never be in management.

I might be in trouble for either calling in sick too many times in a 3 month period or the interview at the other facility. Again, the supervisor wasn't specific about why she was calling only that it was IMPERATIVE(her words, not mine) that I call her back, which I didn't because I didn't get the message until I woke up this morning. And there were no further calls made to my cellphone. Or my house.

I've been unhappy at this job for a while and have applied out to other facilities in the past to no avail. I hope this time I have a good chance since I have some pretty excellent references lined up.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I'm sure I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill. My guess is that the supervisor wanted me to reconsider my sick call since there was probably no one to cover it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

The straw that broke the camels back was last Saturday when I was the labor and delivery nurse for 4 hours. The delivery suite was closed but still? What kind of facility does this kind of thing? I'm an ICU nurse, not a labor and delivery nurse. I will not tolerate putting my RN license on the line.

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