Preventing call-ins

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How do you (attempt) to prevent call ins at work? It's becoming a real problem where I work (CNAs more than nurses), what is everyone out there doing to prevent that? Attendance bonuses, having to work another shift, etc

Specializes in ED, psych.
I was very surprised by your attitude and even more surprised to see all the likes you received. I guess I'm in the minority. Simply coming from a peer's perspective if someone calls out all the time and I'm left picking up the slack I find it irritating and disrespectful except in the cases of legit illness and most especially if it was to "chill at home with my dog". I'd like to chill at home with my dog too but I'm fulfilling my commitment to work the shifts I agreed to cover. If an employee isn't making it to work as scheduled I personally think it is the boss' damn business why.

Not certain why "not having to tell people WHY I'm calling out" = "calling out all the time"

FWIW, in my former career (SPED teacher), it was rare that I called out, in all my 18 years of teaching. Most of the time, it was for a sick child and not for myself (and I'm lucky to have family and an awesome hubby). When I was a student, I never missed a class, nor a clinical. Ever. I was lucky in that regard.

I am about to embark on my career as a nurse. No, it's not anyone's business why I call out. Sorry. If I have that scheduled time, I will use it. I'm a very private person; you don't need to hear the nitty gritty unless I feel esp. close to you.

(as one example, there was a time that I called out because I was having a bad reaction to a medication - no. No one needs to know that. Another example? I'm undergoing testing for a medical issue that might indicate cancer. Luckily I'm not working at this moment, but if I had to take off work for a day to undergo that colonoscopy or laparoscopy do YOU or my boss need to know that? NO)

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
I was very surprised by your attitude and even more surprised to see all the likes you received. I guess I'm in the minority. Simply coming from a peer's perspective if someone calls out all the time and I'm left picking up the slack I find it irritating and disrespectful except in the cases of legit illness and most especially if it was to "chill at home with my dog". I'd like to chill at home with my dog too but I'm fulfilling my commitment to work the shifts I agreed to cover. If an employee isn't making it to work as scheduled I personally think it is the boss' damn business why.

There are times in the human condition that someone needs to be gone from work for non-illness. What flies for one person may not for the next.

A habitual calling off person is way different from the occasional one.

I really don't think your employer is entitled to know the minute details of your not coming in.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

None of my nursing jobs offered sick days. All call-ins have been covered with PTO, regardless of the reason (sickness, car trouble, childcare, etc). And to be honest, some jobs did not offer any PTO whatsoever, so those call-ins were unpaid.

Per policy, my former staffing coordinators and/or nurse managers had to ask why the worker was calling in, but the worker was never obligated to provide a reason. After all, the employer did not provide sick pay.

Therefore, since all time off was paid via the PTO bank, my reason for calling in remained my business. People have the right to call in, and they are less inclined to call in if they are made to feel like they are a valued team member.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I really don't think your employer is entitled to know the minute details of your not coming in.

Yes and it seems most agree with you. I don't think anyone needs minute details but a simple I'm not feeling well enough to work today or my child is ill would be courteous and sufficient, imo. I'm spending the day with my dog, not, but again jmo which clearly is the minority.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
Yes and it seems most agree with you. I don't think anyone needs minute details but a simple I'm not feeling well enough to work today or my child is ill would be courteous and sufficient, imo. I'm spending the day with my dog, not, but again jmo which clearly is the minority.

But sometimes, it's not simple.

And sometimes, making up excuses can make it worse.

If I call out tomorrow because of my laparoscopy - that opens up a lot of questions. But why should I say, "I'm just not feeling well" either? I'm feeling fine, more or less. Don't have a cold or flu. Just ... something a little scary is going on right now.

If I call out tomorrow because of a mental health day (my anxiety is getting to me, it's been a tough couple of days, etc), how is that going to go over at work?

Again, if I have the time ... it's truly no ones business WHY I am calling out.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

I know someone who was called in by Occ Health to discuss her sick time. 3 instances of 5 - 7 days each over a span of about 18 months

they asked her "what can they do to help,her reduce her sick time" she just looked at them and said "figure out a way for me to carry the baby to term". Yeah, she had miscarried each time. Only a few select people knew because she didn't want a lot of people to know. She really felt like her privacy was invaded.

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Oh my gosh, I may need to call in while this post is still active...

temp 101.8

cramps nausea

diarhea........

what at do you think Sour Lemon?

im honestly serious

and I even like to work

see Brandi, this does happen.....it really does

I'd stay home!! Hope you are feeling better soon.

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I know someone who was called in by Occ Health to discuss her sick time. 3 instances of 5 - 7 days each over a span of about 18 months

they asked her "what can they do to help,her reduce her sick time" she just looked at them and said "figure out a way for me to carry the baby to term". Yeah, she had miscarried each time. Only a few select people knew because she didn't want a lot of people to know. She really felt like her privacy was invaded.

That is awful!!

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Here's the thing, it's my PTO time to use as I see fit. You can't tell people how to use it.

I personally get sick more than once a year. We are around sick people after all. It only seems fitting we pick up some of those bugs.

And I'll be honest, I like my place of employment and my team, but I don't give a flying fig what happens when I'm not there. Including my sick days.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

w

I'm actually feeling a little better, and may be able to work tomorrow...

i hope Brandi realizes, there are real illness, that may prevent work attendance....

for or me today, I missed church, and had really wanted to go..".

im one of the fools that love to work, and hope I can tomorrow

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There is no attack on anyone. (Seriously? LOL.) If you are sick and can't come to work I get it, but this is something that only happens like once a year. And there is a difference between not feeling well and being sick. You might not feel well but you still need to go to work. There are people relying on you. 90+% of call ins are not because somebody is too sick to work anyways. I'm reaching out to a community of nurses to see what their policies and procedures are on call ins. What have they initiated to stop/prevent them, etc. So if you can't/won't answer or just want to post something pointless just move on. If you're truly nurses I don't get why you'd waste not only my time but yours.

How do you know when someone is sick or just not feeling well.

Maybe someone feels ill because of being sick. How do you differentiate and how do you know?

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I was very surprised by your attitude and even more surprised to see all the likes you received. I guess I'm in the minority. Simply coming from a peer's perspective if someone calls out all the time and I'm left picking up the slack I find it irritating and disrespectful except in the cases of legit illness and most especially if it was to "chill at home with my dog". I'd like to chill at home with my dog too but I'm fulfilling my commitment to work the shifts I agreed to cover. If an employee isn't making it to work as scheduled I personally think it is the boss' damn business why.

It's the boss' biz only if it happens more than rarely.

Chilling with Bow Wow is called a mental health day. Sometimes you just need one of those as much as you sometimes need a physical health day.

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