Members are discussing the frequency of calling out sick at work, with opinions varying on what is considered too much. Some users suggest following facility policies and providing doctor's notes, while others emphasize the importance of not abusing sick days. The conversation also touches on the challenges of finding replacements for sick staff and the impact of social media posts on coworkers' perceptions.
Ever since my previous career and my strong work ethic, it would usually take a lot for me to call out sick. I worked at times I should have been home many times, I think to justify when I did call out, it was really serious/legit.
I also have worked in places that feel they have a right to probe and maybe bc I had/have weak boundaries when it comes to that sort of thing I would answer in detail when they'd ask "how sick?...what are the symptoms?" etc...Maybe they have no right to ask that and they "test" in that way.
I've never felt comfortable calling out and saying "I won't be in I'm not feeling well" or even "sick" esp if you don't sound that sick! That's why when I do, I do usually sound horrible.
Even personal days, I feel like I needed to say why I needed a personal day but that defies the definition doesn't it?! But when the supposed caring I.e. nosy coworkers ask if everything is okay when I come back, then I feel (and have actually been told by one) that I'm snubbing them if I say "everything's fine" even if I add "thanks for asking"
You can probably tell I'm that way from my length of posts and need to be clear.
Look through your orientation packet - you should have received a copy of your facility's absenteeism policy. The policy will outline each step of the process: how many occurrences to receive a written warning, how many occurrences equal automatic termination, etc.
I am a strong advocate of not working while ill. However, you can't just call out for a headache, stubbed toe, etc. Sometimes we all have to work under less than ideal circumstances.
Do you have an underlying chronic health issue that your employer needs to be aware of?
Last weekend I was feeling horrible. Sick as dog. Barely got any sleep, and my throat was sore. Getting out of a cozy warm bed to drive in negative degree weather was like a hard kick to the stomach. I went in and worked the two twelves and SLEPT a lot the next day.
I'm not a proponent of working while sick, but some employers are not as understanding. I am in my fifth month of this job with one call-off that I didn't even know was considered a call-off (it's a long story, and even the charge nurse didn't think it should've been counted against me.) Had I been a longtime worker, I would have called off. As a newbie and bottom of the totem pole, however, I need to make a great impression and having three call-offs/two occurences in five months doesn't look good to anyone. Better to come in sick and be sent home than have a laundry list of call-offs on your record.
I don't agree with this work-like-a-dog mentality, and it is sad that in the healthcare field, we are expected to be robots with perfect health all the while taking care of very sick patients. We promote health for others, but not for ourselves. :/
I suppose it depends on the health conditions that resulted in your calling off. I personally feel that any contagious illness (GI, running a temperature > 101, rash, etc) warrants asking your charge nurse/NM. We have a "sick line" at my hospital which allows us to report such illnesses and we are discouraged from coming in if it could put our patient's health at risk (which for any contagious illness is a real possibility). Or, if your physician specifically takes you out of work, and you have a legitimate notice … that's another thing too. And, of course, this is going to be at the discretion of your employer.
Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.
It doesn't matter if you always have a great attitude and are never late, that only goes so far. If I called out every time I woke up and my throat felt scratchy or had a headache or maybe should have skipped the second glass of wine last night, I'd be out of a job and I think a lot of other people would be too.
If you can work then work. You never know what's going to happen in the future and you may burn one of your callouts for a reason you could have worked through. Don't put your job at risk.
Like another poster mentioned, if everyone called out for the simplest reasons then no one would ever work.
Ok, I have read the above discussion, but still the question looms in my head..."If you have X number of sick days, why can't those sick days be used, as long as the call off is done as per policy? Why are we making nurses feel terrible about using their sick days that they have earned?" I feel like we are killing ourselves with this issue, insisting that nurses work when we don't feel good, regardless of the illness or condition. If you feel crappy, it's hard to work. This is one issue in nursing that has been around forever that I wish we could find a solution for. It would have to begin with better staffing by management, to be able to absorb call-ins. (OK, rant over, thanks for listening.)
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
studentnurse9806 said:
How often is too often? I have been at my current job for four months and called out two times. It's looking like I may have to call out again as I am not feeling well. Do you think I will get fired? A warning? Nothing? Other than this I am a great worker and always on time.
Different facilities have different policies, so it all depends upon yours. Two or three call outs in four months is a lot, though. If I were your manager I'd have to sit you down and ask you about why all the call outs.
Look in your facility's policy and procedure (P&P) manual, or ask HR for a copy of the facility's sick leave policy. If you wish to keep your job, that is the guidance you must abide by, not anything that we may post here.
Since you're fairly new at the job and are probably still in the probationary period, I would suggest that you start bringing in doctor's notes when you call out. Yes, it's a hassle. But it looks a lot better for you than being out 3 times in as many months. And if the ailment isn't acute enough to require a visit to the PCP, then I'd reconsider whether it's really worth calling out for.
I agree with BacktoBasics. You don't want to use up all of your call-off cards while you are still on probation. You don't know what you will need six months from now.
I agree with BacktoBasics. You don't want to use up all of your call-off cards while you are still on probation. You don't know what you will need six months from now.
Where I worked as a CNA--there was another CNA who called off all the time. Sometimes the reason was illness, sometime the reason what childcare. Sometimes it was the weather, sometimes it was her car. She admitted that some of the excuses she gave to work were a lie. She was put on probation (that included a zero tolerance rule for calls without a doctor's note) at least twice for this. She would never call off when on probation, but then go back to her old tricks when the probation ended. After I left the facility and was in school, one of my classmates was still employed there. One day she said "oh, Sarah (name changed to protect the guilty) was fired. It really is unfair though, she was actually sick this time with [i forget what]." I kept my mouth shut, but I wanted to tell this person "and you know what else was unfair--when she left us to work short with all those bogus calloffs."
Now, I'm not accusing the OP of bogus calloffs. I am saying--make sure you actually cannot work before you use a calloff. I'm not sure what "not feeling well" means to the OP, but, usually, I don't consider "not felling well" a reason to call off.
RNsRWe, ASN, RN
3 Articles; 10,428 Posts
As the nurse manager of whatever unit you're on, I'd pretty much expect you to be calling in DEAD if it was the third time in just a few months.