Stay or go home?

novella1186 · January 2015

Warning: there is likely to be a ton of whining in this post.

I feel awful today. Like stupidly awful. And I'm exhausted cuz I didn't sleep last night, because I felt awful last night. I'm pretty much just staring at my computer screen in a total daze in my office wondering how I'm gonna make it till 5. 8 and a half hours away.

I wouldn't even have come in today except that I missed work Friday for a migraine. I couldn't even work from home because I can't look at lights/screens when I have migraines so I just didn't work at all.

Yesterday I was 45 minutes late because I woke up with a UTI and had to go to the dr and get antibiotics (part of why I feel so shitty today, and the antibiotic is making my stomach feel awful).

My boss is really nice and really understanding. But I also don't want to be That Person. I'm thinking I might stick it out till lunch time and then ask her if I can work from home for the rest of the day (she'll say yes). We've only been back from the holiday break for 2 weeks and already I miss a day, I'm late, and then I go home? I feel like that's too much. Oh and side note, our company has unlimited sick days, so there's that, but working from home isn't counted as a sick day cuz you're still working.

I really don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't want to look like an asshole and keep ditching work. I don't want to sit here and be a miserable zombie for the next 8 and a half hours.

What would you guys do? For those of you that supervise employees, would you find this to be too much?

lurkergirl · January 2015

Sorry, lady, I think you gotta suck this one up.

I don't have employees, but my mom runs an office, and this is a huge complaint of hers. Especially since she also suffers from debilitating migraines and has major back problems, plus still has a kid at home. So when she's stuck there in pain and missing one of my sister'sany events and her employees are wanting to miss work...she is not impressed.

emmaaa · January 2015

I am that person that will come and stay at work even when I feel like shit because I hate calling out, leaving early, or feel like I'm behind on work. That being said, if you feel like you can afford to miss the day, go home and get well. If you think you can just seclude yourself until the end of the day and tough it out, do that.

novella1186 · January 2015

lurkergirl said:

Sorry, lady, I think you gotta suck this one up. I don't have employees, but my mom runs an office, and this is a huge complaint of hers. Especially since she also suffers from debilitating migraines and has major back problems, plus still has a kid at home. So when she's stuck there in pain and missing one of my sister'sany events and her employees are wanting to miss work...she is not impressed.

That's what I was just thinking. For all I know, I could get another legitimate migraine tomorrow or something, and then I will have missed half of today because I was being a baby. (In my defense, I really do feel shitty, but it's definitely not nearly as bad as a migraine). Ugh.

charlottesmom0626 · January 2015

I've never taken a sick day. I've gone into work in the most terrible shape as long as it wouldn't get anyone else sick (food Poisioning, migranes, etc).

I have a coworker who calls out sick or works from home at least once a week. I like her, but she's always sick. We all roll her eyes when she comes in with another story. Then she gets offended if anyone says she always is sick....

I think you're going to be that girl. I would stick it out this time, you don't know if you'll really be super sick sometime soon, and you've taken a few days recently

cupcait927 · January 2015

Honestly, I'd say stick it out. It totally sucks being at work when you're sick, but considering the circumstances you've laid out, I'd really try and stay at work as long as you can today.

climbingsingle · January 2015

I'm sorry you're feeling crappy! I think you should try to stick it out today.

FutureMrsN3312 · January 2015

I have a coworker who calls out/leaves early/comes in late for the smallest of things. People constantly roll their eyes at her.

I'd honestly try and suck it up and do the best you can at the office all day. It sucks. Can you take a little nap at lunch time? Sometimes that helps me.

Good luck and feel better!

novella1186 · January 2015

FutureMrsN3312 said:

I have a coworker who calls out/leaves early/comes in late for the smallest of things. People constantly roll their eyes at her.

I'd honestly try and suck it up and do the best you can at the office all day. It sucks. Can you take a little nap at lunch time? Sometimes that helps me.

Good luck and feel better!

I've worked with a person before who called off pretty much twice a week, and there was always a big elaborate story about it. We all kind of just laughed at her and no one was happy to be working with her because of course when she didn't bother to show up because of yet another dramatic illness, we all had to cover for her.

Luckily no one has to cover for me when I'm gone but still. I don't wanna become the person that everyone is rolling their eyes at.

FutureMrsN3312 · January 2015

novella1186 said:

FutureMrsN3312 said:

I have a coworker who calls out/leaves early/comes in late for the smallest of things. People constantly roll their eyes at her.

I'd honestly try and suck it up and do the best you can at the office all day. It sucks. Can you take a little nap at lunch time? Sometimes that helps me.

Good luck and feel better!

I've worked with a person before who called off pretty much twice a week, and there was always a big elaborate story about it. We all kind of just laughed at her and no one was happy to be working with her because of course when she didn't bother to show up because of yet another dramatic illness, we all had to cover for her.

Luckily no one has to cover for me when I'm gone but still. I don't wanna become the person that everyone is rolling their eyes at.

This is the exact situation at my office. I don't want to be "that girl".

mikenberger · January 2015

You stay here and whine with us. It's okay

Personally, if you're an employee with a stellar record, I understand all of a sudden getting hit with illness and overall crappy feeling. Past behavior is an indicator of future behavior and if you're not one of the constantly out people, I wouldn't care.

But I also am super prone to UTIs and my stomach is very sensitive to antibiotics, so I'd probably be sending you home anyways if I noticed you were being a slug at work.

larrygaga · January 2015

I would stick it out. I hate missing work because of becoming sick for the same reasons.

What I advise you to do is go home and work extra hard when you get back to make up for it. But I don't follow my own advice.

Except now I work in a nursing home so I'm mandated to stay home if it could be contagious. They will send you home where I work if you are found coughing excessively or something. Our infection control nurse will find you and she will terminate you.

Feel better!

EDIT: If you never call off than probably everyone will believe you and won't roll their eyes. I know because it's the same for me.

larrygaga · January 2015

lurkergirl said:

Sorry, lady, I think you gotta suck this one up. I don't have employees, but my mom runs an office, and this is a huge complaint of hers. Especially since she also suffers from debilitating migraines and has major back problems, plus still has a kid at home. So when she's stuck there in pain and missing one of my sister'sany events and her employees are wanting to miss work...she is not impressed.

Just because your mom is in a lot of pain doesn't mean everyone else should suffer just because she did. Just because your mom's suffering is worst does not mean other's suffering isn't valid.

lurkergirl · January 2015

larrygaga said:

lurkergirl said:

Sorry, lady, I think you gotta suck this one up.

I don't have employees, but my mom runs an office, and this is a huge complaint of hers. Especially since she also suffers from debilitating migraines and has major back problems, plus still has a kid at home. So when she's stuck there in pain and missing one of my sister'sany events and her employees are wanting to miss work...she is not impressed.

Just because your mom is in a lot of pain doesn't mean everyone else should suffer just because she did. Just because your mom's suffering is worst does not mean other's suffering isn't valid.

_ _ _ _ _

It's not like she's forcing them to stay, she's just judging them for leaving (and in her case everyone else has to pick up slack if someone leaves.) These are the same people who are late to work every single time it rains and act surprised that traffic was a shitshow.

loveislouder · January 2015

I work in an office where there are 6 of us - bossman, his wife, 3 assistants and our articling student. Wife and articling student are never in the office, and bossman is always in court. Out of the 3 assistants, I am the only one that ever calls in sick. That being said, I only call in sick if I'm throwing up (it's a 45 minute drive, and I HATE throwing up on the side of the road), or am contagious.

I feel bad being that girl, but sometimes it happens.

I think you can tough it out

If you need extra encouragement, I'm sure we can help out

novella1186 · January 2015

I'm toughing it... I'm not accomplishing a damn thing but I haven't melted into a puddle on the floor yet :P

mrsk616 · January 2015

stick it out. i have never really taken a sick day unless i have been throwing up. i have sat at the front desk answering phones with no voice for 9 hrs and my co worker told me just go home (when normally she wont answer phones for me) and i refused to. some of the times i have worked i should have taken the days off but it was just easier for me to head to work and call it a day after i left work.

your lucky you get unlimited sick days. are they paid sick days? i only get 2 a year (read 16 hrs) and i have not used any of them

hope you feel better... eat light foods today to keep from upsetting your stomach

novella1186 · January 2015

novella1186 · January 2015

mrsk616 said:

stick it out. i have never really taken a sick day unless i have been throwing up. i have sat at the front desk answering phones with no voice for 9 hrs and my co worker told me just go home (when normally she wont answer phones for me) and i refused to. some of the times i have worked i should have taken the days off but it was just easier for me to head to work and call it a day after i left work.

your lucky you get unlimited sick days. are they paid sick days? i only get 2 a year (read 16 hrs) and i have not used any of them

hope you feel better... eat light foods today to keep from upsetting your stomach

I'm salaried so yeah, they are paid. It's weird because there have been some really nasty things going around the office and I never catch it, even when everyone else has it (knock on wood). Last year FI got strep throat and bronchitis. We live together and I STILL didn't catch anything from him. I never get the flu, nasty colds, none of that. (I really hope I'm not jinxing myself here).

So the only time I've had to take a sick day is the 3 times I've had debilitating migraines (in the past year). And the only times I've had to work from home were when I was having some serious stomach issues from stress and would get really really really sick for an entire day. Being sick in the work bathroom that 50 other women use is just not ok.

I never get to call off for something normal that everyone else has. It's always just my own weird random personal illnesses that pop up out of nowhere. And technically I should have stayed home yesterday because I had a fever, but I knew the fever was from the UTI so I just came into work and stuck it out because I really don't feel like a UTI is a real reason to sit at home for an entire day. Even though all I wanted to do was whine about it :P

I'm just weird.

mrsk616 · January 2015

novella1186 said:

mrsk616 said:

stick it out. i have never really taken a sick day unless i have been throwing up. i have sat at the front desk answering phones with no voice for 9 hrs and my co worker told me just go home (when normally she wont answer phones for me) and i refused to. some of the times i have worked i should have taken the days off but it was just easier for me to head to work and call it a day after i left work.

your lucky you get unlimited sick days. are they paid sick days? i only get 2 a year (read 16 hrs) and i have not used any of them

hope you feel better... eat light foods today to keep from upsetting your stomach

I'm salaried so yeah, they are paid. It's weird because there have been some really nasty things going around the office and I never catch it, even when everyone else has it (knock on wood). Last year FI got strep throat and bronchitis. We live together and I STILL didn't catch anything from him. I never get the flu, nasty colds, none of that. (I really hope I'm not jinxing myself here).

So the only time I've had to take a sick day is the 3 times I've had debilitating migraines (in the past year). And the only times I've had to work from home were when I was having some serious stomach issues from stress and would get really really really sick for an entire day. Being sick in the work bathroom that 50 other women use is just not ok.

I never get to call off for something normal that everyone else has. It's always just my own weird random personal illnesses that pop up out of nowhere. And technically I should have stayed home yesterday because I had a fever, but I knew the fever was from the UTI so I just came into work and stuck it out because I really don't feel like a UTI is a real reason to sit at home for an entire day. Even though all I wanted to do was whine about it :P

I'm just weird.

as long as i am not contagious i will come into work. i was a cashier/receptionist at dealership before the one i am at now and i did a whole lot between answering phones and doing the normal stuff i did. i felt like death but my co worker needed that day off and i always feel bad for calling off.

Bubblegum5586 · January 2015

Since you are worried you could get another migraine in the next few days... maybe it is best to tough out today.

We get 6 paid sick days at my company and I use every one. That is about 1 every 2 months.That is a part of my benefits package so I use it.

[Deleted User] · January 2015

Ditto what @larrygaga said about everyone having to suffer just because someone else chooses to do so.

I'm so sick of corporate managers playing doctor. Just because you, your parent/sibling/spouse/second cousin/etc. pushes through pain or illness doesn't mean that everyone else should. That was your choice, it shouldn't have to be mine. Not everyone reacts to pain or managing pain / illnesses in the same way.

If these same people show up late every time it's raining; deal with that problem- that is just a common sense kind of thing.

Wegl13 · January 2015

I can't make an opinion based on my own job. My job revolves around whether or not I am there. Basically, if I'm not there, we close. Anyone else can call in sick, because we can work light without them, or call someone else out of the 10 people in.... but I'm kind of the reason for the season (which makes me feel like an ass, but it's true). Basically if you aren't dying or contagious, you stay. I've been so sick I've sat on the floor and had people bring me things. But I stayed dammit.

I say if you can go home, and you don't generally make a habit of it, go the heck home. My husband's job sounds more like yours, and he can generally make up hours later or earlier in the week. It sounds like you aren't really capable of doing much besides staring at the wall, which is generally a good indication you are better off at home.

tcnoble · January 2015

novella1186 said:

I'm toughing it... I'm not accomplishing a damn thing but I haven't melted into a puddle on the floor yet :P

I think it depends what kind of sickness you're fighting. If it's something where you really think going home and spending half the day sleeping it off, I think it's worth leaving. I also hate calling out sick; I'm a teacher, so being gone leaves me with way more work than if I just showed up and toughed it out. But sometimes your body needs the rest to recover. You could end up having to call out more days in the long run if you don't let yourself get better. Again, I think it depends what kind of sickness. Flu? Just a cold? Simply exhausted?

novella1186 · January 2015

tcnoble said:

novella1186 said:

I'm toughing it... I'm not accomplishing a damn thing but I haven't melted into a puddle on the floor yet :P

I think it depends what kind of sickness you're fighting. If it's something where you really think going home and spending half the day sleeping it off, I think it's worth leaving. I also hate calling out sick; I'm a teacher, so being gone leaves me with way more work than if I just showed up and toughed it out. But sometimes your body needs the rest to recover. You could end up having to call out more days in the long run if you don't let yourself get better. Again, I think it depends what kind of sickness. Flu? Just a cold? Simply exhausted?

I definitely didn't catch anything. Just my stomach being upset from the antibiotics, generally feeling shitty for the UTI, sinus headache which I've had since Sunday, and so stupidly exhausted. If it were one or two of those things I wouldn't even think about going home. But the combination of everything is just turning me into a whiny slug.

hellosweetie1015 · January 2015

You can work from home?

My thought is that if you can work from home, then you aren't taking a sick day - you're taking a work-from-home day. Which is TOTALLY different. Some days, you just really want the luxury of your own damn couch instead of an uncomfortable desk chair. If I could do my physical filing work from home, there's no way in hell I'd be in this office every day. Too bad I don't have a robot.

I will say that I've called out once at my new job (which I started in March, so almost a year). I was tethered to the toilet and ruined FI's and my favorite sleepy pants. (We used to fight over who got to wear them before that.) I couldn't work from home because I couldn't predict when all of a sudden I would have to stop everything and RUN.

ETA I also don't have any issues working from home - I will get my work done during work hours whether I'm here in the office, there at home, or in the Bahamas. (So long as I'm not on vacation. Bump work if I'm on vacation.)

larrygaga · January 2015

lurkergirl said:

lurkergirl said:

Sorry, lady, I think you gotta suck this one up. I don't have employees, but my mom runs an office, and this is a huge complaint of hers. Especially since she also suffers from debilitating migraines and has major back problems, plus still has a kid at home. So when she's stuck there in pain and missing one of my sister'sany events and her employees are wanting to miss work...she is not impressed.

Just because your mom is in a lot of pain doesn't mean everyone else should suffer just because she did. Just because your mom's suffering is worst does not mean other's suffering isn't valid.

_ _ _ _ _ It's not like she's forcing them to stay, she's just judging them for leaving (and in her case everyone else has to pick up slack if someone leaves.) These are the same people who are late to work every single time it rains and act surprised that traffic was a shitshow.

When you add details later on to the story to validate yourself (your mom) it just looks like you got caught being wrong and are making it up.

If this is really true than maybe she should hire responsible people because I know a hell of a lot of them that are begging for a job right now.

Stay or go home?

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