Sick leave - how sick do I need to take it?

mokorusmania on 14/05/2016 - 15:00

Just a bit of background of my job, I am working in customer service / product store, and my job mainly involves sitting on the counter explaining products to the customers. I will be usually talking all day from 9am-6pm.

I was feeling unwell this week, so on wednesday I took a sick leave and I was feeling much better the next day. I still had cough every now and then on thursday, however, on friday it got so much worse, every time I talk, I have the urge to cough and after 5 mins or so into the conversation I will need to go behind the counter to let myself cough. Because it was busy at the store on friday and I was tasked with a difficult+stressful duty (rotated between staffs, so if I took sick leave that day someone else needs to take over the duty), I decided on that day that I will just suck it up and bear with it. So today on saturday, my cough is not getting better and it gets more and more painful when I talk. Quarter way into my shift, I asked my boss whether I can see the doctor and she was upset, saying that it is only cough and cold and I will be able continue working by just taking meds. I insisted so my boss let me see the doctor. When I saw the doctor, the doctor told me I should have taken sick leave yesterday so that it wont get so bad today and gave me a sick certificate.

Am I being unreasonable to try to get a sick leave today because of "cough and cold"? I was taking throat lozenges but I am not taking cough suppressants during the day as I am concerned it will make me sleepy. Should I have just suck it up with my cough and continue working, which is not going to make me heal faster and even possibly spread it to my colleagues and customers to make my boss happy?

Education & Work

Comments

  • cDNA on 14/05/2016 - 15:21
    +23

    Of course not. If your boss is not letting you see a doctor, then there's seriously something wrong with her work ethic. Don't ask your selfish boss about your illness. If you need to take sick leave, just do it. She can't stop you and if she threatens you, complain to fairwork and she'll get penalised heavily.

    Next time get a doctor's certificate also, so you can use it as leverage if your boss approaches the subject again.

    https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/paid…

    https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/how-we-help-you…

  • scrimshaw on 14/05/2016 - 15:46
    +13

    You decide man. Your boss does not decide whether you should take sick leave or not. Nobody does, it's your own body and you're the only one who knows how 'well' you are.

    People should not be pressured to go to work if they feel unwell, you'd have a very shitty boss otherwise.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2016 - 22:28
      +1

      Agreed.
      It's like asking how thirsty you should be before you actually drink.

    • alizzan on 16/05/2016 - 15:24

      Especially if you work in an industry in which being well is important. I cannot stand seeing people in the food industry working while they have a cough or a running nose, and while it sucks if you're a casual, the onus is on you to be as healthy as you can and not put people at risk.

      • scrimshaw on 16/05/2016 - 19:16

        It's against health regulations to work while sick, but the reality is in many places the the manager is pressured to run a skeleton crew to minimise wages and a person who falls violently ill while in the middle of a shift is asked to continue working despite them coughing and sneezing in the kitchen.

        Why? Because if they spend too much on wages the manager will fail his Kpi on wages and lose out on bonuses.

        (source= I was a "sandwich artist" who suffered a weeks worth of bronchitis while working)

      • tomsco on 17/05/2016 - 09:14

        and while it sucks if you're a casual

        Casual's get casual loading to make up for the fact they don't accrue leave. So while they don't get "paid" when they cancel a shift, it is slightly balance out by the higher hourly rate.

  • PVA on 14/05/2016 - 16:05
    +2

    it isnt up to your boss to decide, go to a doctor and they are able to say and give you a certificate .

    • StewBalls on 16/05/2016 - 15:48

      ^This!

      Just call them up & tell them you won't be there; don't enter into any negotiations; remind them you're not asking for their permission, you're simply doing them the courtesy of letting them know!

      Thankfully our workplace is smart enough to not want infectious zombies hanging around…patient zero gets turned back at the door on approach by admins armed with brooms & Glen 20!!! ;)

  • sparkles on 14/05/2016 - 17:22
    +1

    Not really answering your question but try Swisse Immune formula and also Swisse High Strength Echinacea. I find those two combined helps me either not get full blown sick, and/or helps me recover quicker. Being sick sucks.

    • bobkin on 16/05/2016 - 05:42
      +11

      I know your comment was well-intentioned, however I think people should be informed that vitamins such as these have not been proven (in high quality trials) to be effective for treating the common cold. They are costly and I believe it is the duty of manufacturers to prove their effectiveness before marketing health claims. Instead vitamin companies (as well as most other complementary and alternative medicine sellers) use unquantifiable terms such as 'supports immune function'. Please see Science Based Medicine and the NHS

      • tomcat83 on 16/05/2016 - 14:17
        +1

        Sounds like the rationality of a fellow SGU listener!

        • bobkin on 17/05/2016 - 04:24

          Haha, you picked it

      • dazweeja on 16/05/2016 - 14:38
        +6

        Yes, they are costly but Swisse uses only the highest-quality, wild-caught placebo.

    • massafiri on 16/05/2016 - 14:33

      Wow Swisse are even paying people on internet forums to become ambassadors.. I just thought it was on TV Cooking shows and Sports stars.

      • treeman on 16/05/2016 - 14:53
        +1

        I too have luck with the Swisse Immune. Maybe it's more psychological but they seem to work for me. They aren't too dear. Usually buy around 60 for the $10.
        At the end of the day you pay $12 or so dollars for 24 cold and flu tablets and you need to take 2 each time.
        6 cents for an immune tablet that seems to work for some isn't going to hurt yourself or your bank balance.

        • treeman on 16/05/2016 - 15:00

          Oops 16-17 cents, not 6 cents.

    • sparkles on 16/05/2016 - 20:11
      +1

      LOL, the sceptics are out in force. Look, supplementation is a personal choice. Some think it's bunk, others swear by it. I personally find it of use and will continue to selectively supplement when I feel the need. If you don't, that's cool too.

      As for the Swisse Immune I suspect it is the zinc in it. As a bonus, I have what I would define as problem skin and the appearance of my skin improves considerably and quite quickly when I take this particular formula. Anyway the Immune Formula isn't very expensive at all, like all of $10 for a years supply if you only take them through the flu season. And Swisse are definitely not paying me to say any of this, I wish!

  • tomsco on 14/05/2016 - 17:26
    +3

    That woman shouldn't be managing staff.

    • WT on 15/05/2016 - 10:27
      +1

      lots of middle management are like this. Actually lots of bosses are like this!

  • honeybadger7 on 14/05/2016 - 17:34
    +1

    Some people take sick leave because their not sick, but they are entitled to it and does not carry over to the next year period. As long you provide a doctor certificate, you are fine, another case of being sick doesn't mean it has to been seen to be sick, it could be a case of where your body hurting inside and prevents you to work.

  • Nutrino on 14/05/2016 - 17:41
    +15

    Mate, you don't need to be sick, this is Australia mate. They don't call it "chucking a sicky" for no reason. Neg away!

    • airzone on 14/05/2016 - 19:01
      +18

      You just have to be sick of working to take a sickie.

      • tomsco on 14/05/2016 - 23:21
        +4

        "Mental health day".

        • Fasty on 26/07/2016 - 15:57
          -1

          This might be a joke to you, but it's actually just as—if not more —important to take care of your mental health. Just putting it out there.

        • tomsco on 26/07/2016 - 16:15

          @Fasty: Who says I think it's a joke. The quotation marks were just indicating it as a term.

        • Fasty on 26/07/2016 - 22:11
          -1

          Sure

        • tomsco on 27/07/2016 - 05:32

          @Fasty:

          Do you have nothing better to do then come into a two month old thread and troll?

  • Elppa8 on 14/05/2016 - 17:45
    +1

    If your sick and unable to perform your duties then see the doctor whilst you are sick for a certificate.

    Having said that I have seen attitudes where people took sick leave when they were well to go to a event, known as the Aussie sickie

    • kima on 15/05/2016 - 07:13

      many people have been fired from bosses snooping on their facebook accounts when doing this

  • Randxyz123 on 14/05/2016 - 17:54
    +10

    Why did you not take Friday and Saturday off?

    If I walked in to your store and had the staff member having a coughing fit I'd probably walk straight out.

    Why should you continue working and get staff and customers sick. your boss probably acted that way because she didn't want to have to find someone to replace you or sit in for you.

    It is so much more productive for businesses to have you take a couple of days off while you are sick and then come back and be well and do better work and not have to have a coughing fit every 5 minutes then keep going to work, get everyone else sick and then there is no one at work for a week.

    I asked my boss whether I can see the doctor and she was upset, saying that it is only cough and cold and I will be able continue working by just taking meds

    I'd have said to that "No, I feel like absolute crap , I AM going to see the doctor". You asking to see the doctor is a statement not a question. You are being polite by letting her know you are leaving. If she fires you then you can sue her for all sorts of things and she'll cop a large fine from fair work

    • jeka1103 on 16/05/2016 - 19:42

      Exactly! Ask yourself "would I be comfortable being served by someone as sick as me?" Your customers most certainly won't want to get sick off some salesperson that they spent 5mins talking to. You're not only putting yourself and your health at risk by being at work, but every single person you come in contact with is also at risk.

  • xoom on 14/05/2016 - 18:18
    +5

    How sick do you have to be?

    Fully sik bro!!!

    Serious answer.

    Take a sickie if you are unwell. Thats what sick leave is for. The last thing i want is some inconsiderate coworker trying to be a hero working while coming down with an infectious illness.

    You are more than likely going to infect someone and they will get sick to then productivity suffers.

    Do yourselves a favour. Stay away from the office if you are sick. Not just for your sake but others well being also.

  • fruit on 14/05/2016 - 18:37
    +6

    At my work the boss said he doesn't want anyone even remotely sick there as that'll make others sick.

    • Brendoo on 15/05/2016 - 09:03

      Exactly. Most staff will get annoyed if anyone sick is at work because they can make others sick. It's regarded as disrespectful and selfish to come to work sick at my work (with anything that can be caught by others). At mine they also give the entire office free flu shots (if you want one) at work to reduce the chances of illness in the office.

  • aussieprepper on 14/05/2016 - 20:39
    +3

    UN-Australian answers! Every one knows you go to work sick and wing it! take your days of when you are well so you can enjoy the day! :P

  • kyle on 14/05/2016 - 22:24

    Geez, what kind of boss is that? At my work, open office environment, take leave when you're a little bit sick so you don't infect anyone else.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2016 - 22:27
    +3

    Sorry but how old are you?
    And is this a full time job or just a random short term job? The reason I ask is, are you even paid for your sick days?
    Like come on, grow up.

    Surely you could decide whether you were sufficiently healthy/sick to attend high school or not. It's the same for work.

    • PR0r on 14/05/2016 - 22:56
      +4

      Agreed. The thing is, young people with no life experience get treated like shit from employees all the time. This seems like a fine example. End of the day, if you're to sick to work, go home. You shouldn't need to explain yourself.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2016 - 23:01
        +4

        Agreed. I had this pathetic supervisor who would spend their time literally TIMING people's breaks. Like call the desk to see if they were back.

        To the OP - don't take it personally. Your boss sounds like someone who is deeply insecure. You will win in the long run. Do you really want to work there forever? Who cares if they hate you.

        • Molten on 15/05/2016 - 19:07

          When it comes to business, you are there to work. From personal experience some people need to be timed as they are abusing break times which in turn reduces productivity and costs businesses alot of money!

        • [Deactivated] on 15/05/2016 - 20:03

          @Molten:

          True but timing breaks is not productive. And the irony was that she NEVER worked.

          It's more productive for a diligent worker to be 5 mins late for a break than a lazy worker to take an accurate break.

        • Molten on 16/05/2016 - 10:55
          +1

          @Beethoven Yes thats true but not when it's setting a bad example and then other people catch on and do it too.

  • Euphemistic on 14/05/2016 - 23:23

    You also need to consider how you appear to your work colleagues and customers. Pretty sure I would like to be served by someone who couldn't stop coughing and looked like … We have a pretty good workplace and I have heard (and been told) "you look terrible, you shouldn't be here". No point coming in, spreading germs everywhere and making your other staff and customers sick. It is up to you and your work ethic to decide when you are too sick to be at work.

    What I feel a bit guilty about is when I call in sick and I'm not actually sick, but I have to look after one of my sick kids, or even my wife when she was not working and unable to look after the kids.

    • scrimshaw on 14/05/2016 - 23:24

      What I feel a bit guilty about is when I call in sick and I'm not actually sick, but I have to look after one of my sick kids, or even my wife when she was not working and unable to look after the kids.

      you shouldn't. You have rights under Fair Work Act.

      Sick and Carer's leave:
      https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/paid…

      • Euphemistic on 15/05/2016 - 07:59

        I guess it's a work ethic thing. I only feel a bit guilty as I am capable of working, but can't be there. I certainly don't feel guilty taking holidays becuase they are planned. It's just leaving work colleagues short when I am fit and healthy.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/05/2016 - 00:31

    How sick do you need to be to go on sick leave? Sick enough that you can't perform your job to the required standard.

    Take the time you need in order to recover. Your customers will be greatful and hopefully your boss will eventually understand.

    • jacross on 16/05/2016 - 16:36

      Or contagious and therefore a potential societal wealth destroyer through spreading the illness more than minimally possible.

      • Euphemistic on 22/05/2016 - 08:36
        +1

        A couple of years ago I got pretty crook, pneumonia. Had been off for over a week and was getting better so went back to work. It was the first time in my working life I'd been sick for more than a couple of days. Must have been run down becuase I ended up going back to the dr who got some tests done, then rang me at home and said stay off work for another week, you've tested positive to the flu and will be contagious. While I missed some more work time I didn't mind having the extra time to recover properly. I've been getting the flu shot each year since then.

        • tomsco on 23/05/2016 - 08:51
          +1

          And I'm sure your co-workers would appreciate you taking the extra time off, too.

        • jacross on 23/05/2016 - 11:35

          Nice. The flu is no joke. My work does flu shots during work time for free so I always make sure to get one.

  • kima on 15/05/2016 - 07:11

    you shouldn't be going to work with cold and flu at all - its contagious and its not harmless to many people in our community. your boss doesn't care about you, she has no loyalty to you so don't go out of your way to give loyalty to her.

  • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 15/05/2016 - 07:42

    Sick days are there for a purpose. They are built into our job and we should never feel guilty for using them. If the business owner has not accommodated for sick employees in their business model then that's their problem.

    If you estimate that going to work will prevent you from making a good recovery simply pick up the phone and tell the boss that you're "not coming in today". Be blunt and keep it short. Always get a medical certificate. I've never had anyone challenge me when doing this. Even if they did there's nothing they can do about it anyway.

  • pandabun on 15/05/2016 - 07:58

    If you have coughing fit and you need to interact with customers, just take a sickie. I don't know what you guys are selling or what service you do. But if I see you especially when I'm with my young son, I'll walk out. Some sickness are airborne.

    From my husband's experience, he would get death stare from his colleagues if he doesn't take the day off. Everyone wants to chuck a sickie without being sick. Well most people anyway (edit).

  • Brendoo on 15/05/2016 - 09:00

    What kind of place do you work at where the boss would treat you like that?!

    If I was a customer in your store I would not be happy if a staff member was coughing when I was talking to them. Seems your boss has no common sense.

    Other staff at a place of work would also normally get pretty mad if a sick person (with a cough/cold that can be caught by others) doesn't stay home because then others can get sick too. A normal boss would also tell you to go home so you don't make the whole place sick.

    So, take a sickie, you obviously got too sick, as the doctor said.

  • conan2000 on 15/05/2016 - 12:32

    If you are sick then take the sick leave. I actually told my boss at my last office to send someone else home who insisted she was well enough to work. I don't want to catch something and then potentially carry it around and infect babies, kids, elderly, pregnant women etc.

  • Geekomatic on 15/05/2016 - 23:12

    Once, working at a well-known office supply business, I had to have an emergency foot surgery to remove a lump. I called to say & was treated to abuse. I had it done & went back to work two days later (still sore, but not wanting repercussions). I got grief. Then, while working, the wound opened & soaked my socks with blood. I showed this a-hole & went home. He was a total arse anyway…

    AU unions need more teeth. I'd like to have had him fired.

  • OYC on 16/05/2016 - 14:45
    +1

    sick post… :)

  • jacross on 16/05/2016 - 16:35

    Your boss is a terrible person for wanting a contagious person at their business spreading illness to their customers. If I were a customer and found out about this I would bring full fury to that boss.

    You are also a bad person for putting yourself out in the public when you are contagious, spreading your illness and destroying societal wealth.

    Please improve as a person. Please force your boss to improve as a person.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2016 - 16:54

    Just do it.
    No matter how unwell, just respectfully tell them you are leaving to visit a doctor or call them beforehand and let them know that you will not show up. It is actually not for you, you have to do it to stop spreading the disease. How many people could be saved by you not showing up? How it will improve your poor performance? How it could get worse and would jeopardise yours and others health?
    and your boss is not your GP! Remember you have already paid for your sick leave!

  • ronnknee on 16/05/2016 - 18:46
    +1

    Sick leave - how sick do I need to take it?

    Interpreting the question literally, you don't actually need to be sick at all to take sick leave.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2016 - 00:23

    As long as you can still hit a golf ball you are cleared for sick leave !

  • Donaldhump on 20/05/2016 - 01:59

    look your boss in the face and cough for 30 minutes in her direction, and when she moves, say it is just a cough.

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