Are you using sick time?

lest12 · April 2014

Not really a super interesting topic, but im curious to know if/how you guys are using sick time lately?

I am trying not to use too much time... you know, trying to save my pto, busy getting things ready & prepping everyone for my leave, and I'm general because I feel ok most of the time.

But today... I feel like crap. I had to go in super early and work a very long day, and I know I overdid it. I could use tomorrow off to recoup. I'm torn between feeling guilty and feeling like I should go easy on myself.

So... where are you guys at? Taking time if you need it? Feel great amd have no problem keeping up your schedule? Suffering through?

And big kudos to you SAHMs who don't have the option of calling in sick! I hope you're getting whatever rest/time you need, too.

lest12 · April 2014

nutmegs8 said:
I haven't used any sick or vacation when I have to take off for appointments. Saving it all for maternity leave.

HR kind of screwed me up with sick time, and I can only use so much of what I have banked during leave. Vacation time is different.

So, as a result, I have a bunch of unusable sick time which makes me feel like if o need to use it now, I should go for it. Otherwise, it will sit in the bank during leave.

shellbell813 · April 2014

I have been using it as needed, but try to suck it up whenever possible. My boss is fantastic and doesn't make me take sick time when I have to leave early for doctors appointments.

I say if you need a day to rest up, take it. You are entitled!

Abenedict2011 · April 2014

I actually called off sick for the first time today. I debated for over an hour this morning b/c I do plan to use it all during my FMLA. I have a head cold on top of being stuffy from pregnancy, and I decided my patients' probably don't appreciate their therapist being sick and working with them.

For normal day in and out fatigue I've just been sucking it up, but a cold on top of it was just too much in my opinion.

snowpants · April 2014

I'm doing my best not to use it now. I make up almost all time I use for doctor appointments and rarely call in. When I'm on maternity leave I have to use all my sick leave and I'd like to save it for then because that's the only time I'll get paid for. I'll also have the option of using my vacation time but don't plan to...I want to save that for when I go back to work because I'll inevitably need time for when I need to stay home with a sick kid or whatever.

BMaidPlanner · April 2014

Any chance your job might let you work from home when you're feeling run down? I know this doesn't make sense for all kinds of jobs.

lest12 · April 2014

@nutmegs8 - if I called out tomorrow, if have to use my sick hours. But, for leave, I have to have a very specific doctor note in orser to use my sick time. It's stupid - they just changed the policy last year.

@BMaidPlanner‌ - unfortunately, we aren't allowed to work from home regularly... it needs to be extenuating circumstances and is not common.

I'm sorry, I'm totally fine to go to work! I guess I was hoping to hear that you all called out if you felt like you needed a day and would justify my doing so tomorrow, lol.

I'm just beat and feel like they keep piling shit on me, when it should be slowing down. It stresses me out and I don't know how else to deal than give myself a break if they won't.

I suppose I should change the title to SS now!

Abenedict2011 · April 2014

I say if you have the sick time and can use it without penalty to give yourself a "mental health day" then go for it!

I wish I could, but I only get 3 separate call offs within 1 year without losing my chance at a raise that year....my HR dept is not very nice!

katekat8721 · April 2014

I am saving up all my sick/vacay/pto time like crazy. I'm in CA and we luckily have great disability laws. I am now working part time and so far it's helping a lot with the fatigue. This just started though. Prior to this, I just powered through but on the real bad days I would work a half day or something. Sometimes you just gotta use it and call it a mental health day!

KmdnKadmom · April 2014

lest12 said:
@nutmegs8 - if I called out tomorrow, if have to use my sick hours. But, for leave, I have to have a very specific doctor note in orser to use my sick time. It's stupid - they just changed the policy last year.

@BMaidPlanner‌ - unfortunately, we aren't allowed to work from home regularly... it needs to be extenuating circumstances and is not common.

I'm sorry, I'm totally fine to go to work! I guess I was hoping to hear that you all called out if you felt like you needed a day and would justify my doing so tomorrow, lol.

I'm just beat and feel like they keep piling shit on me, when it should be slowing down. It stresses me out and I don't know how else to deal than give myself a break if they won't.

I suppose I should change the title to SS now!

So I will be the one to make you feel better about calling out!! I have called out because my body just felt run down n I needed the extra day. I work in a casino and I stand on my feet bending stretching turning and pulling all day and it is not easy on my body. I am 32 weeks now and everything is getting worse so I know there are more days ahead of me when I just won't be able to do it. Also normally my hourly rate is well over 20$ and when I use sick time they only pay me minimum wage so its not worth saving.

JmeJoLee83 · April 2014

I called out yesterday.. It was nice taking an extra nap! I say go for it...you're only pregnant so many times in your life

sm623 · April 2014

I've been trying to save my sick days since this is my first year in the school district I'm at now. (I left over 20 at my first school and around 7 at my second school.) Even though LO is due during my summer vacation, I don't want to waste sick days now if I might need them later. There are too many what ifs. What if she comes earlier than expected, I have to have a c-section and my maternity leave overlaps into the beginning of next school year, or I need a sick day next school year and don't have any accumulated...Worse case scenario, I will use my disability insurance to cover my maternity leave, but it only covers about 60% of my salary so that would be a little tough on us financially.

cspencer85 · April 2014

I only have 54 hours of it and I'm currently on restricted activity so I can't go to work. I'm using that but I dunno what's gonna happen after.

diagonalley · April 2014

I have been hoarding my days since I started this job three years ago, but I have had to take a few over that time. So far only half a day this year because of a stomach bug (I really should have taken the whole day, but oh well!) If I have the baby before the school year is up I won't have enough time for six weeks paid, but if I make it to the end and only take time in the fall then I will have enough and then some.

wtfisup · April 2014

Would love to use a couple but saving them. I get 6 weeks parental leave them supplement the remaining six with sick pay. I'm on track to have JUST ENOUGH saved up. Though I do have a couple of vacation days I may use in May to take a break.

babyglo350 · April 2014

I have a pretty bad sinus infection that worked through yesterday but my OB suggested that I take it easy so I'm taking today off. I haven't taken any time since the start of the year so I'm taking today unpaid. If that's an option for you I would save the PTO for when babe arrives. If you need the cash is possible to take half pay?? My job is pretty good about allowing us to decide if we want to take pay and how much we can take. Either way if you feel you need to take mental health day, GO FOR IT

LilyGracesMommy · April 2014

I am saving and accruing all of my PTO for maternity leave. I figure I'd rather have the time with my baby then. Plus that way I'll be getting almost a full paycheck for the 12weeks I'll be off on DBL and FMLA

SarahS11 · April 2014

I took my first sick day of this pregnancy today... No, I'm not deathly ill, but I'm exhausted and just needed a day to myself. I never do this, and I feel a little guilty. I am a teacher though so my summer break will be maternity leave so I don't have to take any days for it.

babygabe614 · April 2014

I'm using as little sick time as possible right now, but not because I am banking it for maternity leave (I will get that through short term disability and NJ Family Leave Act) - I just have no idea how many PTO days I will need to take after the baby is here, and I only have about 4 full days left to use. Our PTO time is "use it or lose it" each year, so I always use it all up by Dec 31st regardless. Vacation is different, and I can roll over 1 week of it each year if I choose to, or I could tack some onto my mat leave if I so desired, but after I return to work I'll have about 2 weeks total left to use and I plan to use up some of that around the holidays and roll over the rest for our family vacation in the spring.

ETA: To answer the original question, I haven't called out sick at all this year but I have been lucky to not have been sick at all, still feeling pretty good in general, and my OB's office has evening hours so I rarely need to take personal time for appointments.

CherSomething · April 2014

I only get 4 hours of sick leave every 2 weeks. I use it for my medical appts, and last week I took a day when I had a lot of Braxton hicks and felt I needed to rest. Other than that, I'm trying to conserve as much as I can because I do not get paid maternity leave.

deedee830 · April 2014

I've taken a few days since finding out, a couple during the first tri and another one since then. My boss is awesome and so I feel bad whenever I do, but sometimes it's necessary. My sick days tend to be mental health type of days and I've also only taken half days before to give myself an easy morning before heading in for the afternoon.

I hope you're feeling better @lest12. Happy Friday.

SecondTimeinMSU · April 2014

I have been basically saving every single last hour possible except for a few unavoidable days like daycare being closed for the mega storm or my grandfathers funeral. I'd love to take a day off but I am too cheap to allow myself since I know it will mean one more unpaid day of maternity leave. I wish I was able to allow myself it when I am feeling sick or tired, but I am all like "omg I'll lose X amount of dollars". I know I can afford it once in awhile but I am a tightwad. If you really need a day though you should take it, you need to recharge before the baby is here.

lest12 · April 2014

Thanks @deedee830 I actually am feeling better. I slept like a log last night, which may have been all I really needed.

I came into work today but finagled my time from my dr's appointment on Wednesday - so I'm leaving at 1:30 today but only have to use a half day's sick time. It was a good compromise!

Also, once I got in here, I found out my boss was out sick and is going to be at a conference most of next week... so it's almost like being on vacation anyway! I can get stuff done without her bugging me! Yay!

deedee830 · April 2014

lest12 said:

Thanks @deedee830 I actually am feeling better. I slept like a log last night, which may have been all I really needed.
I came into work today but finagled my time from my dr's appointment on Wednesday - so I'm leaving at 1:30 today but only have to use a half day's sick time. It was a good compromise!
Also, once I got in here, I found out my boss was out sick and is going to be at a conference most of next week... so it's almost like being on vacation anyway! I can get stuff done without her bugging me! Yay!

What is this "sleep" thing you refer to?

And glad to hear you're feeling better!! Yay for bosses being out of the office!

<:-P

FutureMrsW9 · April 2014

What is sick time?? lol We don't get sick days at my company. If you're out sick it's like an honor system and they expect employees not to abuse it. We do get vacation and personal days, which you do not have to use if you're sick, but it's not like other places where you get say 5 sick days a year or accumulate sick time or anything like that.

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