A question for the self employed...

JohnnyG

JohnnyG

JohnnyG

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... when was the last time you were too ill to go to work?
In my previous employment (20+ years) I probably took 3-7 days off a year due to 'bad health', now I'm self employed I haven't taken a day off sick in over 4 years & I actually think that my colds, flu, hangovers or general aches & pains are genuinely lesser than before. I didn't even realise this 'phenomenon' until I changed supplier recently & they mentioned something about me probably not needing emergency cover as I work for myself. I don't think it's a money thing (having to pay for cover or someone else doing it for you) I think it's a healthier state of mind, anyone got any thoughts? :)
 
My Dad's self employed and unless he's in a coma or something, he goes to work.

My Mum works for the council and with the slightest hint of a cold, she's calling a sicky. :p
 
It's the same for me. It's funny how your perspective of "too ill to work" can change when it's your business/money on the line :p.
 
Don't remember taking a day off ill in over 4 years. Basically if I felt ill I stayed in bed another hour, woke up feeling well and went to work. I think the pressure that comes from employment and the inflexible working hours does nothing to help you get well again. Having said that since returning to employment full time I'm the only one in the office that hasn't been ill.
 
I had a week off when I hurt my back, couldn't get into the car and had to spend four days in hospital, other than that I don't think I've had another day off sick in about 8 years
 
:p

I was empolyed for 10 years and was for ever off ill (mostly on mondays also)

Now im self employed and im never off..also i find myself a lot more cautious out of work..i used to kick box but now i wont incase i get hurt and cant work.Also i bought a moto x bike when employed but now wont ride incase i get badly hurt lol...

gavin
 
Until recently nothing short of actually being dead stopped me from getting work done, since my back went kapput i've been off more than i've worked. Lost a sodding fortune :(
 
I have had to stay in bed for one day as I was very ill. It wasn't self inflicted, just a very bad bug where I was constantly sick and at one point I feinted whilst walking to the loo and then cracked my head on the bath, probably didnt help! That's in 18months of self employment.
 
i'm never off ill and i'm also self employed. I employ about 26 ppl and the younger ones are forever phoning in ill. At the moment i have one person off with stress, another with tossilitis and one with a so called leg injury. I've had to have a word with a few people about sickness. The one with the tonsill problems may well end up been sacked, and the lass with depression well I cant even say boo to her as she has twins under one year old.

About two months ago i could have started crying with the ammount of sickness we were having and really thought about selling up. I've had some long converstions with the ppl taking sicness and I'm currently writing a new absence policy and introducing back to work interviews.
 
I suppose it can make a difference. Then again it depends on what type of person you are really. I'm not self employed but I am practically never off sick. The only times I have been it wouldn't have mattered as I wasn't going anywhere (e.g. I was hospitalised for 4 days, on a drip nil by mouth and let out at 5pm on Thursday - I was in work at 8am on Friday).

If you are the sort of person who pulls sickies then being self employed will make a difference to your 'sick leave', if you have a strong work ethic it won't.
 
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been self employed for over 15 years
never had a day off sick
only took days off for funerals

and holidays

but yes i have to agree state of mind its not a money thing its about pride in your job and enjoyment in your job
and getting paid for every job that you do does it for me
:D
 
I don't think I've had a day off sick in over 10 years. I know I had the flu (proper) and took a week off in the 90's sometime.
 
Only been self employed for a few months but havent had any time off sick. I do take the odd day on holiday though if the sun is shining and the bike is calling me :D, but its the type of work that I can do anytime, so just make the time up in the evening and early hours.
 
I think it's probably just because you know that it's not easy for you to just stay in bed and that it will matter if you decide to. Probably makes you just put it to the back of your mind, knowing you have to 'just get on with it'.

Kudos though :)
 
You are not ill when you are self employed. The way to cut down on absenteeism in the workforce is to make everyone self employed.
 
I changed to self-employed about 10 years ago, and in those 10 years I've only had one weeks off sick. I had flu, and didn't want to pass it on to students coming to my house for lessons.

Prior to that, when fully employed, I don't think I ever went for two years without sometime off sick.

So, in my case certainly, self-employed take far less time off sick than fully employed.
 
I've been self-employed for 10 years now.

I aim to take at least 20 working days off a year through illness and various other blags. I've actually only been ill once in the last 5 years, but having kids and a diabetic wife make great excuses for days off! Fair enough, I lose a days pay, but its not always about money. Taking a day off because I purely cannot be bothered to work is soooo good for the soul (plus it means I can just get stoned all day!) LOL
 
When I was self-employed I took a very relaxed approach to days off, frequent 4 day weekends, 3 hour working days, self employment definitely isn't for me.
 
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