Sick days off work: how many is too many per year ?

bigmike20vt · 26 Apr 2019 at 15:08

Old Man said:
I had one month paid sick leave and one month holiday to take each year, but then I did put in normally 60-70 hours almost every week.

On another note, how many of you plan to take all of your pension in a lump sum when it's time? Been thinking of doing that as it's quite high now and
you never know when your time is up, so I was thinking maybe just better to enjoy what time is left. Thoughts? I'll be deciding this in a couple days..

For me it depends on my health. My last jobs pension is a final salary which I put 19.5 years into so that will be 1/3 (all bar a few pennies) of my salary at point of leaving. It pays out penalty free at 60 or I can take a reduced rate at 55.
If all is well health-wise apparently I can expect to reach 85 on average these days . If I am in good health I will take it at 60 with no lump sum. If I am struggling I will take a lump sum at 55.
Not expecting anything from the state till am 70 and half expecting to be even more shafted and it become means tested.

Sho · 26 Apr 2019 at 16:04

I can have 2 absence in 9 months and not a single word will be said to me. 3rd absense will trigger HR Meeting. Then Verbal - Written - Final - dismissal
I do get 6months sick pay. Only on one occasion i went of sick for 5 months back in 2008.

Hawk Tuah · 26 Apr 2019 at 16:07

I don't have time to be off sick.

But I do have the good fortune to be able to work from home. So I can be a snotty, miserable mess and still do my job.

Destination · 26 Apr 2019 at 16:46

Old Man said:
I had one month paid sick leave and one month holiday to take each year, but then I did put in normally 60-70 hours almost every week.

On another note, how many of you plan to take all of your pension in a lump sum when it's time? Been thinking of doing that as it's quite high now and
you never know when your time is up, so I was thinking maybe just better to enjoy what time is left. Thoughts? I'll be deciding this in a couple days..

Withdraw what is tax free, then withdraw each year up to your tax allowance or 20% rate.

adam cool dude · 26 Apr 2019 at 17:50

I work 3&2's so only work 182.5 days of the year. Take into account that I am given 13 weeks paid sick pay and 24 days holiday I could theoretically only work 113 days of the year which is less than a third.

I have only had 6 days off in over ten years service at my current company but i know plenty who take their 13 weeks without fail.

Mark1989 · 26 Apr 2019 at 18:50

Old job three in 10 years, and been in current job for two years and had I think 4 days due to getting flu (not man flu the actual full on flu)

New job I had another day off for dependancy which was due to childcare so they don't class it as sick

Energize · 26 Apr 2019 at 19:21

At my place the line manager has a lot of discretion, an employee doesn't automatically need to speak to hr if they are off two months because of a broken wrist for example.

James82 · 26 Apr 2019 at 21:44

I remember getting the flu. Awful illness. I felt that bad it kept me awake all night when I just wanted to sleep. It took me 4 hours to summon up the strength to get up and get a glass of water at the peak of the virus. I never want to feel like that again.

fastwunz · 26 Apr 2019 at 22:08

James82 said:
I remember getting the flu. Awful illness. I felt that bad it kept me awake all night when I just wanted to sleep. It took me 4 hours to summon up the strength to get up and get a glass of water at the peak of the virus. I never want to feel like that again.

I feel for you man - the flu is genuinely a really awful virus and can make you feel so so bad - I had similar a few months ago - it spread to my right ear and the pain was constant and I lost over 60% hearing. Hot wet towel on my ear and many inhalation’s of vics melted in hot water eventually cleared it.

Dreadful week - the lack of sleep as you mention is awful. It is also the only time I’ve been off sick from work for three days.

Any other absence is for childcare emergencies etc and that’s very rare.

My mate works for the civil service - now that sounds like a hoot if you want the time off lol!

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Apr 2019 at 23:09

chaparral said:
On another note

If a doctor signs you off work for say 3 days but you feel well enough to go back to work after 2 days
Should you go back after 2 days or stay off the 3 days ?

I came back too early after a chest infection. I got sent home again, which is bad because it now counted as 2 absences on my HR file instead of 1. A single (longer) absence is better on your file than 2 shorter absences.

Telecaster · 26 Apr 2019 at 23:35

Not had a sick day for years, in fact none in my current job. I just don't seem to get ill. People regularly taking the **** used to really grind my gears, you could tell they were just using them as extra holidays as it was usually a Friday or Monday.

chaparral · 27 Apr 2019 at 00:01

Telecaster said:
Not had a sick day for years, in fact none in my current job. I just don't seem to get ill. People regularly taking the **** used to really grind my gears, you could tell they were just using them as extra holidays as it was usually a Friday or Monday.

Yes my work place has had there fair share of workers that always fall sick on a Saturday or Monday (Saturday by far the worst for them not turning up)

AndyCr15 · 27 Apr 2019 at 09:15

chaparral said:
On another note

If a doctor signs you off work for say 3 days but you feel well enough to go back to work after 2 days
Should you go back after 2 days or stay off the 3 days ?

My understanding is, a Doctors note is only advice.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-qu...k-to-work-before-the-end-date-on-my-fit-note/

chroniclard · 27 Apr 2019 at 09:25

adam cool dude said:
I work 3&2's so only work 182.5 days of the year. Take into account that I am given 13 weeks paid sick pay and 24 days holiday I could theoretically only work 113 days of the year which is less than a third.

I have only had 6 days off in over ten years service at my current company but i know plenty who take their 13 weeks without fail.

Thats insane, its not a bloody perk to use as and when you want. Those people need sacking.

Unisol Magic · 27 Apr 2019 at 10:12

1 day off sick in 30 years at work (food poisoning)

I even worked from home after my back operation

I’ve always worked for myself though so maybe that explains my good record

LewisRaz · 27 Apr 2019 at 12:02

There are some heroes in here! Last year I had about 24 days off sick. Without a docs note for any of them. Was just a bad year. Physical production line job where you are no use to anyone if you aren’t 100%. Had previously gone several years without a single day off but was surprised for HR to not have mentioned it at all.

adam cool dude · 27 Apr 2019 at 12:18

chroniclard said:
Thats insane, its not a bloody perk to use as and when you want. Those people need sacking.

Blame the doctors who dish out the sick notes. I am a manager so deal with hearings all the time. We have a very strong union presence as well so even if you want to give certain action they get away with it. Childcare is almost a get out of jail free card as well. We have become too soft as a nation.

Greebo · 27 Apr 2019 at 14:17

bigmike20vt said:
really? there are a lot of people at this place who would be sending massive alarm bells ringing then!.

just 1 douse of norovirus can wipe you out for a week (officially you are not meant to go to work until 48hrs AFTER symptoms have passed). (I was tested however and have an fairly strong immunity to it, so must remember never to use that one as an excuse)

Massively high. Most people where i work have zero off per year. I haven't had a sick day in the 6 years I have worked there. Its only people who have been off for serious sickness for months which brings the average up. Suppose it has a lot to do with whether you get paid or not for sick days. All the companies I have ever worked for never pay for short term sickness so random odd days sick are few and far between

Double07 · 27 Apr 2019 at 14:36

I love how older people post in here not really aware that a generation below them is entirely ****** and no one really seems to care. Also **** all you 'managers' complaining about your staff taking sick days, their job likely is hellish and they just about get through life on a daily basis. I dont expect you to care because the vast majority are utter utter morons but some of the comments in here just make me hate humanity. Yeah Ill get called lazy, blah blah blah. Awwwwwww diddums.

Greebo · 27 Apr 2019 at 14:51

Double07 said:
I love how older people post in here not really aware that a generation below them is entirely ****** and no one really seems to care. Also **** all you 'managers' complaining about your staff taking sick days, their job likely is hellish and they just about get through life on a daily basis. I dont expect you to care because the vast majority are utter utter morons but some of the comments in here just make me hate humanity. Yeah Ill get called lazy, blah blah blah. Awwwwwww diddums.

Meh when i was young I used to call in sick all the time for hangovers. I used to get bollocked for it as well and lost one job over it (it had got to a stage where I went 8 weeks ringing in sick on a Thursday and Friday as went out clubbing from Wednesday onwards). So things aren't any different nowadays tbh.