Call in Sick Dos and Donts
When the cold rain beats down upon the dark window panes and thought of work strikes terror into the heart it is more than tempting to call in sick. Just one zombie-like lurch to the phone and the pain will be over, a warm bed is the welcome reward. Then through the dim hazy thoughts the rest of the world sets out on its nocturnal commute. This is so appealing, but there are certain call in sick dos and don't that should be followed.
Firstly, as already expressed, it's not very professional to phone in sick when it is not a question of sickness. It's not easy to keep away with such things for very long, nor is it the platform for a good career. Nobody wants a bad record in their employment even if it is a temporary job, a record stays with a person for life. So the first rule is where possible, only call in sick when you are sick!
However, if a person is genuinely ill it is not a good idea crawling into work full of bugs and germs. Working through illness is something that should essentially be avoided. Rest and recuperation is the safest option to get an individual back on their feet and working at an optimum level. No one appreciates a person who spreads illness to everyone else.
The main thing about phoning in sick is to be open and honest about the reasons for sickness to the employer. Genuine illness requires genuine responses and it is essential that the call is made as early as possible so that any contingency plans can be made for any required cover. Everyone gets ill from time to time. Everyone suffers from bad common colds and similar illnesses and it is nothing to feel guilty about providing the call is made at the appropriate time.
The next stage is to obtain a doctor's note wherever possible for longer periods of sickness. This is not a problem over a single days absence, but a doctor's notification is required by the third day of sickness by most employers.
Short list of dos and don'ts:
Do: Give as much notification as possible to the employer regarding sickness, phone in as early as possible.
Do: Try and speak to a person. It is much more civil to speak to a person then to leave a message on an answering machine, for one there is no concrete way of knowing that the message will get though, and two it is just not a very respectable move.
Do: Be honest and open about the situation. Honesty is always the best policy with sickness as it is for most things in life, be honest and things will be fine.
Do: Consult a doctor after three days of sickness.
Don't: Make up silly excuses for sickness, sticking to the actual reason for sickness and not exaggerating is the best policy.
Don't: Feel guilty about being off sick, five or six days of sickness a year is about normal for the average working person, it shouldn't be a situation to really worry about.
Don't: Forget to understand and follow company policy regarding sickness, it is much better to know the company entitlements regarding sickness then to be financially sorry for it afterwards.
Don't: Put on a fake voice on the phone. Trying to sound like Kermit the frog is never a good career move, even if he made well out of it.
Overall the message is clear, being fair, open and honest regarding sickness and there will be no problems. Sickness is something which strikes everyone and it is important to put health first. It is very difficult and often counter productive to try to work when not well and there are no medals gained for working when sick.
