I tend not to miss work at The Day Job. In fact, until recently, I had almost seven weeks' paid time off built up, counting vacation, sick time, and a "floating holiday."
I say "had," because that just changed. I'm down to about six and a half.
My bosses tend to appreciate me because I'm reliable to a fault. I don't "pull a Wisconsin teacher" and abuse my sick time.
A few years ago, though, I'd maxed my sick time and decided to take a "mental health day." I wasn't feeling sick, but I called out anyway -- I wanted to burn off some sick time, so I'd start accumulating it again. So I phoned out and took the day to goof off.
Three days later, I got the stomach flu and went out for a full week, wiping out my sick time entirely and digging into my vacation time.
Actually, it wasn't a full week -- my then-boss called me up and begged me to come in on my last scheduled day away. I dragged myself in, spent half the day in the bathroom, and ended up passing the bug on to two colleagues.
She and I both learned a valuable lesson from that. I learned that when I decide to abuse my sick time, I'll end up paying for it. She learned that when I have a doctor's note saying to stay out for a week, I really should stay out for a week (she was one of the two who got my bug).
Sadly, that lesson didn't take very well for me. Last week, a part-timer in my workplace was complaining about being short on hours. I realized I was close to maxing my sick time again, and I had a friend I hadn't seen in about a year and a half, so I figured I'd invite him up to my neck of the woods this week. I'd also call out "sick" on that day, so my colleague could take my shift. It seemed like a win all around.
Right up until the day before my plan was to kick in. I reported to work at 1, and within an hour started feeling worse and worse and worse. I got a cough that felt like I was about to hack up hunks of lung. My body started aching like I'd been ten round with Mike Tyson. And I got more and more feverish. By 3, I decided I needed to get home and go to bed (after taking some hefty drugs). My boss let me go by 4, at which point I started gobbling cough drops like candy and chugging Nyquil straight from the bottle. I was like a pharmaceutical Charlie Sheen.
Well, the fever broke over night (after keeping me from sleeping for more than 15 minutes at a time), and today I'm just achy and coughing.
But I'm still irritated. My "abuse" of sick time harmed no one, really -- my shift was covered by someone of a lower pay grade, I'd made plenty of preparations to keep the workplace from being inconvenienced, and I have a thorough record of NOT abusing my sick time. But I still got sick as hell, keeping me from enjoying my plans.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the teachers there are openly violating the "no work actions" clause of their contracts and -- so far -- suffering no consequences for their action.
Bastards. I hope at least some of them get this bug that laid me out.
I say "had," because that just changed. I'm down to about six and a half.
My bosses tend to appreciate me because I'm reliable to a fault. I don't "pull a Wisconsin teacher" and abuse my sick time.
A few years ago, though, I'd maxed my sick time and decided to take a "mental health day." I wasn't feeling sick, but I called out anyway -- I wanted to burn off some sick time, so I'd start accumulating it again. So I phoned out and took the day to goof off.
Three days later, I got the stomach flu and went out for a full week, wiping out my sick time entirely and digging into my vacation time.
Actually, it wasn't a full week -- my then-boss called me up and begged me to come in on my last scheduled day away. I dragged myself in, spent half the day in the bathroom, and ended up passing the bug on to two colleagues.
She and I both learned a valuable lesson from that. I learned that when I decide to abuse my sick time, I'll end up paying for it. She learned that when I have a doctor's note saying to stay out for a week, I really should stay out for a week (she was one of the two who got my bug).
Sadly, that lesson didn't take very well for me. Last week, a part-timer in my workplace was complaining about being short on hours. I realized I was close to maxing my sick time again, and I had a friend I hadn't seen in about a year and a half, so I figured I'd invite him up to my neck of the woods this week. I'd also call out "sick" on that day, so my colleague could take my shift. It seemed like a win all around.
Right up until the day before my plan was to kick in. I reported to work at 1, and within an hour started feeling worse and worse and worse. I got a cough that felt like I was about to hack up hunks of lung. My body started aching like I'd been ten round with Mike Tyson. And I got more and more feverish. By 3, I decided I needed to get home and go to bed (after taking some hefty drugs). My boss let me go by 4, at which point I started gobbling cough drops like candy and chugging Nyquil straight from the bottle. I was like a pharmaceutical Charlie Sheen.
Well, the fever broke over night (after keeping me from sleeping for more than 15 minutes at a time), and today I'm just achy and coughing.
But I'm still irritated. My "abuse" of sick time harmed no one, really -- my shift was covered by someone of a lower pay grade, I'd made plenty of preparations to keep the workplace from being inconvenienced, and I have a thorough record of NOT abusing my sick time. But I still got sick as hell, keeping me from enjoying my plans.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the teachers there are openly violating the "no work actions" clause of their contracts and -- so far -- suffering no consequences for their action.
Bastards. I hope at least some of them get this bug that laid me out.
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Comments (15)
I hope you feel better soon... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Frazetta_girl
| February 23, 2011 10:13 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
I hope you feel better soon, Jay. A bit of advice: Get yourself some Vitamin D3 and start taking it every day. Winter colds aren't caused by winter weather, they're caused by lack of sunshine and absorption of Vitamin D3. We take it in our family and have really cut down on winter colds.
See? Tell me you're sick, I'll give you advice and start making some chicken soup. It's the mom in me. I hope you're back on your feet soon.
1. Posted by Frazetta_girl
| February 23, 2011 10:13 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 10:13
2. Posted by mpw280 | February 23, 2011 10:18 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
No good dead goes unpunished, it happens all the time to me. mpw
2. Posted by mpw280 | February 23, 2011 10:18 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 10:18
3. Posted by WildWillie | February 23, 2011 11:08 AM | Score: 7 (15 votes cast)
Get well buddy.
Isn't it amazing that democrat's in congress can have sex with minor male pages and still retain their seats. Run a male whorehouse out of your apartment and still retain your seat. Not pay taxes and still retain your seat. Not report to the floor of the senate and your treated like heroes. Abuse sick time on the taxpayer dime and are heralded as champions. Issue fraudulant doctor's notes and the MSM thinks that's fine. Have signs that have cross hairs on the Governor and that is fine. Calling him Hitler, Nazi, is fine.
The left is a sick confused bunch. I am so glad the grown ups are in charge. ww
3. Posted by WildWillie | February 23, 2011 11:08 AM |
Score: 7 (15 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 11:08
4. Posted by 914 | February 23, 2011 11:21 AM | Score: 1 (11 votes cast)
Right on ww!
And whomever voted neg on that post is truly sick and counfused.
4. Posted by 914 | February 23, 2011 11:21 AM |
Score: 1 (11 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 11:21
5. Posted by Gmac | February 23, 2011 1:17 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Personally? I hope you're over this soon.
As far as the 'sick' teachers and doctors handing out excuse forms?
Let's see if they get docked pay or fired, preferably both.
5. Posted by Gmac | February 23, 2011 1:17 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 13:17
6. Posted by Peter F. | February 23, 2011 1:18 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
I *still* have remnants that bug, Jay Tea....going on 2 weeks now. So hang tough and keeping popping Halls cough drops.
As for the WI teachers. Dontcha just love the lesson in ethics they're teaching kids.
6. Posted by Peter F. | February 23, 2011 1:18 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 13:18
7. Posted by mag | February 23, 2011 3:09 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
When I first start to work, if you called in sick the boss would come to your house to see if you were in bed...and if not she would keep calling you to make sure you stayed home. So I have NEVER used sick time other than for sick...I have to date (and I lost some time, too) about 4 months worth of sick time. And I hope NEVER to use it...if I loose it so what that meant I was feeling good and that is a blessing, I would never abuse sick time. However, the teachers in my town...are know to do that and they come back with a tan and no questions them. My city is very, very corrupt.
7. Posted by mag | February 23, 2011 3:09 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 15:09
8. Posted by epador | February 23, 2011 3:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If I had any pot left I'd be happy to hand out excuses you had coughed and sneezed all over in Madison.
8. Posted by epador | February 23, 2011 3:51 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 15:51
9. Posted by Upset Old Guy | February 23, 2011 4:03 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I never abused sick-days, and I took very few. But... whenever I got to feeling like total crap (tired, achey, stuffed up) I'd announce that I would be taking a pre-emptive sick-day the next day. And I would stay home, sleep late, nap often, and eat lots of oranges. It worked very well for me.
9. Posted by Upset Old Guy | February 23, 2011 4:03 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 16:03
10. Posted by MF | February 23, 2011 8:04 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Jay Tea hope you are feeling better soon.
I dont take my sick days either and have made up the hours or days I am off when I had bad sinus infections and couldnt stand up. But one thing I try to remember is the days are there for when we are sick.
It is ashame that there are folks that cheat the system. They usually ruin it for us honest people.
10. Posted by MF | February 23, 2011 8:04 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 20:04
11. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | February 23, 2011 9:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bollocks! If you're going to be miserable you might as well do it in the office. Save the sick days for when you want to do something fun. I learned it from an Australian gal years ago. "We'll just chuck a sickie," she used to say.
11. Posted by Baron Von Ottomatic | February 23, 2011 9:22 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 21:22
12. Posted by astonerii | February 23, 2011 11:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I saw a study about "why we cheat". It might explain your need to justify cheating on your sick time as you still being good.
12. Posted by astonerii | February 23, 2011 11:23 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2011 23:23
13. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | February 24, 2011 8:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
.... Bastards. I hope at least some of them get the bug that laid me out ....
Bastards. I hope all of them get the buggar that lays them off!
13. Posted by Brian Richard Allen | February 24, 2011 8:24 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 24, 2011 08:24
14. Posted by Verbalpaintball | February 24, 2011 12:04 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
So wait, Jay. Blogging during your work hours isn't a company abuse?
As for the issue at hand - sure. There are abuses of the system when you have a union. But the people who contributed to the budget deficit are not the teachers - it's a few choice assholes who work on Wall Street. The Wisconsin issue is all politics.
The real question is if any of the people who sunk this country into a financial abyss will pay for that abuse.
Answer:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-isnt-wall-street-in-jail-20110216
14. Posted by Verbalpaintball | February 24, 2011 12:04 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 24, 2011 12:04
15. Posted by Jay Tea
| February 24, 2011 12:20 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Yes, it is an abuse, VP. Which is why I don't blog from work. Well, a few times on a lunch break, but NEVER on the clock.
I don't have a 9-5 job. My hours bounce around a bit. For example, today I'm due in at 2. Plus, I can schedule postings to publish at set times.
The irony here is that I INTENDED to game the system, but in the end didn't. My planned "sickness" became real. And it kept me from doing something I'd planned on doing -- donating blood. They don't want you if you're sick.
J.
15. Posted by Jay Tea
| February 24, 2011 12:20 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 24, 2011 12:20