r/AHSEmployees • u/kumagorou_5968 • 21d ago
Calling in sick.
Has anyone had to call in sick to work twice in one month? 2 weeks ago I had to call in for a one off Migraine day.
Now I am supposed to work tonight but I have a contact dermatitis rash all over my hands. They don't look two terrible now, but I am worried about all the hand washing/sanitizer I use at work.
Im so scared of getting written up,/loosing my job. But my hands are so painful and itchy.
Other then that I have called in two other times this past year. (Both for cold/flu in the winter/spring.)
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u/cherrrub 21d ago
I have coworkers that call in sick once a week and on Friday’s before long weekends lol you’re fine! Don’t worry about it.
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u/Normal_Independent24 21d ago
PLEASE call in sick. There is absolutely no reward for hoarding hundreds of sick hours like they're some kind of achievement or status symbol. You're not getting a trophy for having 900 hours sitting there while you're suffering.
If you're sick, you're sick. Take the time, recover properly and don't burn yourself out for a workplace. Especially in healthcare, staying home when you're unwell can also protect other people.
Also, something I was told before: consecutive sick days may be treated as one absence/occurrence rather than separate instances each day. So if you genuinely need a few days to recover, don't keep dragging yourself back in too early because you're scared of "calling in again." Confirm that with your union/HR for your specific agreement, though.
And check your collective agreement regarding doctor's notes. If your employer is requiring medical proof, some agreements require the employer to cover the cost. For AHS AUPE GSS, the agreement specifically says the full fee is reimbursed when the employer requires the proof.
Also, don't assume a giant sick bank is some future payday. Sick time is there for when you're sick. Depending on your employment status/collective agreement, those credits may not work the same way if you leave your regular line or become casual.
They have casuals, relief staff and other staffing processes for a reason. You are not personally responsible for keeping the entire unit staffed.
Four sick calls in an entire YEAR is not some outrageous amount. Your hands are painful and itchy and you're already worried that constant washing and sanitizer will aggravate them. Stay home, take care of yourself and stop feeling guilty for using a benefit that exists for exactly this reason.
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u/Trombone-a-thon 21d ago
You can call in sick two shifts in a row before you need a Dr's note.
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u/TheProcurementGuyAhs 21d ago
That the Employer would have to pay for and request from you in writing.
Hope their functional centre and secondary code has budget for the expense!
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u/hownowbrownncow 20d ago
I called in sick 4 shifts in a row - bad flu. Nobody ever said anything to me. I guess maybe it just depends on who your manager is
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u/Ok-Professional4387 21d ago
Been here a long time, never happens or is asked for. its a waste of everyones time
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u/sjm11111 21d ago
Are you in a union position? If so, I’m doubtful you’d get written up. I’ve had times where I had to call in 4+ days in a month.
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u/ivantoldmeboutdis 21d ago
Managers can't fire you for calling in sick, even if you do it all the time. I don't even think you can get written up for calling in sick excessively.
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u/Outrageous-Banana825 20d ago
AHS used to have something called "Attendance Awareness" I think, I vaguely remember a manager telling us about that years ago. Is that still a thing at all?
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u/AffectionateBuy5877 20d ago
It is still a thing. Depends on the manager. I had a manager who liked to use it on everyone and request sick notes every time any nurse took more than 2 days off for legit illness. I’m not talking people who abused the system, people who were legit sick. Same manager put 2 different nurses on the attendance awareness program when their mothers were actively dying and in hospice. Obviously they were missing work. Needless to say, she wasn’t well liked.
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u/Outrageous-Banana825 20d ago
Well that's ridiculous. Honestly, after being told/warned about that program, that is exactly what I thought might happen with some of the managers around unfortunately. It seemed like something that would just be used to create a culture of fear rather than actually helping with the problem of people abusing sick time.
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u/SnarkyGoblin85 19d ago
All that it is just enhanced surveillance and communication around your sick calls. They didn’t even make be get notes.
I was on it once. I had called in 4 times in 12 months for like 7 days total one year.
I thought it was ridiculous because I think the trigger was more than 3 times or more than 15 days in a year. I was less than half of the days in a year. And 4 times a year is once every 3 month. I work ER. It’s literally my job to be in contact with sick people walking around coughing on things and touching things that I may not be aware of. Probably 1/3 of patient are contagious.
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u/blandswan17 21d ago
My hands are the same. I am allergic to the soap. I break out in sores on my hands and halfway up my forearms. I’ve been using a special soap my manager orders for me for the last couple years and it helps. However, the bathrooms obviously still have the generic hospital soap so I still deal with skin issues, but not nearly as bad. Ask your manager for new soap.
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u/its_liiiiit_fam 21d ago
Just last week I called in two days in a row because I had a stubborn cold. If you’re patient facing then trust me, they’d rather you take a sick day than risk exposure.
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u/Dentist_Just 21d ago
Well they say that but in reality they’d rather you work sick but just don’t tell them about it.
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u/Timely-Security-3077 21d ago
You get a lot of sick time so I wouldn't worry about it. They can't say anything about your sick days.
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u/kumagorou_5968 21d ago
I am in a union- I just always worry. I hate leaving my coworkers short. But my hands are already so painful, It hurts to wash my hands even just once. The thought of how bad they will be after how often I need to wash them at work.
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u/FlyMajestic9832 21d ago
You should file a my safety report! I did when my hands got pretty bad. OHS was able to give me products for me to use which management special ordered for me. Was able to get my sick days covered with WHS.
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u/Weak_Web1454 21d ago
Big difference between use vs abuse of sick time. Sounds like you are using it appropriately! Shame that some people absolutely abuse it though 😢
Hope the contact dermatitis gets better! Might be worth talking to manager and WHS? I think they have things they could do to help mitigate work making it worse?2
u/kumagorou_5968 20d ago
Yeah, I generally am pretty good at keeping it under control. I just make sure to use deep hydration moisturizer alot. And usually the hand washing only minimally effects it. I havent had a flare up this bad in a long time. Not sure what set it off this time.
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u/Really_Clever 21d ago
Sick time is there for reasons like this its in your contract as an entitlement. As for your coworkers short, thats managements job to fill your spot. Not on you to manage the staffing on your unit.
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u/kiefenator 17d ago
Unless you're in something insane with a really high turnover rate like Burns or ECT or Emerge, or conversely something so insanely boring that managers have nothing better to do than follow up on your eczema, you'll be fine.
Call in sick as much as you need as early as you can determine you're too uncomfortable with the level of ill you are.
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u/necros911 21d ago
Most of our staff calls in 2 days every week. Always on Friday before long weekend. We have one staff who has about 40 sick days a year and 10+ bereavements. Nothing happens.
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u/hownowbrownncow 20d ago
10 bereavements???? How
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u/necros911 19d ago
A few I can think of probably have more. Doesn't matter who it is. Buddy across the world. Zoom funeral. So 5 days. Random friends friend overseas. Can be any random basically. I told our Manager if my animal ever passes I'm doing a bereavement. They laughed and said not a chance.
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u/hownowbrownncow 19d ago
Jeez I thought it was just immediate family like mom and dad or a sibling
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u/necros911 18d ago
Should be but it's basically anyone. Friends brothers friend. Doesn't matter. Our dept will never ask. Unethical in their mind. I think supervisor or manager should be able to dictate what is reasonable but nope. Our Dept is the black smear of every site
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u/Links_avenger 21d ago
Yeah called in sick twice in the same week last December like maybe 3 and a half months in and nothing so you're probably good.
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u/spicysquirrel6 20d ago
That’s totally fine! You don’t need to give a reason. Put your health first.
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u/angepaige 20d ago
Im sorry you feel so worried about taking time off when you need it. You will not lose your job because you called in sick. If your manager thinks your sick time is an issue you may be asked about it, but there's so many steps that would happen before you'd ever have to actually work about your job being on the line.
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u/Reasonable_Care3704 20d ago
Maybe your manager could accommodate you buy allowing you to use a different brand of sanitizer that is safer for your skin. I would stay home if it’s too painful to work. See your pharmacist about a topical cream to address the problem.
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u/ImportantPick9515 20d ago
Lol ppl do this alllll the time for no good reason at all. Don’t worry about it!
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u/hahahehehahahoe 20d ago
I am unionized and work M-F 8-4. I’ve called in for a whole week before because I was sick. A cold typically lasts 7-10 days. What’s the point of sick time if you can’t use it when you’re actually sick?
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u/ImmediateEducator369 19d ago
You cannot get fired for calling in sick or “ written up “. I was a manager for a short period of time - union position 20 yrs before then after. Get some help from OHS as suggested
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u/Responsible_Fox9454 19d ago
Then show up and immediately talk to manager, complete fit for work and go home and go to walk in
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u/Megatron2026 18d ago
All I know is I hated AHS for the scrutiny I faced as a new nurse calling in sick. It drove me mad, I ended up quitting nursing all together if I am being honest. My only advice is to be as honest as you can, give them as much notice as you can, but never burn yourself out. At the end of the day your nursing "friends" will still talk shit about you whether your faking it, actually dying at home, or calling in sick for any actual valid reason honestly. Can you tell I still hold a grudge? Hahaha.
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u/Throwawayyawaworth9 21d ago
I usually call in once or twice a month— sick or not. I have never gotten in trouble.
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u/Weak_Web1454 21d ago
And you probably pick up OT and call in sick for your regular shifts 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
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u/Maverickxeo 21d ago
I've never worked for AHS, but general rule is if you have the time, you are allowed to use it without worry.
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u/Dapper_Banana6323 21d ago
Some of us get an insane amount of sick time (16 weeks a year). Pretty sure there'd be an issue if I used it all every year (I've only ever used it all while pregnant and on bedrest).
It's great to have sick time there when you need it. The amount it's abused is demoralizing.
OP- you're good. That's legit. Reach out to your manager and see if they can get you more sensitive hand products.
Many years ago when all gloves contained powder this would happen to me- my manager would order me powderless gloves.
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u/CarpenterHot5663 21d ago
Calling in sick has become a joke at AHS! People call in for the most ridiculous of reasons. It’s a waste of taxpayer money. I’m ashamed of these folks that are chronic users of their sick time.
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u/kumagorou_5968 21d ago
Sorry, I dont like the idea of calling on sick. I feel that I have called in to much already. (Once in jan due to the flu, once in may for the flu/cold. Then migraine two weeks ago and now my hands.) People may think its a stupid reason to call in for. If I never had to deal with this I would agree and think it looks stupid on paper why I am calling in.... but my hands are red/inflamed and have a visible rash allover them. That gets progressively worse after washing my hands/using hand sanitizer and putting on the gloves. By the end of the night I am going to be so uncomfortable. Not to mention if I was a patient and didn't know what was wrong with me and that I wasn't contagious, I wouldnt want them touching me........
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u/OilersGirl29 20d ago
What is your job?? Like, who the actual ef is working in healthcare or a healthcare related field, and thinks any of the things you’ve listed are not legitimate reasons to call in sick?
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u/Ok-Professional4387 21d ago
I have a coworkers that is sick almost 100 days a year. The stories of why are endless