Do you find it fishy if someone calls in “sick” on a Friday

[Anonymous]

I truly cannot imagine caring about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they getting their work done? As a manager that is the only thing that should really concern you. My work has a lot of sick leave and I occasionally take a day as a mental break (not necessarily on Friday). However, I only do it when I do not have any imminent deadlines, no one is waiting for any inputs from me, and no one has to pick up whatever I dropped. And then sometimes when I am actually sick but there is stuff I do not want to drop on others I just suck it up. So it all evens out. And as they do not really affect anything no one cares about my sick days. So maybe instead of focusing on why the person always falls sick on a Friday, try to think about how they are performing and how their work ethic affects the rest of the team.

100 percent this. If someone gets their work done and is dedicated to their job, taking an occasional sick day on a Friday should not be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Why are you tracking this? Is it your business? Are you their supervisor? If no, then MYOB.

[Anonymous]

No, Mondays are more suspicious (hangovers)…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they getting their work done? As a manager that is the only thing that should really concern you. My work has a lot of sick leave and I occasionally take a day as a mental break (not necessarily on Friday). However, I only do it when I do not have any imminent deadlines, no one is waiting for any inputs from me, and no one has to pick up whatever I dropped. And then sometimes when I am actually sick but there is stuff I do not want to drop on others I just suck it up. So it all evens out. And as they do not really affect anything no one cares about my sick days. So maybe instead of focusing on why the person always falls sick on a Friday, try to think about how they are performing and how their work ethic affects the rest of the team.

This. If it’s an employee who does good work and it doesn’t impact deadlines, I’m not making it a big deal. It may be mental health related for all I know. If it’s someone with performance issues, then I might document it but it would be in the context of other issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I worked in HR, we kept track of everyone who called in sick on a day before or after a three-day weekend.

That list was used when we had reductions in force.

Thank you for confirming, yet again, that HR departments are the hall monitors of the workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, unless there is a pattern to the behavior.

4x a year?

That's not worthy of raising it as an issue.

What? Yes, it most surely is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea illness doesn't strike on Fridays! Great news.

Not anywhere near the reported rate, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had an intern who did this. “Sick” every Friday for the whole summer. Needless to say we didn’t think of hiring her when she later applied.

This. And when budgetary staff cuts roll around, if it’s between two or more reasonably commensurate employees, Regularly “Sick” Before And After Holiday Weekends gets the axe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an intern who did this. “Sick” every Friday for the whole summer. Needless to say we didn’t think of hiring her when she later applied.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, unless there is a pattern to the behavior.

4x a year?

Kind of crazy and weird that you're tracking this, tbh. I find that more fishy.

What? Most companies track attendance, especially when it’s a pattern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'll be judged if I'm sick on a Friday. Or a Monday.
At my job we can't take a personal day to extend a holiday weekend.

My job is important to me, and I'm reliable and smart and hardworking. But why do they micromanage every minute of my life?? Why do you care what day someone takes off if they stick with what's allowed to them and get the job done?

That's terrible! Is that even legal?

What on earth law do you think is violated here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I worked in HR, we kept track of everyone who called in sick on a day before or after a three-day weekend.

That list was used when we had reductions in force.

You are an idiot if you think that was a good idea.

It was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the primary tenets of children is that they always get sick on Friday, usually after the pediatrician’s sick slots are filled. (Stop side-eyeing your coworker, OP.)

This is so true!

[Anonymous]

So many people at my job were sick last week. Tons of stuff going around. I know many pushed through and tried to work but people really should take the time off to rest and recover.