Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 17:37     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
“I could really use a back rub!”
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 17:20     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
There’s been a lot going around the last few weeks - colds, covid and flu.

Your boss sounds like a genuinely nice person. I am mid-50s and live alone. I’ve worked at the same place for decades and have had my boss and my coworkers occasionally reach out and ask me if I need anything. It’s very appreciated.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 11:08     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for helping - I had brain fog (see, feeling a little run down) and couldn't formulate a professional answer. My boss is definitely not into me at all in the slightest. With some people, and I guess I'm one of them, he goes into dad-mode when certain things come up. A year and a half ago when I got Covid he checked on me every other day and also offered to send me Gatorade or soup. He's just a genuinely kind person.

I just got an email this week that I've accrued my max amount of vacation despite taking four days off in December, and I have over a month of sick days accrued, so I won't feel bad about taking today off. Had I gone in, I'd have been dragging.


I hope you are feeling better! He sounds like a nice boss.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2024 07:45     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I would have interpreted the text as calling me on my bluff i.e., indirectly letting me know that they know I'm not really sick, especially since this a Friday.

My DH heads an organization and he gets slightly annoyed when people that report to him call in sick on Fridays, but he doesn't comment to them about it. It is what it is.

Lots of colds start with a day or so of feeling run down, so it's legit to take a day off before you're actually coughing/sneezing/have fever, etc.


Your DH’s attitude annoys me too. Obviously if someone is repeatedly sick on Fri you might get suspicious but sometimes people are just sick when they are sick. My boss got very annoyed and suspicious when I was out sick right after New Years a few years ago after being out on leave. Several of us were sick so that triggered her, but it was right about this time of year when a ton of germs are going around. I was actually extremely sick and I’ve never forgiven her completely for her attitude. I almost never take sick leave so I was particularly irritated.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 18:18     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:I had hoped that the pandemic would have reset our attitudes about Always! Powering! Through! Guess not.

I can see how this might seem creepy, depending on the boss, but some people are just nice.


+1

Have we learned nothing?! Powering through on a not-busy day when you have weeks of unused sick time is ridiculous.

I am in my 50s and believe me, it’s not worth it.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 18:04     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Personally I am more likely to power through the week and finally give up and call in on Friday. I'm often exhausted by Wednesday but then I think if I take the day off and sleep I will be totally out of whack Thursday and Friday so I push through until Friday where work is slow, I have no meetings, and I can sleep in and have the weekend to readjust before Monday. It's not me taking a 3 day weekend to do fun stuff. It's legit that I need a recovery day and Friday makes more sense.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 17:15     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:What?? Your boss is out of line! I’ve been in the corporate world since 2002 and I’ve never ran into this.

Sounds like this guy is into you. This is not acceptable.

If you need a mental health day there is nothing wrong with that. I’m dumbfounded by the answers here.


+1 not appropriate unless you've indicated there's something serious going on (family medical emergency etc., you're very ill, etc.) Seems to me like prying.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 17:06     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I would have interpreted the text as calling me on my bluff i.e., indirectly letting me know that they know I'm not really sick, especially since this a Friday.

My DH heads an organization and he gets slightly annoyed when people that report to him call in sick on Fridays, but he doesn't comment to them about it. It is what it is.

Lots of colds start with a day or so of feeling run down, so it's legit to take a day off before you're actually coughing/sneezing/have fever, etc.


Friday is one of 5 typical working days. Theres a 20% chance of getting sick on a Friday, same as Monday or Thursday.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 16:57     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
OP here. Thanks for helping - I had brain fog (see, feeling a little run down) and couldn't formulate a professional answer. My boss is definitely not into me at all in the slightest. With some people, and I guess I'm one of them, he goes into dad-mode when certain things come up. A year and a half ago when I got Covid he checked on me every other day and also offered to send me Gatorade or soup. He's just a genuinely kind person.

I just got an email this week that I've accrued my max amount of vacation despite taking four days off in December, and I have over a month of sick days accrued, so I won't feel bad about taking today off. Had I gone in, I'd have been dragging.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 16:52     Subject: Re:Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:And maybe not take sick leave when you’re not actually sick?


It's fine to take a mental health day as a sick day if you are run down. The above is great - text back thank you but you are all set and they should have a good weekend and you'll see them Monday. You don't need to be on death's door to take a sick day.


no its not, that bs and fraud


Fraud implies that OP is taking something she is not entitled to. She is entitled to sick leave she accrued.

I owe my employer nothing. Nothing. I use what I earn. I get paid what I earn. And I do good work. If I want to use a sick day, for physical or mental reasons, I will.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 16:49     Subject: Re:Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:And maybe not take sick leave when you’re not actually sick?


NP. My sick days are mine, I accrued them. I will take them as I see fit.

End of story.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 16:03     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
" A raise, thanks!"

"Thanks for thinking of me, I really just need rest".

Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 16:00     Subject: Re:Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
I would ignore it, then text back at end of day "thanks for the offer, I slept all day, feeling a bit better now, see you on Monday"
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 15:55     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Anonymous wrote:Funny, I would have interpreted the text as calling me on my bluff i.e., indirectly letting me know that they know I'm not really sick, especially since this a Friday.

My DH heads an organization and he gets slightly annoyed when people that report to him call in sick on Fridays, but he doesn't comment to them about it. It is what it is.

Lots of colds start with a day or so of feeling run down, so it's legit to take a day off before you're actually coughing/sneezing/have fever, etc.


Exactly. He's calling your bluff.

It's also a weird, inappropriate offer. This is why I hate sick time. It's none of his business, and NO he should not come to your house!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2024 15:54     Subject: Quick! How do I respond to my boss’s text?
Thanks for the offer I could really go for some homemade chicken soup!