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.

I am more likely to call in sick on Fridays because I think it's useful to recover over several days (so continue sleeping in over the weekend) and it's less disruptive to overall work flow. If I feel sick on a Tue Wed or Thu I think to myself, what's the point for me to call in sick today if I have to work again tomorrow and deal with a backlog of work for the rest of the week while I'm sick. So I'll just power through.

Absolutely not fishy from what you have said

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.

I've worked in HR for 20+ years and in every place I've ever worked, we've NEVER tracked something like this. Never. What kind of HR department does something like this?

Has that happened more than once with the same person?

Wow get over yourself

Why would you question a employees sickness


What if they are manic depression or suicidal and need that day off



You are heartless

Not to mention the fact that if I’m feeling ill in the middle of the week, I’m a lot more likely to push through it in case it turns out to be nothing, getting through as much work as I can, and then, if it turns out to NOT be nothing, it would be on the Friday that I give out.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if it’s a pattern. We used to have huge coverage issues around holidays due to people calling in sick. Our field has strict ratios that we have to follow so mass callouts are a big problem and would lead to last minute closures for people depending on us for services. Then my company put a policy in place where if you call out for your scheduled shift before/after a holiday, you don’t get paid for the holiday, and have to use leave instead. Magically solved the problem immediately. (If you are out on pre-approved leave it’s fine, the policy only covers call outs.)

This is an asinine policy. Your employer succeeded in encouraging sick persons to show up to work. Instead of doing the right thing--staying home so you don't spread illness to your coworkers or clients--you strongly incentivized coming in sick to avoid an unreasonable loss of pay. Congrats on doing the wrong thing.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, if it’s a pattern. We used to have huge coverage issues around holidays due to people calling in sick. Our field has strict ratios that we have to follow so mass callouts are a big problem and would lead to last minute closures for people depending on us for services. Then my company put a policy in place where if you call out for your scheduled shift before/after a holiday, you don’t get paid for the holiday, and have to use leave instead. Magically solved the problem immediately. (If you are out on pre-approved leave it’s fine, the policy only covers call outs.)

This is brilliant!

Of course, they’re working the system! No, they’re not sick. This is why many firms have combined vacation and sick time.

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?

Op, 14%-20% chance to be true. Higher if they have an Underlying Medical Conditions including metal health struggles. I could be wrong.

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.)

Honestly though it's true. Thursday night fevers and puking ARE a pattern. I think it sort of makes sense given that viruses circulate and incubate all week.

People can absolutely get sick on Fridays. What a stupid thread.

If Mondays and Fridays are "suspicious" that means we can only take sick days Tues-Thurs? That's ridiculous.