| My second week in and I had to call in for food poisoning. Had a great family celebration and we have all been up all night with nasty side effects. I really like this job. I'm not one to miss work and when I have to, I feel guilty that I'm inconveniencing my employers. This is a new job so I am worried I will be let go over this. It looks really bad on me and I'm feeling like the worst employee right now. |
However, I did offer to go in to work anyway but MB declined. |
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Yes, it is really bad timing but cannot be helped. You'll have to be amazing for the next few weeks to make sure your new employers know you aren't a flake.
I had a friend who had to call in sick on her second day of a new job (not a nanny job). Yes, her new bosses did look at her with grave doubts when she returned but she made up for it. |
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How a boss responds to your honest illness is an indication of their integrity, not yours.
It's a golden opportunity to access your boss's character. Take careful note and remember for the future. |
Generally true -- but not in the second week of a new job and on a Monday!! I'm a nanny and I would find this worrisome. I agree with PP - go back to work tomorrow and be fricking amazing at your job for the next few weeks. Super nanny terrific. Regardless of what your MB/DB says tomorrow, they are looking at you differently. |
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My bosses said not to come in ( I did offer, anyway) and that she hoped I felt better. Also to check in and let her know later how I'm feeling.
We had a pretty great first week and she told me amazing compliments of how I exceeded any exception she could of had, how they really like me, thanked me for being me, etc. She knows from my references and recommendation letters that is don't miss work unless completely necessary. I'm a very hard worker and she even said that. |
She sounds like a smart MB. How refreshing! |
| I don't mean to sound conceeded but I am very confident in my nanny abilities. I am highly sought after and recommended. I know I do a damn good job and I will rock he next few months. I've gone above and beyond with my nanny expectations ( from the parents mouths) and with little things that weren't expected. |
No, OP is already an amazing nanny. She doesn't need to do any differently when she goes back to work. You're the one who'd have a problem, not this nanny, and certainly not her wise MB. Why not learn from their example? |
Human nature. On the sixth day of a new job and the employee calls in sick? Sorry, it's a red flag in any field of employment. |
This is true. Of course it happens and of course there are legitimate reasons for it - but make no mistake, it is most definitely a "red flag". Not just for nannies but for ANY OCCUPATION so don't be so defensive, Nannies. If I'd called in sick on the monday after my first week at my law firm, I'm sure the partners would have been concerned. |
Good for them. Some people are like that, but apparently not everyone. Thank goodness OP's employer isn't like you or your coworkers. |
Terrible advice. In the second week of a new job, there is no way to know if you are reporting an "honest illness" so the spotlight is on the nanny to show her integrity. She is the one who is raising red flags with early absences. (I'm not suggesting, OP, that you are not being honest. I'm replying to PP only.) The golden opportunity here is for the boss to judge your character. So far, it sounds like it is going well for OP. But others are right. She will need to establish herself for perhaps longer because of this red flag. I'm sure she can do it, but make no mistake, it is on her to prove herself, not on her boss. |
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OP here. I tend to agree with others on this board. While its me to see a sympathetic employer, I need to doing the " proving".
I wouldn't not believe my nanny but it is a red flag as worrisome for the possibility it can be a sign to come. I never missed worked this early in a position ( last job was 1 day after 5 months. My charge got me sick). My position before that was 2 days for strep after 9 months. The only thing I can do is prove it isn't a red flag. I feel I did prove a lot my first week in ( especially with MB working exclusively from home) and I will go extra lengths to prove myself from here on. That's all I can do. |
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I am a company owner with over 50 employees. When anyone calls in sick on a Friday, my first thought is that they are going away for the weekend. When anyone calls in sick on a Monday, my first thought is that they are hung-over.
And yes, if anyone called in sick on their second Monday at work? Damn right I would be suspicious. Be a great worker for the next few months and don't call in sick again -- then and only then would I believe you. |